Bound By Blood: The Rise of a Mafia Prince

by Tony Farraj

  “Are you talking about snake eyes? Likes to gamble? Owes some cat a ton of money.” T-bone looked at Anthony. “Are you the one he owes the money too?”

  “Maybe?” Anthony said cautiously.

  “That sorry bastard don’t come in until after midnight.” T-bone turned to pay for his drink, when Anthony stopped him.

  “Let me get that.” Anthony handed the bartender a fifty. “Anything this guy wants, put it on my tab. I’m stilling over there.” Anthony pointed to the only white table in the back of the club.

  “Shit bra, you don’t have to do that.”

  “It’s my pleasure, all I ask in return is when Leroy… Snake eyes comes in here, you point him out.”

  “You got it Anthony.” T-bone said sincerely.

  Anthony thanked T-bone and walked back to his table.

  “Was that Leroy?” Vinnie asked.

  “No. That was my cellmate, but he knows what Leroy looks like. He said he doesn’t come in until midnight.”

  As night moved on, Anthony would glance over at T-bone, they’d make eye contact, smile and go back to enjoying the scenery. Anthony’s head began to throb from the pounding music and the smell of cheap perfume that lingered in the confined air. He got up from his chair and stretched. “This fuckin guy isn’t coming.” Anthony said disappointed. “Let’s go. We’ll try back tomorrow night.” All three men walked to the exit. Anthony stopped to pay his tab and say good-bye to T-bone, then followed Vinnie and Bruno to the parking lot.

  The lot was still filled with cars. There were broken bottles and crushed beer cans scattered everywhere. Near the entrance of the club a bum slept by the door. Vinnie stumbled, trying to avoid stepping on the sleeping transient.

  “What the fuck? Hey asshole, get the fuck out of here and go find somewhere else to sleep.” Vinnie gave the transient a small kick in the ribs.

  Anthony looked down at the guy. He was motionless. His head bent to one side, slobber dribbled down his chin and onto his chest. A bottle of wild turkey clutched in his hand slowly sipped out on to the cold sidewalk.

  “I wonder if he has any money?” Bruno bent down.

  “What the hell is the matter with you?” Anthony asked. “Go get the fucken car?”

  Bruno looked embarrassed. He followed Vinnie to the car, while Anthony took several steps away from the sleeping man. He watched as Vinnie and Bruno disappeared in between two large SUVs. When they where clear out of sight, the transient had stood up and now was merely inches away from Anthony. In his hand was a large hunting knife that he jabbed into Anthony’s back.

  “Don’t you make a motherfucken move?” His breath blew by Anthony’s ear. “All I want is you wallet.”

  “Al right, just be cool.” Anthony asked the transient calmly.

  “Don’t fuck with me! Just handed it over?”

  Anthony felt the large hunting knife dig a little deeper into his back.

  “Man, you think I’m playing?” The transient slashed the knife across Anthony’s buttocks.

  Anthony felt a cool breeze at first, followed by a sharp pain and then a warm sensation that ran down the back of his leg.

  “Now I’m going to ask you one more time and if you stall, I’m going to run this here knife across your throat.”

  Anthony reached into his jacket and pulled out his wallet and handed it to the transient.

  “Good. Now all you gots to do is follow…” Suddenly, Anthony heard a bottle break. The transient dropped to the ground, as the large knife fell by Anthony’s feet.

  “Yo man, you alright?”

  Anthony quickly turned to see T-bone standing there holding the end of the broken bottle. “This…” Anthony kicked the unconscious transient in the ribs. “Motherfucker tried to rob me!”

  “Yo Anthony, looks like you’re cut.” T-bone said still clutching the broken end.

  “Yeah, well fuck him.” Anthony gave the bum three or four more kicks in the mid-section.

  Meanwhile, Vinnie and Bruno pulled up like nothing was wrong. Vinnie stepped out of the car and stared at the guy lying by Anthony’s feet.

  “What happened here?”

  “This piece of shit tried to rob me. If it wasn’t for T-bone here, I’d probably be dead.” Anthony turned the transient over and went through his pockets. For a guy who was suppose to be a bum, he sure had a lot of money stuffed in his pants. Anthony bundled up the money and handed it to T-bone. “You keep that, I owe you one.”

  T-bone grabbed the money and stuffed it into his own pockets.

  Next, Anthony reached his long coat and pulled out a large rope chain with a medallion hanging on the end.

  “Oh shit? You know who that is?” T-bone said excitedly. “That’s the motherfucker you was looking fou… That’s snake eyes!”

  Anthony’s anger turned to rage. “Throw this piece of shit in the trunk!” He turned to T-bone. “If you ever need anything, come down to a place called Hank’s, it’s on the south side. I still owe you one for saving my life.” Anthony, Vinnie and Bruno jumped into the car and headed to the warehouse to have a little talk with Leroy.

  Leroy slowly opened his eyes and tried to block the light that shined directly into his face, but he realized quickly that he couldn’t. His wrists where bound to a three legged chair. He tried to peer through the blinding light, but it was all in vain.

  “Hey Anthony, he’s coming too.” Vinnie removed the floodlight from Leroy’s face. Anthony sled a little closer and angry looked into Leroy’s eyes. “Do you know who I am?”

  “You’re a dead motherfucker! That’s who you are!” Leroy shook forcefully, trying to loosen his hands from the broken chair.

  Anthony pushed his chair away from Leroy and nodded to Bruno, who calmly walked over to Snake Eyes and threw a punch that jerked Leroy’s head from side to side. A large cut opened above Leroy’s right eye. His warm reddish blood ran down the side of his face. Leroy could hardly stay conscious. “My name is Anthony Sakakini. My boss, Vincent Spinelli hired me to get his money. Does any of this ring a bell?”

  Leroy nodded his head.

  “Good. My boss wants his money. Where is his money?” Anthony asked calmly. He nodded to Bruno again. Bruno grabbed Leroy by the collar and hit him so hard; it knocked Leroy to the ground. Vinnie picked him up and sat him up right.

  “I want the money today. Nod if you can understand me.” Anthony asked.

  Leroy could hardly control the movement in his head, but he acknowledged Anthony.

  “Good, see that wasn’t that hard. I just want the money.” Anthony flashed a pleasant smile in Leroy’s direction. “Where is it?”

  “I have it at the house. If you let me go, I’ll bring it too you, I promise.” Leroy said, as blood and saliva trailed out of his mouth.

  “You think I’m playing? Do you think this is some game?” Anthony grabbed a two by four from the ground and whacked Leroy across his knees. “Where’s my money?” Anthony yelled in Leroy’s ear, as he continuously swung the two by four on alliterating knees.

  “It’s at the house!” Leroy screamed with agony.

  “Then let’s go get it.” Anthony asked Vinnie to untie Leroy’s hands. “You better not be lying to me or so help me god; I’ll throw your ass off the nearest roof. You understand me?”

  They all piled back into the car and drove to a run down apartment building near Clicks. The walls of the building where covered with graffiti, but this wasn’t art graffiti, it was plan and worthless vandalism. The windows where all covered with burglar bars, except for the top floor.

  “This is where you live? I’m surprised. I thought you’d have a better place.” Anthony said as they made their way to the back door.

  Vinnie opened the door to the building. A strong smell of urine felled the air, along with their nostrils. The hallways where lined with garbage and rat droppings. All four men walked up the creaky staircase and up to Leroy’s floor.

  “Which one is your apartment?” Anthony asked.

 
Leroy pointed to the end of the hall.

  “Why is it, that I’m having trouble believing you? If that’s your apartment, where’s the key?”

  Leroy searched his pockets, but didn’t produce a key. “Sorry bro, I must have lost it when your boy here was using my face for a punching bag.”

  “Are you fucken kidding me? You think I’m here on a social visit? Where’s your fucken apartment!” Anthony punched Leroy in the gut. “Tell me the truth or so help me god I will throw you out this fucken widow!” Anthony dragged Leroy to the end of the hall and slammed his face against the metal covered glass and pushed down hard. Leroy could feel his flesh tear away from his face. It felt as if Anthony was using a cheese grader. “Had enough, yet?” Anthony asked as he continuously slid Leroy’s head up and down the metal grid.

  Finally, Leroy reached underneath his shirt and pulled out two keys hanging on a thin chain.

  “Apartment 407.” Anthony said surprised. Leroy actually told Anthony the truth about where he resided. “Leroy, I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” Anthony turned to Vinnie and Bruno. “See, the guy’s not so stupid.” Anthony tore the chain from Leroy’s neck and began to unlock the four bolt locks on the door.

  The interior of Leroy’s apartment was astonishing. The entrée way was completely marble tile. The living room was furnished with all Italian black leather. In the formal dining room, there was a round glass table with a solid marble base. In the center was a crystal clear statue of an Arabian stallion. The entertainment system was equaled to a high price nightclub.

  “Now this is what I expected from you.” Anthony was impressed by Leroy’s surroundings. “Where is my money?”

  Leroy led the three men to his bedroom. Behind a picture of his mother was a small wall safe. Anthony stepped to the safe and used the other key to unlock the small, but heavy metal door.

  “Leroy, how much do you have tucked away?” Anthony asked, as he started to pull out the neatly stacked bills and handed them to Vinnie.

  “Seventy five thousand give or take.” Leroy smiled with pride.

  “I’m very impressed.”

  “You mind if I clean up a little? I sure don’t want to get any blood on this Persian rug.” Leroy asked.

  “Yeah go right ahead. Bruno, follow him. Any funny stuff and you can shoot him in the head.” Anthony continued to hand the money to Vinnie.

  Leroy walked to the bathroom, followed closely by Bruno. “Yo man, can I get some privacy. I don’t need you in here holding my cock.”

  “Fine, but you got three minutes, then I’m coming in after you. You got me?” Bruno stuck his large finger in Leroy’s mug.

  “Yeah, I got it; three minutes.” Leroy slammed the door and frantically searched for anything he could use as a weapon. Finally, in the last drawer by the toilet, Leroy found a straightedge razor.

  In the meantime, Anthony continued to count the money. He and Vinnie placed the money on the bed in stacks of thousands.

  “What’s the final tally?” Vinnie asked.

  “Eighty three thousand and some change.” Anthony said with a smile. When suddenly he heard a mighty crash from the other room. Vinnie and Anthony ran in to see what had happened. They found Bruno and Leroy rolling around on the floor. Anthony could see Leroy holding a razor in his hand. Without saying a word he grabbed Vinnie’s gun and fired a round into Leroy’s thigh. “What the hell are you thinking? Bruno you al right?”

  “This fucken guy here? He opens the door and comes at me with a razor…” Bruno paused to catch his breath. “I gotta give you credit, you got some balls my friend.”

  Leroy stood up and faced Anthony. He didn’t even feel the bullet wound in his thigh. “Shit man, I fucked up! I didn’t mean anything by it! Why don’t you take all the money and you and me call it even. Whatta say?”

  “Whatta do I say? Leroy you tried to cut my friend, you already cut me? Let me ask you this; what if somebody tried to kill one of your home boys, what would you do?” Anthony stared deep into Leroy’s eyes. “But, I’m a reasonable man, I’m going to give you a chance, fly or die?”

  “What?”

  Anthony raised the gun and pointed it at Leroy’s head. “I can shoot you right here and mess up your pretty little rug or you could fly out of here in one piece, your choice.”

  Leroy cringed behind his hands. “Alright, Ill fly out of town. Just don’t shoot me.”

  “Good choice.” Anthony stepped to one side and made a quick glance toward the bedroom window. Quick as a flash, Vinnie and Bruno grabbed Leroy by the shirt and with one hard heave threw Leroy out the four- story building. Leroy’s mangled body hit the wet concrete below. He twitched from the violent impact. His legs went one way, while his pelvis went another. Anthony stepped to the broken window and peered down. “You know…” He said looking back at Vinnie and Bruno. “It’s not the fall that killed him…”

  All three men smiled. “It’s the sudden stop.”

  “Look around for something to put this money in.” Anthony bundled the cash into one large pile.

  Vinnie found a terry cloth gym bag in the closet. He placed the bag on the bed and helped Anthony pile the money inside.

  “Bruno, go and make sure the coast is clear.” Anthony zipped the bag and took one more look at Leroy’s lifeless body. Vinnie and Anthony walked out of the apartment calmly and jumped into the waiting car. They drove to Mr. Spinelli’s dealership, where they found Vincent playing card with some of the boys. Anthony opened the terry cloth bag and poured the money on the table, along with Leroy’s medallion.

  “How much is here?” Mr. Spinelli asked.

  “Eighty five thousand.” Anthony said proudly. “But we did run into some trouble.”

  “What happened?” Don Giovanni asked curiously.

  “Leroy tried to stab Bruno, so we had to throw him out the fuckin window.” Anthony said nonchalantly.

  Mr. Spinelli nodded in approval. “You did good kid.”

  “Thank you sir.”

  “We did have an agreement, you get my money back and I help you get your club. I believe twenty five thousand belongs to you.” Mr. Spinelli reached into the pile and pulled out the money and placed it in Anthony’s hands. “Plus, I’m going to give you an extra twenty, cause I think you deserve it.” Vincent reached back into the pile and handed Anthony more money.

  “Thank you Mr. Spinelli, but this money should go to Vinnie and Bruno. Without them, I couldn’t have done this.” Anthony split the money in half and gave each man his share. “Now, about the other half of our deal?”

  “Helping you get your revenge on Michael and Carlo. Anthony you have my complete support. I speak for the rest of the family when I say welcome.” Vincent stood up and kissed Anthony on both cheeks and hugged him tightly. “I want you to come down here tomorrow night and we’ll make it official. I’ll put the word out that you are part of my crew now and if anyone has a beef with you, they’ll have to deal with me.”

  “Thank you Mr. Spinelli.”

  Anthony turned and made his way out the door and into the evening air. He leaned against the outer part of the building and stared up at the clear Texas sky. He was on his way of fulfilling the promise he made to him self, by tomorrow night he would start his own crew. Anthony knew that with the help of Mr. Spinelli, he would avenge the death of his mother and his first love Helen. He would finally put an end to Michael and Carlo’s reign.

  “Hey Anthony, are you alright?” Vinnie asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “You ready to go?” Vinnie slapped Anthony on the back. “About this money; you didn’t have to do that.”

  “I wanted too. You guys deserve it.” Anthony said, before sliding into the passenger seat.

  Vinnie closed the door and drove out of the dealership and headed toward Anthony’s house. He pulled the car into the driveway and followed Anthony into the kitchen, while Bruno made his way through out the remainder of the house, making sure no one had broken in while they where a
way.

  “You must feel honored, tomorrow you become a made man. That’s a big accomplishment and to achieve it in such a short time, that’s saying a lot. I just want you to know in the short time I’ve known you; it has been an honor to work for you.”

  “That goes form me too, boss.” Bruno said as he stood just inside the kitchen.

  “You two stop it, you don’t work for me; you work with me. You guys barely know me, but you’re here everyday protecting me from Michael and Carlo. If anybody deserves credit it’s you two. If it weren’t for you, I probably be dead by now. I owe you two much more than words could ever say.” Anthony got up and made his way to the bedroom. The long day had taken its toll. He felt tired and drain of energy. He hadn’t noticed how much his leg hurt from the cut Leroy had inflected. He collapsed onto his bed and shut his hazel eyes. The cool sheets felt good against his hot skin. Anthony rolled over and stared at the ceiling in his bedroom, before he knew what hit him, his eyes shut and he was a sleep.

  The following night, Vinnie and Bruno drove Anthony to the dealership in the cover of night. Vinnie pulled the car in the back and escorted Anthony inside, where he was blindfolded and led to a vacant office. Inside the office, Mr. Spinelli, Carmine Giovanni, Joey Carbello and the other men stood around the room holding candles. Each man was dressed in a black robe, with a hood and a blank face cover. Anthony was led to the center of the room, where Mr. Spinelli walked up to Anthony and asked him to open his hands. Joey then walked over and placed a picture of the Virgin Mary and a needle in Anthony’s palm.

  “I’m going to ask you a series of question.” Mr. Spinelli said. “You will answer every question with I do or I will, do you understand?”

  “I do.” Anthony responded nervously.

  “You are brought here today to become a part of a secret brotherhood, a secret organization that is known by many, but secret to a few. This organization dates back many, many centuries ago, back to a small town in Italy. Our secret organization goes by many names. Anthony, will you give your life to our thing?” Mr. Spinelli asked.

  “I will.”

  “Will you be faithful to our thing, never to betray or reveal any of our secrets?” Mr. Spinelli moved in closer to Anthony. His breath brushed passed Anthony’s face.