“He’s expecting me,” I paused for a moment. “How ‘bout that shot?”
She held my gaze for a moment before looking down the bar at one of the bikers that was taking up space fixing me with a suspicious stare.
“Riggs why don’t you go tell the Bulldog he has a visitor,” she planted the shot glass on top of the bar in front of me, holding the bottle of tequila mid-air ready to pour. “What did you say your name was handsome?”
“I didn’t, but you can tell him that Bianci is here.”
She smiled at me and began to pour the shot. “Bianci, huh?” She winked at me, pushing the glass with her index finger towards me before looking back at the guy Riggs. “Tell him a Pastore is in the house.”
“So you know me,” I said taking hold of the glass.
“Oh, handsome I’ve been around this club a long time. I know all of Jack’s associates and their protégé’s. It’s easy to pinpoint which crew you roll with, all you grease balls look alike.”
I looked at her for a moment swallowing her derogatory slur right along with the tequila she had poured for me.
“So Vic sent me Anthony Bianci…,” Jack said from behind me, causing me to place my empty shot glass back on the bar and swivel around in my bar stool to face him.
“That a problem?” I asked, as he advanced towards me two of his men tucked on either side of him.
“When Victor Pastore sends his most valuable player to do business, you know it’s a reminder of how fucking serious shit is about to get,” Jack said, holding out his hand for me to shake.
I shook his hand looking at the men standing close to his sides scrutinizing me before looking directly into Jack’s eyes.
“We going to get down with an audience or is there somewhere you and I can talk privately?” These men might be Jack’s brothers and all that but they were no fucking brothers of mine. The less people knew about my take in all this the lesser the chance of one of them ratting me out.
Jack looked at me for a moment before looking at the men that were glued to his sides. “Down, boys.” He said, averting his eyes back to me. “Follow me.” He stated, moving towards the door where the whole crew had emerged from moments before. Jack’s road name was Bulldog, hence the MC’s compound being dubbed the Dog Pound. Apparently, the dog references didn’t end there and when he ordered his men, he ordered them like they were pups in training. The mafia and the MC had a lot of the same morals making our alliance an asset to both organizations. We ran on different sides of the eastern seaboard, controlled different parts of the streets but in the end, we were cut from the same cloth. For instance, some of the guys in Vic’s organization had goomah’s another term for a man’s sidepiece while the MC called theirs sweet butts. We had a boss they had a president. We called one another soldiers they called themselves brothers. In the end, we were both criminals that ran the streets of New York.
I followed Jack into the room he called the chapel. He sat at the head of the wooden table and I took the seat to his left. His Vice President, reading his title off the badge on his leather cut, Blackie sat across from me sizing me up.
“I hope you don’t mind Blackie sitting in on our meeting.” Jack said eyeing me cautiously, which made me think he was testing me. I glanced across at Blackie who might’ve been a year or two younger than me which had me wondering how a guy so young had climbed the ranks in the MC. I’d be old and on my way out before, I was ever considered a potential underboss. I suppose that was the difference between our organizations. A guy like Blackie got promoted on his crimes, while a guy like me stayed stagnant, continuously asked to break the law and make a larger mess out of his life without gaining anything.
“It’s fine,” I said clearing my throat as my eyes diverted back and forth between Blackie and Jack. “So, either of you want to explain why your club is so eager to clean up this mess Vic has found himself in? I mean you’re aware that it is RICO charges they’re looking to nail him with, which means it’s federal.”
Jack sat back in his chair and ran the back of his hand along the scruff that lined his jaw. “You mean aside from the offer Vic placed on the table?”
“The deed to a warehouse in New Jersey doesn’t seem like much of an incentive when you’re talking about taking out a fed,” I said. “I’m sure you can understand my concern.”
“Blackie, give us a minute,” Jack said, eyeing his second in command. He didn’t look too happy about being dismissed but he didn’t put up an argument.
“I’ll be right outside,” he growled, as he rose from his seat. I wanted to laugh at him because he reminded me a lot of the guy I once was. A son of a bitch that would do anything for his higher command.
Jack waited for the door to close behind Blackie before he turned his attention back to me.
“You have any siblings Bianci?”
“A sister” I said, hesitantly wondering where he was going with this. There weren’t many people who knew about Lauren and I had done everything in my power to keep it that way. I didn’t need people using my sweet innocent sister as a ploy in this game that was my life.
“What’s it to you?”
“There it is…,” he said purposely, as he slapped his palm against the wood table. “Right there. The possessiveness one has over their blood.” He cocked his head to the side. “I bet not many people know of her.”
“Where are you going with this Parrish?” I complained, feeling irritable.
“Hear me out,” he demanded, holding up a hand. “There isn’t anything you wouldn’t do to protect your sister is there?”
“No, I suppose there isn’t,” I said automatically. I’d kill for Lauren I’d lay down and die for her if it came down to it.
“What does your sister do?”
“What the fuck does my sister have to do with this?”
“Not a damn thing.” Jack bowed his head. “But my brother, that’s a different story.”
“Your brother?” I asked, not following him.
He bit the inside of his cheek for a moment before shedding light on whatever the fuck it was he was talking about. “My parents died when I was twenty years old in a car crash. They were headed south on the Garden State on route to bail my ass out of jail when one of those luxury buses, you know the kind that drive down to A.C., slammed into them.” He lifted his eyes to mine and continued. “My brother Danny was only eighteen but still considered legal and after we buried our parents I vowed to take care of him. My aunt in Detroit wanted to take him with her but I swore on our parent’s grave that I would do the right thing by him. I didn’t have much going for me then but I had a shitload of responsibilities. I tried my hardest to make ends meet until I couldn’t anymore. I had no choice but to sell my parent’s house or let the bank foreclose on it. I was packing up the house when I went into the garage and found my old man’s Harley that he was rebuilding before he died.” He shrugged his shoulders a faint grin playing on his face. “It was the last gift my old man ever gave me, and I don’t mean the bike I mean the sign.” He crossed his arms against his chest. “It all became clear after that and I suddenly knew what I had to do to get me and my brother through this.” He unfolded his arms and swept his hand around the room. “And here I am now the president of Satan’s Knights.”
“And your brother?” I asked my curiosity piqued.
Jack released a heavy sigh as he leaned over the table and peered up at me. “He became a straight A student, scored himself a fancy college degree, and followed that with a gig on the opposite side of my spectrum.” He paused for a moment. “Are the dots connecting for you Bianci?”
I squinted as I leaned in close to him trying to read between the lines he was drawing for me. “You telling me your brother is a cop?”
“No Bianci I’m telling you my brother is a Fed, the same Fed that’s sniffing around your boss and that dead body that surfaced.”
“Jesus Christ, Jack,” I said in disbelief, running my hand over my face and through my hair
cupping the back of my neck as I studied him.
“I take it Victor doesn’t know that we’re gunning for your brother.”
“No, he doesn’t,” he replied, leaning back against his chair letting me digest the information he dumped on me. I didn’t even know where the fuck to start. This situation was fucked to begin with but now it was just a goddamn disaster.
“How do you plan on this playing out? Victor sent me to assure him you would do as promised and take out the Fed, but that’s not the plan, is it?”
“Let me ask you something; you think it’s a coincidence you’re here standing in front of me? Take a minute and think about it, why wouldn’t he send Jimmy to make sure the job gets done?”
“How the fuck should I know why that man does anything he does?”
“I agreed to this deal under the condition you would be Vic’s eye,” he said evenly.
“Why me?” I asked.
“Because, you my friend understand what it’s like to make a deal with the devil.” He laughed, cocking his head to the side. “You see, I did my homework Bianci, and I found it particularly interesting that you did three years for a crime you didn’t commit. A man can lose a lot in three years, his woman, his future, his sanity, and most importantly his loyalty when he’s been pushed too far.”
“Hold it right there Jack, before you say something you’ll regret. I’m not sure what you think you know about me and my problems with Victor but you’re questioning my character and that I won’t stand for. Yeah, I hate him, I fucking resent him for everything I lost including his daughter, but I took an oath to work for him and my word is gold. I’ve done a lot of shit for that man and you’re right, I lost a lot because of the things I’ve done for him. However, I’m not going to turn my back on him because then it would all be for nothing,” I stated, hoping I made myself perfectly clear to the man before me.
“I’m not asking you to go against him. I made a deal with Victor to shut down the investigation and to ensure that the Fed is dealt with. I’m not going to whack my brother Bianci and neither is anyone in Victor’s organization. I said I’d deal with him and I will but if I find out that one fucking hair on my brother is altered I will take out everyone that ever mattered to anyone in the Pastore organization. You get my drift, brother?”
“A man in your position shouldn’t be making threats and you sure as hell shouldn’t be making them against my girl.”
“I didn’t name names, did I?”
“You didn’t have to.” I replied gravely as I cracked my knuckles one by one.
“You ready to play my way Bianci?”
“What do you want to do?”
“We take a ride you and I, we do what Victor needs us to do and shut down Danny, but we do it my way. When you give Victor the report he’s waiting for, you tell him that the job was done and the Fed is no longer an issue. Capishe?”
I blew out a breath running my options through my head. Either I could tell Jack to go fuck himself and do the job myself or I could let him handle things his way and spare his brother. Everybody had a story, didn’t they? Jack’s was no less fucked up than the rest of ours. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. I had walked in his shoes, choosing between the love I had for someone and my obligation to the mob. But if I knew then what I know now, I’d choose love over everything.
“Do I have your word that your brother will close down the investigation?”
“Absolutely,” he offered confidently.
“I’m only going to say this once if this doesn’t go Vic’s way I’m not going to be responsible to what happens to your brother. You’ve got one chance to get him to see things your way, if he changes his mind or doesn’t agree to turn his cheek, he’s fair game.”
“Fair enough,” Jack countered immediately, which didn’t settle right with me but I brushed it to the side the moment he held out his hand for me to shake. “I appreciate this Bianci.” His voice catching as he said my name.
“I get it Jack, he’s your blood. I can’t say I wouldn’t be asking the same from you if it was my sister caught up in all this.”
“Yeah, well be happy your sister didn’t do anything vindictive like, become a federal fucking agent.” he grunted as he rose to his feet.
“Kid couldn’t be a fucking lawyer no, had to be a fed. I could’ve used a fucking lawyer.” He shook his head as he patted me on the back before walking past me to a large desk, pulling out the drawer. He took his gun and loaded it, tucking it into the waistband of his jeans. He pulled open the door and glanced over his shoulder at me.
“You ready to roll?”
“Let’s do this,” I said following him out of the room but after a few steps, he froze in his tracks and I lifted my head coming face to face with Jimmy Gold. “What’re you doing here?”
Jimmy smiled flashing me a glimpse of his gold teeth. “I thought I’d make myself available in case things went astray.” He looked back and forth between Jack and me. “Think of me as your insurance policy.”
Jack and I exchanged a look before I settled my gaze back on Jimmy.
“A word Jimmy,” I said roughly.
Jimmy smiled at Jack.
“He’s such a crabby bastard this one here.”
I grabbed Jimmy by the collar of his shirt and pushed him out of the compound into the dark night. He pulled my hand off him and popped his collar before turning around and piercing me with a deadly gaze.
“Who the fuck do you think you are Bianci?” he growled.
“I’m the guy who Vic sent to do a job and you’re the guy getting in the way of that.” I ground out.
“I don’t need any fucking babysitter Jimmy.”
“If you think for one minute I’m going to sit this one out and leave my life in your hands, you must’ve lost your mind while you were locked away.”
“Your life? Aren’t you being dramatic?” I rolled my eyes before he took my shirt in his fists and stared at me like a man losing control.
“That’s my fucking body the Fed’s digging up which means it’s my ass on the line.” He barked like a mad man.
“Afraid to go to prison?” I asked sarcastically before pulling his hands off me and pushing him up against the brick wall of the compound. “You’re a loose fucking cannon Jimmy that’s why they found your body in the first place. Now, Vic sent me in to do the job and that’s exactly how this shit is going to play out. Instead of giving me grief, say thank you Anthony for cleaning up my mess.”
“Fuck you.”
“Try again,” I said, shoving my forearm against his throat causing him to gasp for air. I had no mercy for this son of a bitch. If it wasn’t for his sloppy ways, I wouldn’t be torn between Jack and Victor or my conscience.
“Fine!” He choked, and I released my hold on him.
“Get the fuck out of here Jimmy and let me do my job,” I growled, taking a step backward as Jack stepped outside the compound.
“Everything okay boys?” he asked looking at me suspiciously.
“We’re all good isn’t that right Jimmy?”
“Make sure it’s fucking done and no one can trace this shit back to us.” He whispered harshly before turning around to Jack and shaking his hand.
“Good luck, fella’s”, he said, before walking towards his car. Jack and I watched as he slipped into the driver seat of his Escalade and peeled out of the parking lot.
“You still with me?” Jack asked; his eyes straight ahead on Jimmy’s tail.
“A hundred percent, brother.” I replied, patting him on the back. “Let’s go meet this brother of yours.”
Chapter Seventeen
2014
We had been driving for an hour and the GPS estimated that we had another hour to go to get to wherever Danny was located. Jack sat in the passenger seat beside me staring out the window at the dark highway. He was calm for someone who was ordered by the mob to kill his brother.
“What’s it like working for Victor?” he asked me, keeping hi
s eyes focused out the window.
“I imagine not much different than working under you,” I replied, causing him to turn his head slightly and look at me.
“Word on the street is that he lost his shit after Val died. After Val took those bullets that were meant for him they say he changed, and I don’t mean he changed how he ran things but he changed as a whole.” He probed then paused for a beat. “I didn’t do much business with him and Val back then but it was Val who made the partnership between the Pastore family and Satan’s Knights possible. The few encounters I did have with him made it easy to determine how valuable he was to Vic, that man was a fucking legend in the streets.”
“Yeah, Val was no slouch,” I agreed, thinking fondly of the man who was my mentor at one point.
“Makes you almost feel bad for Vic that he lost a guy like that, only to have him replaced by a schmuck like Jimmy.”
“Jimmy’s eccentric, but make no mistake about it that man has devoted his life to the mob,” I responded, believing wholeheartedly that Jimmy didn’t second guess his choices.
“Devoted to the mob yes but devoted to Victor are two different things, I doubt he’d stand in front of a loaded gun aimed at his boss,” Jack challenged, his voice full of certainty.
If Jimmy had to choose between himself and someone else, I didn’t doubt he’d save his own ass first.
“You on the other hand, wouldn’t think twice about giving your own life,” he declared, turning to look at me again. “You’ve sacrificed a lot being one of Vic’s henchmen which makes me wonder if there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for him.”
I glanced at Jack out of the corner of my eye pondering his words for a moment. “I don’t know if that’s true.” After all, I was technically going against him at that moment knowing he expected the Fed to be a casualty when in reality we were only going to silence him.
“So if Victor told you to choose between the love you have for his daughter and the oath you took to be his soldier would you choose your oath again?”
“No,” I huffed automatically. I assumed that since I didn’t have to think about my answer it spoke volumes about me and the soldier I had become.
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