The TANNER Series - Books 1-3 (Tanner Box Set)

by Remington Kane

From where he was standing at the bar, Johnny Rossetti watched Merle and Earl as they entered their VIP rooms on the arms of hookers, and then he turned to look at Carl the bartender.

  “Hey, weren’t you working the alley last week?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t need any reward, living through it was reward enough.”

  Johnny grinned.

  “I still can’t believe you fainted, but fair’s fair and I’ll hook you up.”

  One of the dancers was on break inside a roped-off section at the side of the bar, and was wearing a white silk robe, she was a woman named Skye, who had large natural breasts and long dark hair. Johnny pointed at her as he talked to one of the barmaids.

  “Go tell Skye I want to see her.”

  “Skye?” Carl said.

  “You like her, right? I see you two talking all the time.”

  “Yeah, she’s nice.”

  “You’re gonna find out just how nice when she gives you a lap dance, but don’t expect anything more from her, she’s not a hooker. I only got pros for the Carter brothers. They deserve it for killing Tanner.”

  Skye appeared with a questioning look in her green eyes.

  “You wanted to see me, Johnny?”

  “Yeah, honey, Carl here is one of the heroes from last week, take him back to VIP room six and show him a good time.”

  Skye smiled at Carl.

  “Follow me, sir.”

  Carl smiled back weakly and followed Skye towards the VIP rooms.

  Johnny headed for his office, but stopped, as he saw Al Trent enter.

  Trent was unshaven, and thick dark stubble covered his face, while his eyes looked red and swollen from lack of sleep and the jeans and green polo shirt he wore looked wrinkled.

  “This is the first time I’ve seen you without a suit on Trent, but don’t worry, I hear the state pen is giving away free suits, nice orange jumpsuits.”

  Trent rushed towards Johnny and stuck a finger in his face.

  “You framed me, didn’t you?”

  Two of the club’s bouncers rushed over and Trent took a step backwards. One of the bouncers had a shaved head, while the other had a wide red scar on his left cheek, and both men were twice Trent’s size, dressed all in black, and armed.

  Johnny spoke to the man with the scar.

  “Pat him down, Bull.”

  The search took only a few seconds, and when it was done, the man spoke to Johnny as he held up the contents of Trent’s pockets.

  “He’s clean, Boss, no weapons, no bugs, but he does have a wallet, watch, and phone.”

  “Give them back to him when he leaves. Trent, follow me to my office.”

  Trent stared at his belongings for a moment and then rushed to catch up to Johnny, who had already walked away.

  “Just tell me why you framed me, Rossetti.”

  Johnny reached his office and held the door open for him.

  “Get in here. I didn’t frame you, but I can guess who did.”

  ***

  Across the club, in VIP room six, Carl swallowed hard as Skye removed the silk robe to reveal a red string bikini, and when she began gyrating her hips to music, he spoke.

  “Don’t do that.”

  Skye cocked her head.

  “What?”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Johnny wants you to have fun, and it’s my job, besides, it’s not like you haven’t seen me dance before.”

  “I know, Skye, but... that was different.”

  “How?”

  “That was for other guys, people off the street, and I thought we were friends, sort of.”

  “We are friends; I mean we talk all the time. You’ve even met my daughter.”

  “How is Ashley?”

  “She’s good. She started high school this year.”

  “Get out of here. The last time I ran into you two at the supermarket she was just a little thing.”

  “Yeah, but she’s grown like a weed the last few months.”

  “Really?”

  “Um-hmm,”

  “See what I mean? If you do this, rub against me and whatever else, that’s going to make things weird between us and we won’t be friends anymore.”

  Skye stared at him for long moments without saying anything, then, she put her robe back on and cut off the music.

  “You really don’t want me to give you a lap dance?”

  “No.”

  “I could get one of the other girls if you’d like? I mean, I know I’m like the old lady here at thirty-two, and there’s that new girl, the small blonde, I hear she’s only nineteen.”

  “No, it’s not that, you’re not old and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  “What?”

  Carl shrugged.

  “It’s true.”

  Skye sat down beside Carl and took his hand.

  “Didn’t you say earlier that you were off this Sunday?”

  “Yeah,”

  “So am I, and I want you to come to my apartment for dinner.”

  “What?”

  “Dinner, and I’m a good cook too.”

  “You want me to come to your apartment?”

  “Yes, will you come?”

  “Sure.”

  Skye kissed Carl on the lips.

  “You’re a good man, Carl.”

  Carl blushed a bright red that made Skye laugh.

  “I think you would have fainted if I had danced for you.”

  Carl sighed.

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  ***

  “Why would Frank Richards want to frame me for murder?”

  Johnny sent Trent a shrug, from where he sat on the sofa in his office.

  “Maybe it’s because you know too much.”

  Trent thought that over and realized it might be true. After all, he had gotten rid of Richards’ wife for him and there were many other secrets he knew, or suspected, such as the true reason behind the upcoming meeting of The Conglomerate’s elite, but that was something that even Richards wasn’t aware he knew.

  “Let’s say you’re right and it was Richards, why not just kill me instead?”

  “I don’t know, kid, and to tell you the truth, I really don’t care. As far as I’m concerned, it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

  “You really didn’t frame me?”

  “No, but whoever it was did a great job of it. Not only do the cops want you for killing that guy, Reese, but the papers say they also have you linked to a murder that took place in some box factory.”

  “I don’t know anything about either murder.”

  “Are you sure about that? Jackie Verona has gone missing and I seem to recall you telling me not to send him a warning.” Johnny stood and walked over to study Trent carefully. “Did you kill Verona, kid?”

  Trent turned and headed for the door.

  “I don’t know whose blood and brain tissue they found in that warehouse and I didn’t kill anybody.”

  Trent opened the door, but before he left, he gave Johnny a bit of news.

  “Richards got the board to agree to demote you. You’ll be summoned by him any day now.”

  “The son of a bitch wants to see me tomorrow, but he wouldn’t tell me who was taking over. Do you know?”

  “I don’t; I only know you’re out, and that’s the one bright spot in my world right now.”

  Johnny waved a hand at Trent.

  “Go on, before I put you out of your misery.”

  “Somebody framed me, Rossetti, and when I find out who it was, I’ll be back at Mr. Richards side.”

  “Sure kid, keep telling yourself that.”

  ***

  Johnny walked out into the club with Trent and watched him leave, then saw Merle and Earl walking towards him with wide eyes and silly grins.

  They were dressed in new suits instead of their usual casual, and ratty, attire. The suits were a gift from Johnny, as were the women who had just pleasured them. Nothing was too go
od for the men who had killed Tanner.

  Johnny smiled at them.

  “I see the girls showed you boys a good time. They should have, they cost three bills each.”

  Merle and Earl nodded at Johnny, and when they looked at each other, they giggled.

  However, the biggest smile in the club belonged to Carl, who walked back to the bar with Skye on his arm, and when they parted, she gave him a quick peck on the lips.

  Johnny pointed at him as he went back behind the bar.

  “Look at that grin; I guess Skye treated you right, hmm?”

  “Vice versa,” Skye said, and she sent Carl a wink as she returned to the stage.

  CHAPTER 3 - Loose ends

  The following morning, at the rear of the MegaZenith building in Manhattan, Johnny stepped out of his limo, as his driver, Mario, held the door open for him.

  After taking a few steps towards the loading dock, Johnny stopped walking and placed a hand on Mario’s shoulder.

  “Get back in the limo; I’m going up alone.”

  Mario blinked in surprise, as his fat face scrunched up in concern.

  “Alone? But what if something happens?”

  “If they want to whack me, they’ll whack me, but there’s no sense in both of us getting hit, but don’t worry, I think this is the last place Richards would pick to kill me. Wait thirty minutes and if you don’t hear from me, then, get the hell out of here.”

  “I don’t like it,” Mario said.

  “Me either, buddy, but one way or another I’m no longer the Underboss of The Family after today.”

  “Shit, so who’s the new boss?”

  “That’s what I’m about to find out.”

  “You’re sure you don’t want me as backup, just in case?”

  Johnny sent him a wink.

  “Stay here and I’ll return with news in a few minutes.”

  Johnny walked up a set of concrete steps and disappeared into the shadows of the loading dock.

  Mario let out a sigh and went back to the limo, where he leaned against it and smoked a cigar, as he checked his phone for messages.

  When he saw that there was one from his daughter, he listened to it and felt distress as he heard her teary message.

  “Daddy, it’s Maria, please call me as soon as you can. I... I screwed up.”

  Mario phoned his daughter and heard the sound of the call being answered, but no one spoke.

  “Hello? Maria, it’s Daddy, baby, are you there?”

  A female voice answered, but it was not his daughter’s voice.

  “Mr. Petrocelli, this is Special Agent Michelle Geary of the FBI, are you alone?”

  “The FBI? What’s going on? Where’s my daughter?”

  “We need to talk. I’ll be at the Starbucks on East 57th Street at six o’clock, refuse to meet with me and your daughter does time for dealing drugs.”

  “What? My girl’s no dealer, she’s a college kid.”

  “Apparently, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, Mario, selling drugs is how you got your start, isn’t it? We have her on video dealing drugs and if you don’t play ball, she’s going away for a long time.”

  “Let me speak to her.”

  “She’ll be with me tonight, and if you don’t join us by six, she’ll be in a cell by seven. Remember, East 57th, Goodbye Mario.”

  The phone went dead and Mario let out a curse. After climbing back into the limo, he slumped in his seat, while wondering just how much the FBI had on his daughter and knowing that he would do anything they asked to see her clear of trouble.

  ***

  Upstairs, on the sixtieth floor, Johnny was being greeted at the freight elevator by Richards’ new assistant, a man named Robert Vance.

  Vance was early-thirties, tall, good looking, and blond. His light-blue eyes scrutinized Johnny before he offered a hand in greeting.

  “Mr. Rossetti, I don’t know if you remember me sir, but we met once while you were out in Las Vegas last year. My name is Robert Vance.”

  Johnny shook his hand.

  “I do remember you, and my late Uncle Al told me that you were the one who brokered peace between him and Richards.”

  “Yes, although by that time, Mr. Richards had already contracted with Tanner to have your uncle killed, had I known that, I wouldn’t have wasted my time making peace.”

  “Why not?”

  “A contract is a contract, and despite your loss, I believe that Tanner acted in good faith.”

  “Even after Richards told him to stand down?”

  “As I said, a contract is a contract, but please follow me to Mr. Richards’ office, he’s waiting for you.”

  “They frisked me downstairs. That’s the first time that’s happened.”

  “Just a precaution, and your weapon will be returned, also, Mr. Richards will have a bodyguard present.”

  They walked together in silence. When they reached the office, Vance motioned for Johnny to enter alone.

  “You know, Al Trent used to sit in on meetings.”

  “Yes sir and perhaps someday I’ll gain that level of trust as well, but for now, I’m off to run an errand.”

  Johnny stared at Vance for several seconds and then offered his hand.

  “Come by the Cabaret Strip Club sometime and we’ll talk.”

  “I might do that,” Vance said, and then he ended the handshake and opened the door for Johnny to enter.

  Johnny walked in and took a seat in front of the desk. Standing by the window behind the desk was the promised bodyguard, a middle-aged man named Gary. Gary was large, but by no means huge, and his gray eyes kept a close watch on Johnny.

  Richards made a show of releasing a great sigh as he shook his head sadly.

  “If you had only handled Tanner in a timely fashion I wouldn’t be forced to demote you, however, as things stand, the board feels that it’s time for fresh blood at the helm.”

  Johnny looked over at Gary and saw the bulge of a shoulder holster beneath the suit jacket he was wearing.

  “Fresh blood at the helm, or spilled here in the office?”

  “You won’t be harmed, just demoted.”

  “Sam Giacconi is on the board and as his proxy I should have been allowed to vote.”

  “Your vote would have resulted in a tie and no action would have been taken against you, but you’re an Underboss, not a Don, and so we didn’t bother to count it.”

  “That’s bullshit and you know it. Ever since Sam went into the nursing home I’ve been acting in his place.”

  “In any event, the deed is done and you’ve been removed as leader.”

  “Alright then, who is my replacement?”

  “I’ve chosen Joe Pullo. He’s a man who has proven himself loyal time and again and I’m sure he’ll continue to do so as Underboss of The Giacconi Crime family.”

  “Joe?”

  “You disagree with the choice?”

  “I disagree with the decision, but... Pullo’s a good man, and smart too.”

  “You are to act as his advisor, his Consigliere, as you people like to call it. Will you do it?”

  Johnny sneered.

  “I want to keep living, so yes, I’ll do it.”

  Richards grinned.

  “Excellent, and as the new boss, Pullo will be taking your place at the meeting Sunday as well. That’s all, and from now on, my new man, Vance, will make contact if I need to speak to Mr. Pullo. Oh and by the way, the Cabaret Strip Club now belongs to Pullo; let’s call it a perk of leadership.”

  Johnny stood up in a rush and Gary brought his gun out.

  “That club is mine! I built it from the ground up.”

  Richards grinned again.

  “You’ll sign it over by the day of the board meeting or blood will be spilled, your choice.”

  Johnny balled his hands into fists as he struggled to keep calm; when he could speak again, he asked a question.

  “Anything else?”

  The grin had left Richards’ fac
e, only to be replaced by a smug look of satisfaction.

  “We’re done, but I want to say one more thing. You’ve only yourself to blame for this. Your ineptitude at handling the Tanner situation was epic, including the loss of Lars Gruber.”

  “Tanner was the best. It’s as simple as that, but in the end, my men handled him.”

  “Tanner was a bug, and let me remind you that you no longer have men. From now on you’ll simply follow orders from Pullo.”

  “Yeah and those orders come from you.”

  Richards dismissed him with a wave.

  “As I said before, we’re done.”

  Johnny headed for the door, eager to leave.

  ***

  Johnny left the office without another word and strode off towards the freight elevator, as Richards watched him leave.

  “Gary.”

  “Yes sir?”

  “Make certain that Mr. Rossetti has left the premises. Afterwards, go find Al Trent and bring him back here.”

  “Yes sir,” Gary said, and left the office.

  Richards rose from his seat and gazed out at the city, which was spread before him.

  This is a good day to tie up loose ends, and once the meeting of the board is over, I’ll be the only one left standing.

  Richards poured himself a drink and smiled as he thought about what was to come.

  CHAPTER 4 - Never insult a man’s ride

  Tanner returned to the farm and found Tim rushing towards him while holding a newspaper. They were standing on the farmhouse’s wide front porch. The house sat in a clearing surrounded by trees, with the barn behind it and a graveled driveway leading in from the road.

  “Tanner, I think I know how to access Richards’ files.”

  “You’ve cracked the encryption?”

  “No, but look here, Al Trent was indicted on two counts of murder. I’ll bet you anything he could get into those files.”

  “Yes, but we discussed this and agreed that he wouldn’t give that info up even under threat of death.”

  “That’s true, he wouldn’t give it up to you, because he would believe that you’d kill him anyway, but he would give it up to me.”

  “And why would he do that? Are you planning to torture him?”

  “Of course not, but I don’t have to. I can give him something he wants, something he desperately needs, a new identity, one that he can use to escape the law.”