by Sienna Mynx
***
The last of his favorite imported scotch dripped on his tongue. He groaned and dropped the bottle to the side table. He’d finished it off in the parlor listening to Bessie Smith. She was okay, but she wasn’t his Harmony.
Romano had avoided his bed since she left. He had Mabel change the sheets and clean out any remnants of the night, and still the soft sweet smell of her lingered. Damn, he wasn’t lying when he said she smelled like a rose. He could have forced her to stay. It was his right dammit. She came up here tempting him, seeking favors, knowing her brother was tied to his missing product. He’d been the bastard that would have, many times before. But something was different about her and him when they were together. Alone he had to admit the reasons and understand the guilt that trapped him in loneliness. Annie was enough. No dame was worth the trouble.
“Everyone said you were bad. But I didn’t believe them. Teek didn’t believe them. Now look at what you’ve done.” Annie wept.
Romano dropped his head in his hands and prayed she went for the door. She’d packed and left him. He hadn’t seen her since he had to tell her and her mother Teek was dead. But his grief made him foolish enough to attend the funeral. And one look at Annie and he succumbed to the old familiar self-loathing. Nothing in life ever came to him easily. Not even the exile his father cast upon him, or the burden he carried for his dead mother and the little brother who wanted to be like him. Why should the end of them be any less tragic?
“Answer me Vinnie! He loved you, he and Antonio both, they worship you and look what happened. He was my brother damn you! My only brother! What did we ever do to deserve this?”
“Ann-nie. I never meant for it to happen. Never.” He lifted his head and pleaded with his weary gaze for her to just leave him to his misery.
She leveled an accusatory finger at him. Her eyes were red and swollen from a day’s worth of tears, her hair, a tangled knotty mess of curls. It hurt to look at her so he averted his gaze. “I put up with your drinking, your meanness, and the violence. Vincenzio Romano, the leader of the Black Hand has half of the Bronx terrified and the other half out for revenge. And here I am thinking I know better. I was wrong. It’s in you, the evil and meanness is who you are, and like a poison it destroys anyone around you. I put up with it. Do you know why? Because I love you, I have always loved you. Three years and you won’t be seen in public with me, I can’t even get you to marry me when you yourself said we should, and still I loved you. You said nothing would happen to him. You promised to protect us all. But it was a lie wasn’t it Vinnie? All of it a lie. I know the truth.”
He finally met her gaze.
She nodded, her face flushed and tears flowing. “You never gave a damn about his life. I know it’s your fault! You did this!!”
“Stai’ zitta! Shut your fucking mouth!!” Romano slammed his fist down repeatedly on the table. The small plotted centerpiece rattled then tipped over. “Vattene! Get the hell out!”
Annie looked on horrified. Romano rose bringing the table up in a flip sending it to the floor with its legs pointed north. He glared with nostrils flared and fists clenched. What did he need with the constant bitching, the constant tears. He had a war on his hands. And she didn’t know the whole story. Antonio had done this, taking the kid out on rides with him. He’d done everything possible to separate them. Hell they even joined separate gangs. The blood and violence of their lives wasn’t all his fault. He warned them both to stay off the streets during the turf wars, but they didn’t listen. Now the kid’s death and his brother’s devastation were on his soul. Couldn’t she see it? He would give his life for them all. How was he to prevent this?
“My brother is dead. Dead. And so is my love for you.”
“I don’t give a shit…”
She plucked her coat from the back of the chair and grabbed her purse.
“Annie, wait, I’m drunk, I didn’t mean it.” He raced after her and grabbed her arm. She’d pushed him too hard, the liquor and grief had him losing control. He didn’t want to lose her too. Touching her had been a mistake. She unleashed on him instantly and struck him so hard he blinked out of awareness for a moment.
“May God have pity on your black soul Vincenzio, because the devil won’t. You belong to him now. Stay away from me and Mama! I don’t ever want to see you again!” She ran for the door. Ran from him. He closed his eyes and reigned in the man who would chase after her. Fall to her knees and plead his case. She and her mother had shown him kindness when he arrived in America, destitute. Teek was a kid and followed him everywhere. When Antonio arrived only a few years older than him, they both became his shadow. She was right Teek didn’t belong in his world but he had been selfish, blind to the dangers. It was the nature of who they were. He’d avenge his death but he fucking wouldn’t apologize for it. Even though he knew he’d never be able to wash the blood from his hands.
Romano opened his eyes. He stood in the kitchen alone. He walked over to the table and turned it back over. He grabbed a broom and swept up the shards of glass from the broken pottery and cast away the flowers. He went for his hooch and last cigar. Before he finished his grief for a dead kid of barely eighteen, and a lost girlfriend would be over. Then he’d find Antonio and the rest of his men. They’d hit the streets and teach the Five Points Gang a lesson. Lucky was no friend of his, not any more. He’d make them all pay.
The liquor seared his throat after another swig, and fogged his brain. It was working already.
“Fucking dames, who needs them.” He grunted. He rarely thought of his Annie. She ran off with some shipyard worker and went West. According to her mother they were happy and having their first child together. The time she shared with him was probably something she chose to forget, until she had to explain the absence of her slain younger brother and why she stayed away from her mother. Blood and death was all that was left between them.
“Mabel!” Romano roared. He tried to rise but dropped back down in the chair. “Mabel!!” he shouted until his throat burned.
“What is it?”
“Scotch, get me some from the basement.”
“Let me fix you some breakfast. You should eat.
He shot her a withering glare. The old black woman shot him another. She’d cared for him from the beginning and lost a lot because of her affection. He was grateful to Mabel for staying despite his surly, troubling ways. She reminded him of his own mother, the way she forgave him and Antonio. There wasn’t a woman in his life he hadn’t failed at some point. “Fine, fix breakfast but bring me another bottle.”
Mabel turned and walked off.
Romano closed his eyes. He dropped his head back. The record came to an end. Harmony’s sultry voice filled his memory and he began to smile. When he felt his worst he summoned her voice. A secret no one knew. And last night he’d had her in his bed. The hole in his heart from scars so deep they’d never heal made him weak for the sunshine he heard in her voice. For her. Romano groaned.
“What a fucking mess.”
He’d get the answers he needed from his brother. The hard way.
Four
Missing Truths.
Showered and rested Harmony removed the pot from the flame on the stove. She poured the boiled water into her cup. The mint fragrance of ground tea leaves and sliced lemon edges wafted up to her nostrils. She inhaled deeply. It was a special mixture that preserved the sweetness in her voice. A routine she frequented. Every bone in her body felt battered by fatigue. Maybe the tea would work. She prayed so. If not she’d crawl under the covers and not open her eyes until sunset.
Cupping the mug in her hands she walked over to the kitchen table to sit and think. Her evening with Vinnie Romano had brought her no closer to finding her brother. However, she did learn more about herself. The man awakened feelings and emotions in her she never thought possible with a stranger. Part of her craved the attention he showered her. She couldn’t help but remember the reason by every delicious ache in her body. God help her, she was l
osing it.
Willie was in trouble. She did learn a few interesting things. For one, she now knew that the rumors of Antonio Romano being a snake were true. If he’d steal from his brother it made him stupid as well. Vinnie Romano didn’t look like the kind of man you’d cross, blood relation or not.
Repeated knocks at the door stole away her private thoughts. She almost regretted summoning the company. Harmony set the cup upon the saucer and hurried, tightening the sash to her robe. Paulette flashed a warm smile as soon as she opened the door.
“Got your note.” Paulette sang waving the small letter in Harmony’s face.
“Come in.” Harmony said.
Paulette sashayed in. She looked fresh, vibrant in her lilac purple dress. Paulette was tall for a woman, but shapely. She had mocha skin so light and creamy that if she really worked at it she could pass for white. It’s why Madden had no problem hiring her and making her a cigarette girl at The Cotton. The club’s strict rules on what they referred to as ‘tans’ required the women to be mulatto or of very fair skin. Paulette also dyed her hair blonde and with her clear hazel eyes she turned many heads. “Morning Mony. You look like shit.”
“Thanks.” Harmony mumbled, she returned to her seat and cooling cup of tea. Paulette had devilment in her smile. Harmony knew she was probably off to see one of her suitors, and guessed Paulette wanted to flaunt it. Inwardly Harmony sighed. Being a colored woman with a taste for something other than making babies or wiping the asses of some white woman’s children, made a girl’s options slim. She knew Paulette did what she had to, to survive. It didn’t justify Harmony’s actions with Romano last night though.
Paulette sat across from her.
“So what’s the emergency? I was on my way to Sophie’s, she opening her boutique for me early today. Need a new hat.”
Harmony glanced up from her sip and lowered her cup to the saucer. “Why? It’s early.”
Paulette chuckled. “That’s for me to know and for you to figure out.”
“Whatever,” Harmony shook her head. She wasn’t in the mood for jokes. She almost said as much when a hand reached across the table and covered hers. She looked up at Paulette once more.
“Still ain’t heard from Lil Will? Huh?”
The answer was far more complicated. Not only had she not heard from Willie but she may have made matters worse by going to Romano for help. She had to add new worry to her list if Willie did steal from him. She wiped at her brow. Her head was a teased crown of frizz after her bath, and her lids felt as if they sagged with her misery. She knew she looked a sight.
“It’s nearing two weeks. If he was alive he would have sent word to me.”
“Mony, stop, he alive. You know it.”
“Do I?” Harmony asked. “I don’t know much of anything anymore. For starters, I didn’t know Willie had gotten into bootlegging to the speakeasy Madame St. Clair run under Romano’s nose.” Harmony watched her friend’s face. None of what she said seemed to surprise Paulette. “But you knew didn’t you? You holding back on me?”
Paulette drew her hand away. She blinked at her with curious round eyes. “Not true. I’d never…”
“Save it. I’m no fool. Okay!”
“I just work there. Like you just sing at The Cotton. I wouldn’t know the dealings of men out them back doors.” Paulette averted her gaze and cleared her throat. “All I can say on the matter is Willie shouldn’t have gotten between those men and Madame St. Clair.”
“Well, finally we agree on something.” Harmony said with a bitter chuckle.
Paulette shrugged. “Your brother don’t know his place. He was always trying to mix it up with those men. I warned you. Things got serious when Antonio Romano started showing up. He took interest in Lil Will. I’ve seen them together.”
“How often?”
“Often enough.” Paulette snorted with distaste. “He used Lil Will to get him to Madame and offer her protection from the cops. I don’t think Lil Will stole from these men. I think his problems are because of Antonio Romano. Something ain’t right about that maggot. I hear tell he got a Negro boy killed during those riots.”
Harmony bristled. The night of the riots cost her, Lewis, and changed her life forever. “So I’m right back where I started?”
“Started? You ain’t thinking about going to those Sicilians are you? Antonio Romano and his brother are worse than Mickey Collins. You know the Five Points Gang terrorizing folks? Well Vincenzio Romano used to be big boss over the Black Hand, they rivals. Not sure why the gang split but they the worst kind of men Mony. The very worst.”
The knocking at the door startled them both. Harmony frowned over the early morning visitor. It was just after nine. Most people she knew besides Paulette were still in bed. Wednesday night at The Cotton was one of the busiest. Slowly she rose.
“You expectin’ someone?” Paulette asked.
Harmony hushed her with a wave of her hand. She crept to the door prepared for the worst. Next to the door was a bat and she picked it up. “Who is it?”
“It’s me Mony. Open up!” Once the door parted Milo charged through like a steam engine. “How late before you get in? I was up waitin’ on you all night. Please tell me you didn’t go through with it. Did you leave with Romano last night? Did you!” he demanded. Before she could answer Milo turned and saw Paulette rise from her chair. The two shared a tense exchange and then their eyes turned to her. She caught the look of disbelief, curiosity and what she thought might be a tinge of jealousy in her friends’ eyes. Milo openly glared. He looked mad enough to spit.
“I want both of you to go.” Harmony held the door open.
“You were with Antonio Romano?” Paulette asked.
Harmony slammed the door. “No. I was with Vinnie. And yes I stayed the night. I have to find my brother and neither of you can give a damn. Before you stand there and judge me, hear what I got to say. I will do any and everything I have to, to find Willie. And I don’t owe either of you a damn thing.”
She marched into her room and slammed the door. The vibration went through her and she placed both hands to her mouth to keep them from trembling. Angry at the world she dropped down on the bed. “I don’t owe any of you a damn thing.”
***
After a fresh shave Romano bounded down the steps of his home pulling up the suspenders on his trousers. He had time to sober up and clear his head. He sent word for Jimmie to pick up his Songbird. He hadn’t forgotten the terms of their agreement, even if she had. In fact he couldn’t stop thinking of her period. He’d allowed her to leave because he didn’t want her pissed off if he forced her to stay.
Now sobered on his bitterness he wasn’t as soft on the idea of releasing her from their deal. The only cure for this ailment was to have her returned to him. He’d work out the rest of the details after. Though he convinced himself his interest would fade soon enough, he had no intention of letting her walk away before it did. Especially since he suspected her brother’s disappearance and his brother’s disobedience were connected somehow.
The front door opened and his brother staggered in. He looked greased with sweat and it wasn’t even noon yet. Antonio’s glassy red-rimmed eyes glanced upward and snagged on Romano’s disapproving scowl. “Morning Vinnie.”
“I want a word.” Romano marched down the three remaining steps turning for the parlor.
Antonio followed.
“Sure thing, I was just about to look for you…”
Before another word escaped his brother’s lying mouth Romano’s fist connected with his jaw. The blow knocked Antonio’s head back and he crumbled. Romano caught him by the ear. He twisted flesh and cartilage until his brother squealed in agony.
“Don’t Vinnie, let me explain. Please!” Antonio begged.
Romano pinched and twisted the ear harder. “Stay on your knees!” He growled. “Do you think I’m a fool?”
“Vinnie stop!”
“Answer me!”
“No. I don’t.�
�
“Then why are you gaming me like one? Huh? Huh?”
The entire right side of Antonio’s face flamed red and Romano yanked upward on his ear. His brother howled, but his suffering mattered little when he was dragged and lifted with his free hand clenching his throat. Antonio choked and gagged on his pleas, kicking his feet. Mercy had left the room. Raw rage consumed Romano and pushed him closer to the darkness he carried in him thanks to his father. What he couldn’t live with was disloyalty, especially within his own family.
In fact the more his brother struggled the more enraged he became. He pounded his fist into Antonio’s face until his brother’s nose sprung a leak and blood soaked his knuckles and the front of his shirt. Mabel ran in behind him and screamed for his men. He could hear several of them charging into the room like a stampede. But his vision was singular, his anger so consuming he couldn’t stop himself. Two men grabbed him by his arms and dragged him away. He saw his brother roll off the sofa gasping while Mabel wept trying to assist.
