Adversary

by S. W. Frank

  Alfonzo didn’t twitch nor did his eyes as he viewed the bustle of One hundred and Twenty-fifth and Lenox. He waited, allowing Giuseppe’s rants to end. With Giuseppe he learned to let him blow off steam until he eventually ground to a halt. His mother’s meal they’d eaten had settled but the discourse of family hadn’t. Cobalt irises soon peered down to read the time. Six thirty and a seventy-five thousand dollar watch is what told him the hour.

  A sullen mouth descended at Giuseppe’s scathing remark. “He angers me, relative or not, I want to pound the cazzo’s face!”

  “He’s family,” Alfonzo replied.

  “I do not like him and do not take sides against me fratellino!”

  Alfonzo adjusted the leather ban on the Constantine watch. Patience and time were slipping away. “I side with family. You’re not liking Sergio isn’t reason for me to bash him, brother.”

  “Cazzo, saints save you from my fist!” Giuseppe roared in the interior of the car.

  Alfonzo was not moved. Giuseppe’s dislike of Sergio was unreasonable. The man was trying to clean up his act. What set Giuseppe on the tirade was Sergio’s late arrival to the aeropuerto this morning without an explanation and his presence at the meeting with the Fusco family this afternoon. They’d gone to his mother’s after to say hello and of course she made them sit and eat.

  Alfonzo’s frown deepened. He did not want to squabble with Giuseppe about their cousin. Sergio was being groomed and to do so he would need to identify the players. A formal introduction to peer into the optical lenses of ruthless men was warranted. Unfortunately, Giuseppe disagreed.  Alfonzo suspected Giuseppe had troubles at home and used Sergio to beat away the tension. Troubled brothers are what they were at the moment.

  Finally, Sergio appeared from the IRT subway station with the Metro card Alfonzo sent him to get. He couldn’t endure another moment of his brother’s scolding and slid to the door and exited. “What took you so long?” he asked.

  “There was a line for the card dispenser,” Sergio answered and handed Alfonzo the Metro card. “What do you need one for anyway, where are you going?”

  “None of your business.”

  “See, he is also a nosy cazzo that one!” Giuseppe interjected leaning out of the car to speak.

  Alfonzo sighed. He’d grown exhausted. Giuseppe’s treatment of Sergio was unwarranted –this time. Never make an enemy of his brother. Sergio was very lucky he was family because Giuseppe’s dislike ran deep. “I’ll meet you guys later; I need to clear my head.” 

  “On the filthy subway fratellino?” Giuseppe shouted.

  “Yeah it’s quieter than being stuck in a car with you.”

  “Return to the car fratellino and stop behaving the ass!”

  Alfonzo walked to the entry of the subway ignoring Giuseppe’s demand. He didn’t need to look over his shoulder to know Tony was there. But he didn’t require a shadow, all he wanted was peace. “Let Sergio sit in front Tony and have the driver meet me outside the AirTran Terminal on Sutphin Boulevard in about two hours.”

  “I have to come along.”

  “No you don’t. I’m ordering you to stay.”

  “I’m paid to be your bodyguard. You gave me this important detail, remember?”

  Alfonzo cocked a brow at Tony. “You’re skating on thin ice.”

  “Sometimes people have to fall through ice to keep someone safe.”

  A chuckle akin to ‘what the hell?’ Alfonzo gave. He put Tony at ease, the damn soldier and said, “Ease up, estoy bien. I can take care of myself.”

  Tony’s displeasure showed and reluctantly he returned to the car as Alfonzo’s shoes were pebbles skipping the water of stairs. His shiny black hair disappeared from view and Tony grumbled as he gave the instruction to the driver and gestured to Sergio to take the passenger seat.

  Giuseppe was out the car before Tony moved, mumbling irritably, “Ride underground in filth is better than riding with Sergio!” He directed at Sergio’s back before walking swiftly to catch his brother.

  Alfonzo swiped the Metro card and the turnstile beeped. He pushed metal arms to go through and it didn’t budge. “Fuck!” he exclaimed and swiped the plastic once more and received the beep to go but when he glanced at the display screen there was a zero balance on the card. He shook his head; Sergio had purchased a single ride although he gave the sucker a twenty. Old habits die hard is the only thing that came to mind. Progress is slow when dealing with someone who’s only known hunger and ripping people off to get fed. He wasn’t angry with Sergio, he’d been conditioned by hardships and getting knocked on his ass. Alfonzo understood the man because he knew how it felt to be counted out by society simply by his name. Long before this mafia shit he had invisible doors slammed in his face. Doing right wasn’t easy, when you’re being pushed off a cliff. He’d tried many times to go legit after graduating high school to give his mom some peace. Calling jobs, sending in resumes to companies and the one that returned his inquiries asked dumb-ass questions. “Do you have your G.E.D?” or “Do you have a Green Card or Work Visa?” Hell he was even asked, “Do you speak English?” Once he got so mad when an interviewer asked that question he replied as a seventeen-year-old frustrated child would with, “Of course I speak English. I’m speaking English now bitch!”

  He’d gone back to hustling with Domingo after that and didn’t look back. In college is when he began to revisit the option of legitimate work. He took a job in the ‘hood at a realty agency to learn the ropes. He learned a lot too, like there are many struggles but the voice inside is what often holds a person back. Once the negative is fed it eats and devours a person into defeat.

  Yeah, he knew Sergio’s mindset all too well. Reconditioning Sergio was a process and Giuseppe wasn’t helping with his brow-beating the dude to death. Alfonzo joined the crowd moving toward the stairs of the number 4 train downtown. He had his foot to descend when he heard, “Fratellino, wait!”

  He spun around letting the hordes pass and saw Giuseppe strolling through the gate as if he owned the city. Oh shit, did he just beat the fare? Alfonzo asked himself and looked around cursing under his breath, hoping there wasn’t an undercover stationed nearby. Thank goodness Giuseppe wasn’t apprehended because his brother remained strapped.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Alfonzo seethed when the imposing man was at his side.

  “I have only euros.”

  “Geez, that’s risky.”

  Giuseppe shrugged. His voice sounded louder than the train rumbling into the station. “Life’s a risk fratellino.”

  Alfonzo hurried down the steps with Giuseppe walking casually in his shadow. He held the door for the leisure walker and received the New York impatient glares. Alfonzo didn’t give a damn about any of that, he’d come simply to get rest from family.

  The packed train left little room to maneuver for the Dons. One leaned on the pole, squashing hands and the other against the door staring in annoyance at mirrors of blue. Alfonzo didn’t realize what a picture he and Giuseppe were in their expensive suits, shiny black hair, faces of brothers with matching eyes and veins protruding from their muscular necks and hands. They stood out without trying simply by their appearance and stance.

  The train jerked before moving loudly down the track and Giuseppe vented. “Why in the name of the saints must you subject me to this stronzo?”

  Alfonzo smirked when the commuters within inches of Giuseppe flinched. Funny shit, seriously! “Nobody put a gun to your head!”

  “What type of older brother will allow you to travel in this stink-hole unprotected, eh cazzo?”

  More quizzical stares.

  Comical is how Alfonzo saw the situation. “Stop calling me cazzo coño!”

  “Eh, you are being an ass because I do not agree with what you did.”

  Newspapers, reading devices and cell phones were in hands for show as ears listened. Alfonzo switched languages to speak in Italian. “Kiss my ass. Sergio’s gone out of his way to make amends
and you keep kicking him. I don’t like what you’re doing. Period!”

  The roar from Giuseppe distanced commuters and brought laughter from a group of teens at the other end of the train. “He does stupid things and talks as if he is entitled. He has no right to be in our business. He has yet to earn my rispetto!”

  “That’s all you care about? You haven’t seen how much he’s done to gain your respect?”

  “Cosa?” Giuseppe countered.

  “He humbled himself to apologize to you months ago. Every time he’s in your presence he kisses your ass to say hello. I’m tired of being in the middle. I have my own problems and I don’t want to referee grown ass men!”

  Giuseppe pushed off the pole. His voice reduced in volume. He had not known his brother had problems so heavy. Often they were due to only one person when he did. “Tell me, has the lion tamer mauled your heart?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “The Selange, your bella, what has she done now?” Giuseppe chided.

  Alfonzo’s eyes narrowed. “You better chill when talking about my wife. I draw the line there hombre and I’ll kick your ass if you step over.”

  “Ah, so you are still mad about what I said.”

  “No. I’m not.”

  “Si, you are fratellino.”

  Alfonzo growled. “I’m angry that we fight each other and behave like our father with the women when I am trying to be better husband.”

  “You are better. You just do not see.”

  “And what about you Giuseppe, has the past taught you nothing?”

  Giuseppe smirked. “I do not live in history fratellino. To do so would give me aches like you. We are men of power, make what you want of the past but do not believe it is your future.”

  Alfonzo shook his head in exasperation. “I’ve been having bad vibes brother. I want us to be on the same page and not distracted by our vices.”

  “Eh, do not worry I will not let micio cloud my head unless I am between feminine legs.” Giuseppe teased. “You are distracted because you have no release and your pene cries for it. Yet, you do not answer and punish yourself. Your wife will not know what you do unless you tell her.”

  Alfonzo smirked. Sheesh, only his brother would go there. “Be careful with your smug ass, when Shanda busts you I guarantee you’ll change your tune.”

  “Ah, she will not find out but in the event she does what will she do but accept I am who I am.”

  “A lying cheat.”

  “A Don.”

  Alfonzo laughed. “A Don,” he copied. “That doesn’t mean shit, you’re an arrogant man.”

  Giuseppe chuckled. The train did a three pull-jerk and his legs widened. Before it stopped his foot came down hard on a passenger’s white Jordan’s and the guy sat forward, pulling out his earpiece. “Yo…yo!”

  Giuseppe looked down as the doors opened at the One hundred and Tenth Street Station as if he saw a gnat. “C'è un problema?”

  “You just stepped on my foot yo!”

  “Così che cosa!” In other words ‘So What!’ was Giuseppe’s response.

  People entered, Alfonzo stepped a little to the side but Giuseppe didn’t. Alfonzo’s face contorted at the jean wearing youth. Alfonzo scoffed. The dude was looking for an apology for an accidental offense but he didn’t know he wasn’t getting one from Giuseppe.

  “No excuse me or yo I’m sorry,” spilled from the commuter’s mouth to the quiet of the train.

  The express took off and Alfonzo’s lips pursed tightly because the youth wasn’t backing down. Giuseppe was a man big on respect. Not that he gave any, but he expected others to have manners.

  When the guy swiveled Alfonzo nipped the shit in the bud the New York way. “You’re a dumb-ass for rocking vintage Jordan’s on a crowded subway and thinking you’re not going to have a mishap. Keep them shits in the closet and save yourself an ass-whipping. Now shut up and sit back!”

  Giuseppe laughed. “See what you have done yo, you have made fratellino crazy. Sit back stronzo and do not speak again, capisce?”

  The boldness evaporated when the guy observed the menacing pair invade his personal space. He traveled alone and was seated which put him at a disadvantage. He got the feeling these guys could back up their shit judging by the size of their fists. Passengers averted his eyes and he doubted any would intervene if the pair of bold foreigners beat him to death. He decided to chill and slid back cautiously. He was tight though when the men laughed and carried on with their conversation as if nobody else was there. At Fifty-Ninth Street they exited leaving a rich odor of cologne and danger in the air. Tony who’d stayed watchful at the far end of the subway car jostled his way off and followed his Boss undetected.

   

   

  CHAPTER SEVEN

   

   

   

  Selange couldn’t believe the phone call she received. Allie was in the principal’s office. The principal did not divulge what the second grader had done, except say she said something inappropriate to a classmate. Selange was livid; the girl had a mouth like her father except there wasn’t the usage of profanities instead she’d adapted a sarcastic quip far more offensive. Where she learned this tone of speech was beyond a mother’s understanding, especially when Selange never spoke that way to anyone. With Estefan as her ever-present escort she arrived at the school. He waited when she entered the principal’s office where Allie sat, arms crossed, defiant and rolling eyes at the teacher hovering there.

  Selange noticed the principal seemed uncomfortable and her suspicions were confirmed when she apologized for having to call Selange at work. “Lo siento Senora Diaz, I wish I did not have to bother you but your daughter’s profesora insisted that we talk immediately about something Aldonza has said.”

  Mother sat on the bench with her daughter. Rod straight she waited to hear what crime a child committed to have a parent summoned in such a way. “I’m listening.”

  Allie’s teacher couldn’t wait to recant the horrible tale. “Aldonza threw a fit in class, knocking over a boy’s pencil case and yelled he was still getting breastfed by his mother.”

  Selange’s initial reaction was shock but then she wanted to laugh, like seriously, the remark was funny but of course she didn’t. Instead as a responsible parent she inquired, “Did I miss something because you didn’t tell me what caused her to throw a fit, and you only mentioned her reaction?”

  The teacher frowned. “It does not matter what happened prior to this behavior. It is how she behaved that concerns me.”

  Oh, now damn, why did the woman say that? “Well, Profesora, maybe what occurred prior doesn’t concern you but it certainly concerns me. Since you can’t articulate in detail what occurred then I think this meeting is premature.” Selange stood putting out her hand for her daughter. Allie’s small fingers clasped hold and she smiled ruefully as her mother concluded. “When you have investigated what happened thoroughly and can relay what this boy did before my daughter reacted ‘inappropriately’ then we can have an informed and intelligent conversation. Buenos dias Profesora y Principal.”

  In the backseat of the chauffeured car, away from judgmental looks is when Selange opened a dialogue with Allie. “So, what really happened sweetheart?”

  “Miguel is always bothering me. He moves my things and makes fun of me.”

  “How does he make fun of you?”

  “He sticks out his tongue when the teacher isn’t looking and put up his middle finger.”

  “He does?”

  “Yes,” Allie shared more. “He says I’m lucky I’m pretty.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes mommy.”

  “Is this what he said today?”

  “He says all kinds of stupid stuff but today what really made me mad is when we returned from lunch and I went to sit, he pulled my chair and made me fall but the teacher never sees any of that. He’s the teacher’s pet!”

  �
�I see.”

  “Yes,” Allie said and wrinkled her nose. “He makes me sick. I want to punch him in the face!”

  “Have you told the teacher when he does this?”

  “Yes and she doesn’t do anything.”

  “Did you tell her today what happened?”

  “Why should I, she only makes him say sorry and then he does it again?”

  Selange nodded. “Okay, I will deal with the teacher and the boy’s parents, but sweetheart you have to watch what you say. That was a very mean thing to say to the boy, just like what he does hurts your feelings. We can hurt people all the time with words, do you understand?”

  Allie sighed. “Yes mommy.”

  Selange hugged her daughter. “I love you hija.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I know I’ve been a little busy but I’m not too busy for my girl.”

  “I know.”

  “Would you like to go with me to see the children in Africa?”

  Allie sat forward and spun around excitedly. “Me and you, no Sal and the twins?”

  “Yep, but Aunt Ari’s coming because she’s helping me. Is that okay?”

  “Aunt Ari can come.”

  “Thank you. Now, dad and Uncle are on their way home. Why don’t we make Uncle the fudge cookies he likes?”

  The girl giggled. “Why don’t we take poop and put whipped cream on top to give to Uncle Geo? I bet he’ll eat it!”

  Selange’s eyes widened. “Aldonza!”

  Al, honey, please get your ass home ASAP!

   

   

  ***

   

   

   

  Sophie patiently waited for the pastries to bake. The woman moving with determined strides from one end to the next of the spacious kitchen hadn’t smiled in the past hour. She was trying desperately to bond with Shanda and aside from Carlo through cooking she found another commonality. Shanda was a very good cook, excellent in fact. The gluten free treats she prepared were quite delicious.  Shanda’s cell rang and she took it from her pocket, looked at the number and put the device right back.