by Rose Cody
“How?” She says, shaking her head.
“Jennifer…” He says, looking around. “My boss is Ignazio Alfonzo. I work for the Alfonzo Crime Family.”
She gasps, covering her mouth with her hands as she leans backwards before lowering her hand and frowning.
“You work for the fucking mob!?” She asks, whispering forcefully as she looks around. “You never told me you work for the fucking mob, asshole!”
“I can help you.” He says, pressing his finger against his chest. “I can make this right.”
“Right?!” She squeals out before quickly lowering her voice again. “That’s not right! Am I the only normal fucking person around here?”
“Hey, do you want my help or not?” He asks, scrunching up his nose at her.
“No!” She gasps. “No of course I do not. I absolutely do not want your fucking help, Andrei. How could you not say something?”
“Say what?” He asks. “What should I have said, Jennifer?!”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She says, throwing the butt of her smoke to the ground. “How about ‘Hey, Jennifer, before we have sex, I’m a dirty criminal and this hotel I brought you to is mob run.’!?”
“I am not a dirty criminal!” He says, holding his finger up in the air. “We provide a service…”
“You literally just asked me if I wanted help from the mafia!” She whispers. “Are you insane!?”
“I’m trying to help you!” He says, resting his hand on her knee.
“I don’t want your help!” She says, pushing his hand off of her before standing up and stepping back. “I don’t ever want to see you again… ever!”
Andrei throws his hands into the air, gasping and shaking his head as he watches Jennifer throw open the double doors they came out of and walk angrily back inside.
“Well, so much for that…” He says to himself as he stands up and dusts off his slacks.
Chapter 8
“Dad?” Jennifer asks, swirling the wet, soapy dish cloth over the glass plate as she calls out to her father in the living room. “Did you get enough to eat for supper?”
“Yes, thank you!” She hears him call back as she places the dish on the rack to dry. “You can go home now!”
“I’m not going home just yet.” She says to him, shaking her head. “At least not until I make you some breakfast and lunch for tomorrow.”
She wipes her hands on the speckled tea towel hanging off her waist before walking over to the fridge and hanging it on the handle.
Jennifer couldn’t believe the hospital wanted to release her dad so early, but not even two days after the accident and they’ve already sent him home to fend for himself.
She pulls a bag of golden apples out from the crisper before walking over to the kitchen table and heaving them up.
Jennifer wipes her forehead as she walks back over to the counter to grab a knife and a cutting board before picking up the still damp plate from the rack on her way back to the table.
She sits down at the kitchen table as she lowers everything down onto the surface before she stretches out her aching back.
As tired as she is from being on her feet all day at work, it’s not like anyone else is going to help her dad.
“Jennifer!” She hears her dad call to her from the living room. “You gotta come and fucking see this clown!”
She gets up from the table, wiping her hands on her shirt as she walks from her father’s kitchen into the living room.
“Is it that commercial again?” She asks, glancing at her dad from the doorway. “Do I really need to see it?”
“No! It’s not that fucking commercial!” Her dad says pointing towards the TV. “Look at this piece of shit!”
She looks up at the TV, her eyes glaring as a gasp escapes from between her lips.
Jennifer angrily walks over to her dad, sitting beside him on the couch as she watches the news broadcast on TV.
And tonight…
She hears the female newscaster announce.
Brent Donaldson, son of our very own Mayor Donaldson, has announced his run for city council. Born in Oak Falls, Brent has been a member of this community for the past thirty –
“Are you kidding me?” She exclaims as she grabs the remote off the coffee table before quickly turning off the television.
She looks towards her dad, her expression bewildered as she watches him fume.
“Will you look at that!” Her dad says, shaking his head. “And of course, now we know exactly why I was too delirious to see him hit me, right!”
Jennifer lets out an exhausted chuckle as she leans back into the couch cushions before tossing her hands into the air.
“What a psychopath!” She says, shaking her head. “You would think most people would hide out after committing a hit and run, not fucking run for political office!”
She gets up from the couch and paces around the living room as her mind reels.
“I can’t believe the police won’t do anything! And they know it’s fucking true, too! Why else would they refuse to investigate?” She yells as she shakes her fist. “Isn’t there anyone in this city who isn’t a fucking scumbag!? You know what, I have the fucking right mind to call that news station up myself right now and demand to be put on the air and tell everyone exactly what kind family they got running this city…”
“Jennifer, please…” Her dad sighs sadly as he watches her rub her hands over her eyes. “It’s over, it’s done, there’s no need to get so worked up.”
“It’s just not fair…” She says, walking back over to the couch and sitting beside her dad before leaning on his shoulder. “I wish there was something I could do to make this better.”
“Sometimes we just have to cut our losses, Jennifer.” Her father says, brushing his fingers through her hair. “I’m lucky to be alive.”
“No, dad.” She whispers, sighing out as she closes her eyes. “I’m going to make him pay for this.”
Chapter 9
A shiver runs up Jennifer’s spine from the cool air conditioning as she enters the hotel she, only a few nights prior, spent the night in.
The short, hard heel of her flats click the floor as she hurries herself over to the elevator before pushing the button up to go up.
Her heart beats, like it was trying to escape her chest, as she watches the number above the elevator door change as she reaches the 23rd floor.
She steps out into the hallway, glancing up and down the hallway as her feet fight her every step of the way as she struggles to the room Andrei took her to.
“I hope he’s still here.” She whispers to herself as she stands quietly in front of the doorway as she raises her hand.
Jennifer knocks, quietly at first before tapping her knuckles against the wood harder and harder.
“Yeah! I get it!” She hears coming from inside before she watches the door pull open.
“Jennifer?” Andrei asks, his puzzled expression changing to a smile as he opens the door wider. “Come in!”
He reaches to wrap his arm around her as he enters his suite before she pushes him away.
“Not in a million fucking years…” She says as she kicks off her shoes before walking over to his bed and sitting down in the covers, pushing a half-eaten boxed pizza away from her and towards the middle of the bed.
“Oh, yeah?” He asks, raising his eyebrow as he walks over to the bed as well, picking up the pizza box and walking it back over to the desk by the door before placing it down. “So why are you even here then?”
“Look…” She says, her voice trembling as she pauses. “I need your help…”
“Excuse me?” Andrei says, leaning against the desk as he picks up a slice of pizza and brings it up to his mouth to take a bite. “You called me a dirty criminal. And then you ditch me. And then you don’t answer any calls for days. And then you come over here and storm into my room while pretty much telling me to go fuck myself and now you want my help? You ever think that maybe I don’t want
to help you anymore?”
“Andrei, please…” She begs, biting her bottom lip as her stomach tumbles over itself.
“I’m a person, you know.” He says, swallowing his chewed up pizza before tossing the slice back in the box and walking over to the bed.
He sits down on the opposite side from her and kicks his feet up onto the mattress.
“I have feelings.” He says sarcastically, leaning against the headboard.
“Brent Donaldson announced that he’s running for city council…” She says, sternly, watching him as he pokes around his teeth with his finger.
“Yeah, I heard.” He says nodding. “Funny how that works, huh? Police cover up a major crime so they don’t interrupt a council run for a powerful family… but I’m the dirty criminal…”
Jennifer covers her eyes with her hands before letting out a deep sob as she turns away from him.
“Oh, Jennifer…” He whispers to her, crawling over to her side of the bed and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
She leans into him, crying into his shirt as he rubs the palm of his hand up and down the top of her arm.
“I just don’t know what to do!” She sobs, sniffling.
“I’ll help you.” He whispers to her, a gentle shoosh leaving his lips. “Of course I’m going to help you.”
She sighs, smiling softly as she watches him grasp her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers as he leans down and presses a gentle kiss against her forehead.
“Thank you, Andrei.” She sniffs, looking up into his deep eyes. “I didn’t know where else to turn.”
“You can always turn to me…” He whispers back to her before sitting up and clearing his throat.
He gets up from the bed, standing in front of her as he quickly claps his hands together once before sucking in a deep breath.
“Okay.” He says, relaxing his shoulders. “What do you want me to do about this?”
“I don’t even know what I want, honestly.” She sighs, bending over to lean her elbow on her knee and her face in her hand.
“Well, I mean there’s gotta be something you want.” He says, walking back over to the desk by the door and picking up the bitten slice from the box before taking another bite, chewing and then swallowing. “There’s got to be some reason you came to me.”
“I guess I just want…” She says, thinking, hesitating as she looks down to her feet before looking back up at him. “Money.”
“Money? That’s it?” He asks, taking another bite of his pizza before walking back over to her.
“That’s all.” She says, nodding her head. “I just want my dad’s bills to be paid. I don’t want him to have to sit there and suffer in pain while also sitting there and suffering with worry. I just want enough money to be able to take care of him for a little while.”
“That’s all you want? You don’t want him to step down from the election or move far away or anything?” Andrei asks as he sits back down beside her.
She shakes her head, shrugging her shoulder as the mattress shifts under his weight.
“No.” She says. “I honestly don’t even care about that. Asking him to step away would only leave room for some other piece of shit. It won’t make the world any less corrupt. I just want a little bit for people like us for once.” She says, pressing her hand to her chest.
“Yeah.” Andrei says as he nods his head. “Yeah, I can get you money.”
She smiles, sighing as she lets her back fall to the mattress in relief.
“I’ll get you everything I can.” Andrei says, chuckling as he watches her stretch her arms above her head.
“I’m going to help you.” She says, rolling over onto her side to face him.
“Help me?” He asks, scrunching up his nose puzzled. “You want to come and do the job with me?”
“Yeah.” She says, sitting up. “I want to help you. I want to be there.”
Andrei lets out a surprised chuckle as he watches Jennifer get up off the bed before walking over to the desk by the door and grabbing a cold slice of pizza.
He watches as she takes a bite before walking back over to him and sitting back down on the bed beside him again.
“Yeah, alright.” He says, smiling as he bites into his slice once again. “I have a job tomorrow. Just something small I need to take care of. But I’ll pick you up at your apartment right after.”
“Okay.” Jennifer says, as he watches his face get tense.
“Be ready to get your hands dirty.”
Chapter 10
“Do you really not know how to use a microwave, dad?” She sighs into the phone as she leans against her kitchen counter. “Yeah, press the big button and it will open the door…I know you know how to set the timer. I’ve watched you set the timer before…”
She stands up straight turning towards the intercom as she hears it buzz loudly.
“Hey, dad,” She says as she rushes over to the intercom in her hallway. “I’m gunna have to let you go, I have a friend outside who’s waiting on me, okay? I love you. And hey! I’m going to groceries on Saturday, so if there is anything you really, really think you want, just write it down on the note pad I left on the kitchen table, alright?”
Jennifer clicks on her phone to hang up the call as she presses the square, red button on the intercom, buzzing down to the lobby.
“I’ll be right there.” She says into the speaker before letting go of the button and rushing over to her couch.
She picks up her sweat shirt and pulls it over her head as she walks over to her dining room table before picking up her keys and rushing towards her front door.
Jennifer locks her door and hurries down the hall before bouncing down the stairs to the lobby.
“Sorry!” She says as she walks out into the sunshine, waving at Andrei as he leans against the hood of his car. “Sorry, I was just on the phone with my dad.”
“How is he?” Andrei asks as he stands up before walking over to the passenger side door and opening it for her.
“Actually, he’s doing alright.” She says, smiling softly and slipping into the car as she watches Andrei walk around the front end to the driver’s side. “As long as he keeps taking the pain medicine he’s comfortable. And he’s getting up and moving, which the doctor says will help his recovery hopefully. He was just trying to heat up one of the meals I prepared for him.”
“Awe, you’re such a sweetheart.” Andrei chuckles as he sits down in the driver’s seat. “What a nice daughter. Did you make him meals for the whole week?”
“Just until Saturday. Then I’ll go out and get him some groceries and make him some more.” She says, her voice trailing off as she notices a stain on his cheek.
Jennifer reaches up to wipe it away, spreading it over her finger with the pad of her thumb before looking back over to Andrei.
“You had blood on you.” She whispers as she wipes her fingers on her sweatshirt.
“Thanks.” Andrei whispers, clearing his throat awkwardly as he starts the car.
The silence is thick as they drive, Jennifer’s heart pounding in her ears as she watches the buildings pass.
“I got some guys on board, by the way.” Andrei says, letting her know as he curls up the corner of his lips in a coy smile. “More people and it’ll be easier.”
“Mobsters, too?” She asks, turning away from the window.
“Yeah.” He says, taking his eyes off the road for a second to wink at her. “More baddies.”
“Mobsters like to get paid, right?” She asks, leaning her head on the headrest of her seat. “Because I’m not saying anybody…”
“Don’t worry.” He says, smirking at her. “For you, baby, free.”
“Nothing’s free.” She says, crossing her arms over her chest as she sinks back into her seat.
“Yeah, I guess it’s not.” He says, sucking his teeth as he shakes his head. “They agreed to help if I left them my credit card. They’re gunna put dinner on it, so at least we’ll get to eat, too
, right?”
“I bet they’re going free for all.” Jennifer giggles, sighing as she relaxes, letting her head fall to the side to look at Andrei.
“They better fuckin’ not be!” He says, laughing as he pulls into the parking lot of the hotel. “I mean, it’s not like they can do too much damage, right? The card has a limit.”
