by M. M. Cox
I survey this group of teenagers—people I didn’t even know two months ago. Now my life is in their hands. And in this moment, I feel I’m ready to face anything. “Let’s go.”
* * * *
“What the hell is going on? Who let these kids in here?”
Ray Gallo’s face is beaming a bright red. He stares at us, three teens who walked into the diner, unannounced, and who are, by the furious expression on his face, definitely unwelcome.
The diner door had been locked when the Vigliottis and I had tried to open it. When we settled for knocking instead, an enormous wiseguy answered, taking all three of us in with a cool glare. I had quickly identified us as “Gino’s kids,” which kept the man from beating us up right there on the doorstep. He had paused for a moment thoughtfully, and then as recognition had crossed his face (at least when he looked at Vince), he had stepped back and let us past. Based on Ray’s expression, that decision was almost certainly one the wiseguy would soon regret.
Nevertheless, we have made it into the lion’s den. I attempt to ignore Frank, whom I can see out of the corner of my eye. I don’t want to give any indication that I’m familiar with Frank and blow his cover. I also try not to acknowledge Gino; however, Gino makes this impossible.
“What are you doing here?” he demands, but I can hear the panic in his gruff voice.
“Lou, you stupid buffoon! I told you no one was allowed in here!” Ray looks like he is ready to snap—if he hasn’t already. He motions to Donny, who slams Lou into the wall and knees him in the stomach until Lou is gasping for air.
I glance at the Vigliotti siblings. Julia looks like she is ready to bolt, but Vince is oddly cool. Maybe all those mob movies have desensitized him.
“Donny, stop. My kids are here!” Gino says, his voice edging on desperate.
“Yes, why is that exactly?”
I search the room for the man that belongs to the smooth, strong voice that just spoke. A tall, well-built man in an immaculate black suit is seated just to the right of Ray, not far from where Frank is watching the scene with an expression of fury and alarm.
“Mister Capriotti,” I say without a moment’s hesitation.
Capriotti leans back in his chair and scrutinizes me. “Yes, that’s right.” He smiles, but the expression isn’t pleasant at all. “You’re Barb Kluwer’s little project.”
“Get these stupid kids out of here,” Ray demands, but Capriotti lifts his hand.
“Wait one moment,” he says coolly.
Frank and Gino are frowning at me, both probably trying to figure out my motive for being here. I take comfort in the fact that the Vigliottis are standing on either side of me, their silent support boosting my confidence. Why did I ever think I could face all these men alone?
“I’m not a big fan of Barb Kluwer,” I say, directing my comment to Gino and Frank.
“But she certainly enjoys blackmailing me.”
Capriotti laughs, but he is the only one. Everyone else in the room has faces of stone, with the exception of Gino, whose distress is now obvious. I can’t blame him. Two of the people he cares about most are standing in a room surrounded by hostile mobsters. And I’m sure he hates me now if he thinks his kids are here because of me.
“You were supposed to meet Barb tomorrow,” Capriotti reminds me, as though I have forgotten the place and time chosen for the exchange of information. Ray scowls. “How in the world did you come to find us here?” he asks, his face beginning to take on a more normal color, even as his eyes harden to steel.
“I have my sources—at school, you know?” I say, hoping that they might think I tricked Tommy into spilling information. I couldn’t care less if Tommy gets in trouble. “So I decided to give you the information on my terms.”
Ray eyes me coolly, but the hungry expression on Capriotti’s face intensifies. “You have the information for me? The laptop?”
Vince holds out the laptop, which Capriotti snatches greedily and hands to Ray.
“Tony Chen’s laptop—that should solve some problems for you. You owe me for this favor,” I say grandly.
I can see the looks of disapproval on both Frank and Gino’s faces. I hate for them to think I’m a thief, but I must convince everyone right now that I’m as sneaky and corrupt as the rest of them. Frank makes me feel the most ashamed—he’s the only truly good person in this room.
“And the name of the undercover?” asks Capriotti, and this time I notice that Frank flinches. Will he make a run for it? I know that would ruin everything. I must get my next words out quickly.
“Yes, but I’m not giving you his name,” I say slyly and notice Frank relax slightly. “I put his true address in my phone. That way you can find him at his house, and then you will know who he is.” Frank tenses. I have no idea if the agent has a family, but I’m sure Frank is worried that I may still betray him.
“He lives in Delaware,” I say casually, wondering if, by any chance, Frank actually does live in Delaware. But he must not, because he relaxes again when I mention the small state to the south. Hopefully, now Frank will know I’m not actually giving the district attorney and the mobsters the information they want.
“Really? That seems odd,” Ray says, his voice skeptical.
“Couldn’t take a chance of someone local, you know. Too much chance of him getting recognized,” Vince cuts in, lending me a hand in the ruse.
Ray doesn’t answer, but his expression becomes less suspicious and more interested.
“Well, what’s the address?”
I pull out my cell phone, holding it up to take a picture of Capriotti and Ray sitting side by side, their faces watching me eagerly. Glad that no one is standing directly behind me and that the Vigliottis should block any side views of the cell phone screen, I take several snapshots, being careful to make sure Gino is not in the background. “Hold on just a second,”
I say slowly, “I put it in my address book.”
Capriotti grabs a sheet of paper and pulls a stylish pen from his suit pocket. “I’m ready.”
“Two-two-five-five West Worthington Street, Littleton, Delaware,” I say, drawing each word out slowly so that I can snap a few more pictures.
“What? Littleton, Delaware? I’ve never heard of such a town.” Donny stands close to us, his expression confused. “And I grew up in Wilmington.”
Before I have a chance to dodge him, Donny snatches the phone from my hand.
“Hey! There’s no address on here. Just a picture of you, Ray, and the DA!” he bellows. I exchange panicked glances with the Vigliottis, hoping one of them can think of any excuse, because not one is coming to me.
“What the hell!” If Ray was angry before, he is enraged now. He heaves himself out of his chair rather awkwardly and grabs the phone from Donny. He takes one look at it and then glares at me. “What’s going on, boy?” he demands, shoving the phone back into Donny’s hand.
I’m frozen in place, not knowing what to say or do. Hopefully, Tony and Portia will realize the plan has gone terribly wrong. I gaze at the cell phone blankly and then try to defend myself as best as I can. “I must have accidentally pressed a button. I can bring the address back up. Geez, just take it easy! The picture was an accident. It happens to me all the time.” I stare into Ray’s cold eyes. I can’t believe I’m attempting to deceive a man who has probably killed many men for just that. I’m trying to hide my fear, but I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my limbs, a sure sign that I’m scared. Julia comes to my rescue. “Yeah, you guys are idiots. Leave it to old men to not understand technology.”
“Be quiet, Julia,” Gino warns, but too late.
Ray turns his anger on Julia, grabbing her arm and pulling her within an inch of his big, bullish face.
“You better be glad your dad’s a capo, young lady, or you’d be in more trouble than you can imagine,” he says cruelly, his white teeth flashing under heavy lips. He pauses for a long moment, staring into her frightened eyes. Suddenly, his eyes narrow i
n on her ear and his lips curl in a snarl. “What’s this?”
When Ray grabbed Julia, her hair had fallen away from her face, revealing the earpiece. I groan—our plan is demolished, and we have no plan B or C to fall back on. Ray rips the earpiece from Julia’s ear and throws it on the floor. He stomps his foot down, crunching the small device against the wood floor.
“Lou! Get outside! This couldn’t have been transmitting far. I can’t believe it—stupid teenagers are trying to trap me. I knew I should never have come here.” Ray’s eyes are blazing.
Gino is motionless, but appears ready to spring—toward what, I don’t know. Capriotti sits back in his chair, watching the scene with intense interest, as though it were nothing more than a fascinating play. “I thought you were more efficient than this,”
Capriotti taunts, as though his own life isn’t in jeopardy by being caught with a mobster.
“I can’t help it if my own men are betraying me!” Ray almost shouts. “But I can help it now.”
“I told you Gino was dirty,” Donny says to Ray. “You should have let me take care of him a long time ago.”
Gino’s face fills with dread, a look I have never seen before. “What are you talking about?” he gasps.
Ray scowls at Gino. “To think my own captain was betraying me, snitching on me!
Using your children, no less.” Ray walks toward Gino, his gestures emphasizing his words.
“And that—that filthy boy! Using Mike and Penny Esposito’s son against me? Traitor!”
Gino is completely still, even as Ray advances, but his voice trembles when he speaks, and his anguish for the safety of his children is plain. “That’s ridiculous, Ray,” he says, almost pleading. “I have been a true member and a good capo. I would never betray you. And this has no connection with Mike. I don’t know what’s going on here, but if you calm down, we can figure it out.”
I should be frightened—my life is on very shaky ground at the moment. But I’m stuck on what Ray just said. “Who is Mike’s son? Are you talking about me? That’s not my dad.”
Ray spins, his fierce eyes burning. “Oh, don’t you dare lie to me, you stupid kid. There’s no question about it. I know who you are. You’re Mike’s filthy offspring.”
I shake my head. “Tell him, Gino. He’s wrong. I don’t know anyone named Mike.” I turn to my godfather, but Gino says nothing.
“You’re just like him,” Ray accuses. “Coming here like you want to help, but betraying us instead. Gino should have killed him when he had a chance. And your mom wasn’t much better—just the thought of trouble sent her running, taking you with her and any chance we had of ‘persuading’ Mike to come back and take his punishment like a man. Too bad Barb Kluwer didn’t get you when she had the chance. We could have tied up some loose ends.”
My knees are going to buckle. The information, true or not, is too much for me. I’m relieved to feel Vince put his arm under my elbow, steadying me. With the crazed look on Ray’s face, I know the Vigliotti siblings must be as terrified as I am.
“That’s enough, Ray,” Gino cuts in. “Like I said, just calm down, and we’ll get this thing sorted out.”
Ray explodes. “Calm down? Calm down? Donny was right about you. And I’ve trusted you with everything. Everything! You filthy Rat! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your stupid kids. But your job at the Newcastle Mafia has been terminated! And pretty soon, you will be too!”
I turn to Capriotti. “Stop this—stop this now! You’re the only one who can calm him down!”
But before anyone can say another word, a gunshot rips through the room. Julia screams. Ray is holding a gun—and it’s pointed at Gino.
Chapter 19
I hear Vince wail and see him charge Ray, only to have Ray’s gun pointed at his head. I try to run to Gino, who has crumpled to the floor clutching his rib cage; the gunshot from Ray hit him square in the torso. But Lou grabs me, forcing me to leave Gino abandoned on the floor.
Mark Capriotti leaps out of his seat and is at the door to the diner in less than five seconds. “Gallo!” he yells. “How dare you! I don’t want to be part of this! We’re through!”
Ray twists from an infuriated Vince to the fleeing Capriotti and aims the handgun at the district attorney’s head. “Oh yeah? You’re going nowhere.”
Capriotti removes his hand from the door handle, but continues to stand next to it, as if hoping he could wish himself out of the room.
“Sit down!” Ray screams at him. Capriotti sits in the chair nearest to the door, his horrified eyes fixed on the blood streaming from Gino’s chest. But Ray’s momentary distraction is enough to give Vince the opening he needs. He plows into Ray’s stomach as Donny pulls out his own gun and takes aim at the burly teenager struggling to take Ray’s weapon.
Frank leaps across the fallen Gino and punches Donny in the jaw. Donny’s shot zips past Ray’s shoulder instead of into Vince’s back, but Donny is ready for Frank’s kick to the groin; he backs out of the way and catches Frank’s leg, trying to knock him to the floor. Frank jerks his foot out of Donny’s hand before he topples over, but not before Donny fires and misses a shot at Frank’s head. Frank dives for the floor as Donny fires again, his bullet catching Frank’s foot.
Frank won’t last long if I don’t help. Lou has both his beefy arms around me, but I know I must escape. I leap up and slam the back of my head into his chin, and his arms loosen, allowing me to struggle free. I expect Lou to chase me, but when I turn to look over my shoulder, I see him eyeing the room and backing away. First smart thing he’s done all night, I think.
I quickly realize that Donny is trying to finish Frank off, so I rush forward, grab the mobster’s hand, and push it toward the ceiling. In retaliation, Donny wraps a beefy arm around my neck, and despite all of my wrestling experience, I can’t escape the iron headlock. With my windpipe cut off, my vision starts to go black. I’m going to pass out. Just as I feel everything going black, the hold around my neck releases abruptly. I crash to the floor on top of Donny and scramble away from the mobster, struggling to catch my breath. But Donny isn’t moving. I glance behind me and find Julia standing there, a broken bottle in her hand.
“You’re awesome, Julia,” I gasp, but then I see my godfather lying on the floor across the room. “We’ve got to help your dad!”
I fish my phone out of Donny’s pocket. As Julia and I rush across the room, I frantically do the only thing I can think may save us. I push “2,” the speed-dial for Reggie. I wait for one ring and then hope the noise on the other end is his picking up.
“Help! Call Alvarez! We’re at the diner—” I begin to say.
We’re almost to Gino, but the boom of another gunshot causes Julia to stumble into me, and I drop the phone and whirl around to see who fired the shot. Even with Vince attacking him, Ray was able to shoot at the fleeing Capriotti, who, finding the front door blocked by Lou, must have scampered to the back door of the dining room. The shot did not hit its mark, because Capriotti disappears behind the door a moment later.
Ray continues to wave the gun around and scream profanities as several mobsters roughly pull Vince off Ray. I want to help Vince, but I quickly realize that Julia and I will not even be able to make it to Gino. The remaining mobsters are circling us like hungry dogs. I glance around—but no one can help us. Frank is being pummeled by three of Ray’s men. Cowards, I think. It takes three of you to even bring him down. We are defeated. A small, steely-eyed mobster reaches out to grab Julia’s arm. She shrieks and jumps back as he leaps after her. She backs into another mobster who jerks her arms behind her back and starts dragging her toward Gino. Two other mobsters grab me, and although I struggle and manage to kick one of them hard in the knee, I can’t escape as they drag me toward Gino as well. Three men are needed to control the thrashing Vince. The three of us are thrown on the floor next to Gino. I see tears streaming down Julia’s face, and Vince stops struggling as he kneels by Gino’s head. I’m terrified that Gino might al
ready be dead. What have I done?
Ray, his face cut and bleeding, stands before us, his eyes murderous. I instinctively know what is coming. I prepare myself for what may be my last moments of life.
“That’s it, I’m finishing him off,” Ray snarls, pointing the gun at Gino’s head.
“No!” I yell, jumping in front of Gino.
Ray studies me, his eyes glinting. “I prefer for others to do the dirty work around here. That’s the way the mob is supposed to work. Even a small one like we have here in Newcastle. But I believe you deserve my ‘special’ attention. I might have let you live had you accepted your godfather’s execution with dignity, but you’re as stupid as he is. So, if I’ve got to get my hands dirty, who better to start with than the son of the man I want dead more than any other.”
Ray trains the gun on my head, pointing it between my eyes. I feel my body go rigid with horror. I can’t survive this shot. It’s over.
But Ray never fires. The walls of the diner explode inward. Bricks fly through the air, striking mobsters like bowling pins. The Vigliottis and I duck down, covering our heads and shielding Gino from the onslaught. I’m struck on the shoulder by flying debris, and I gasp in pain. I turn my head to see the cause of the destruction and discover Tony and Portia scrambling out of the van that just smashed into the front of the diner. The crash is enough to make most of the mobsters bolt. They scatter like ants in a hundred directions, leaving behind their flustered leader, who has been pinned by a table, and the unconscious Donny.
“Get back here,” Ray screams at their fleeing backs, but not one of them even slows at the sound of his infuriated voice. Ray howls in frustration and points his gun at Gino. “This is all your fault!” he shrieks.
