Affirmation
Page 14
The fierce expression on Alfonzo’s face turned to a murderous scowl. “Alberti had become a father to me. I miss him, don’t you, primo?”
“More than you know.”
“Then death to the enemies of our family, even if it is one of our own.” Alfonzo said then he walked to the car and sat in the front seat beside Lou.
Nico stood there and when his mind turned in motion, Alfonzo’s message clicked. He climbed in the backseat just as Lou said, ‘Since when do you want to ride up front?”
“Nico stinks.”
Lou chuckled.
“Stop at the apartment I’m building before you take me home. I need to do a late night walk through before the inspectors come tomorrow. Damn, workers are always slacking off.”
“No problem boss.”
Alfonzo reclined his head and watched the night as they drove. He welcomed the quiet because his mind was in turmoil. The dark hid the trees and like people you never know what lurked in the shadows beyond. When they arrived to the site, the night guards unlocked the gate to let them through. Alfonzo got out first and surveyed the land. The dirt was soft, ready for the concrete to be poured after the finishing touches were made. He looked up at the structure. It stood ten stories tall, solid and exactly like the model his client approved. He entered the unlocked doors to the ground floor where the lobby was nearly complete. The floors were flush, walls primed and waiting for paint once the electrician finished. He took up one of the flashlights near the door and Nico did the same and used the light to guide him toward the utility room door.
His hands gripped the knob and opened, taking care to watch his step as he descended below. Lou and Nico were on his heels doing the same.
Nico shone the flashlight around the room. “The guys are doing top-notch work.”
Alfonzo swung around with the industrial flashlight and cracked Lou on the side of his head. A bloody patch of skin opened where he’d been struck and he hit the floor, hurt and in a daze. Nico bent down and removed his weapon, cell and personal belongings before the man recovered. He used Lou’s belt to bind his hands and dragged the man to a wall and left him there.
A few moments later, Lou awakened and leaned his head against the wall blinking the blood from his eyes to focus.
“How did they get to you Lou?” Alfonzo asked as Nico kept the light on Lou’s face.
The glare caused Lou to recoil. “What?”
“You heard me. Answer my goddamn question straight out for a change!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that the answer you’re sticking to after everything we’ve been through?”
“Boss, it’s not personal.”
“It’s always personal when I’m being fucked!”
“Sorry we came to this, you and me. I respect you young Luzo. Do what you gotta do!”
Alfonzo nodded and Nico turned off the flashlight and unscrewed the battery compartment. He walked to Lou. “Talk Lou. It’s not worth a torturous death.”
Lou frowned. He was familiar with Nico’s work. He didn’t want to suffer. “I’d prefer a bullet.”
“Who did you tell about Alberti’s meeting?” Alfonzo questioned when Lou sighed and he saw his resolve breaking away at the threat of a corrosive end.
“I made a call to a number and recited the address.”
“What’s the number?”
“I don’t remember.”
Nico knelt. “Let me help you remember.” He pushed the edge of the battery into Lou’s mouth and it stretched abnormally wide, making him inhale hard and moan until Nico took it out.
Lou gasped, “It was an area code in Italy, northern section I believe.”
“Bueno. Now let’s do another question. Why, Lou?”
“I was told if I didn’t cooperate they’d kill your wife.”
Alfonzo’s thunderous heartbeats were boulders striking his chest. “Who the fuck did you sell me out to Lou?”
“I really don’t know boss. That’s the truth. I just did what I was asked to keep your wife alive.”
The Bowie knife was at Lou’s throat. Alfonzo said between clenched teeth, “My wife doesn’t need your protection. I got that shit covered. One last time you snake, who the fuck pulled your strings?”
“I’m sorry boss I don’t know.”
Alfonzo believed the man. It was pointless to continue. Eventually, he’d get to the bottom of it. He cut Lou’s throat so hard that the handle of his prized Bowie knife broke.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Giuseppe’s sports car raced into the driveway with a roar. He climbed out of the passenger seat and shook his head when Shanda jumped out the driver’s side, whooping and hollering, “Whoa that shit is fun. This car is nice!”
The excitement on her face was priceless. He was glad to see it after the medical scare with her and the baby. She had gained her strength and had to take iron tablets and multi-vitamins but otherwise she was healthy again. “I guess it means you really love your birthday present, eh?”
“Thanks boo, I love it. I can’t wait until I get the hang of these streets.”
“Please do not kill anyone.” Giuseppe warned as he started walking to the house. The guards greeted Giuseppe as he opened the door and he detected a smile directed at Shanda which caused him to pause. “Felix, you have the front gate starting tomorrow, capisce?”
“Sí.”
Shanda had gone inside to complete her dinner. She had put her pasta sauce on the side when he came home with her present and he suggested they take a short ride.
Giuseppe warned, “You are not to smile in that way or think or blink or believe the woman who is the mother of my son is a whore. Any disrespect, sour tongue or any offensive remark to her at any time, even in your home I will hear and I will find you and rip out your tongue, capisce?”
“Sí!”
Giuseppe patted the man’s shoulder. “Good boy.”
He entered the house and the pit-bull barked and wagged its little tail. It was growing, however it was still too small to intimidate. A month and it remained a runt. His infant son on the other-hand had grown bigger quicker.
He bent down and picked the dog up with one hand and it stopped barking. “Gee, you are nothing like me. When I bark, I bite!”
“Geo are you hungry?” Shanda shouted from the kitchen.
He put the dog on the floor. “Si donna!” He walked to the kitchen and occupied a seat to watch Shanda prepare a recipe made famous by his mother. The daughter of the polizei proved to have talent in the kitchen. She bounced around singing and licking her fingers as she tasted the sauce. She had him taste as well and he nodded. “Buono.”
When she smiled, he stood and took the spoon out of her hand and sat it on the white marble counter. It was certain to have a tomato stain. “We have a few hours before my mother returns the bambino. Do you know what it is I want?”
“To stick your dick in my hole?”
“To kiss,” his mouth sought her neck, “to caress,” his hand slid up the hem of her dress, “and to make love to the sexy mother of my son.”
“I don’t know. First you have to get on your knees.”
“Hum?”
“Kneel boy.”
Giuseppe’s eyes twinkled as he began to genuflect. “And what will you do when you have me on my knees bella?”
“Nothing I just wanted to see if you’d obey.” Shanda laughed.
He rose and gripped her waist and tossed her over his shoul
der. She giggled as he firmly spanked her ass. “Bad donna, now you pay. I’ve waited to punish you for some time. The big fat belly saved you and then you were sick, but now none of those apply!”
“Ummm, sounds delicious. Make me pay big boy.”
Giuseppe howled and Gee copied. “Your punishment for being naughty may cause you to run naked out of our home.”
“Oh Geo, you have yet to learn. I stopped running the minute you caught me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Selange wanted to keep the orb lights. She said she loved to watch the gold circles on the lawn. Alfonzo did, too. It was after midnight when he arrived home and after a long day of travel and unpleasant business, it was great to be home. He spotted her outside on the lounge chair staring up and he sat down his briefcase and suit jacket on the sofa and joined her. “How long have you been out here?”
“Not long. I couldn’t sleep.”
He sat in an empty chaise. “Why not?”
“I was thinking about you, me and our kids.”
“What were you thinking babe?”
“How there will always be people who will judge them based on who we are. Why are innocent children the victims of hateful adults?”
Alfonzo pat his leg. “Come here beautiful, and tell me what happened.”
“I did something bad today.”
Alfonzo put his arms around her. “Tell me chica, what did you do?”
“I had to deal with a terrible person.”
“Maybe, you should have let me handle it.”
“No, the message was for me and I handled it Diaz style.”
He chuckled. “I hope you stopped any future mail.”
“I sure did.”
Alfonzo held her tight and breathed. He wanted to tell her she wouldn’t see Lou around anymore, but he’d wait until she asked. They were both making do with what they were given. The thought of anyone threatening to harm a hair on her head infuriated him. No one would get close enough to do that. Danger came with the life-style. He had his best men guarding his family because he wasn’t playing around. Everything and anything security were in place to ensure a protective barrier kept the harm away from those he loved.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “How was your day my King?”
The laugh was needed and he reclined with a lightness he hadn’t felt the entire day. “Your King could use a Queen in his bed, are you down?”
“I’m down for anything. Lead the way.”
She jumped to her feet and he slapped her on the ass. “You may have to lead, this King isn’t as perky.”
Her feet moved swiftly and he shook his head. “Damn babe. You must have run marathons in another life.” He thought about his brother and laughed even harder. Giuseppe was a trip. He picked on Selange so much over the years, but when it came down to it, he loved her like a sister. He treated Amelda the same way. Yeah, he was glad he had Giuseppe as a brother and Nico. They were going to need to ban together again. The family needed unity; he had a feeling something bad was about to go down.
He killed Lou quick. He could’ve let Nico torture him, but Lou was old school. The man wasn’t going to give up shit. The fucked up part about it is he had considered Lou a stand-up guy. Unfortunately, the only person he could count on to have his back was the chica bounding up the stairs.
Apparently, it’s true what they say about Brooklynites. They take that ‘do or die’ shit seriously. Selange wasn’t letting go for nothing. She was holding on, even when wrong, she went down fighting.
His weary eyes brightened as she dashed inside the bedroom, stripped and dived on the bed with her ass to the air. She rolled on her back as Alfonzo shut the door and then whispered seductively, “Are you hungry, did you eat papi?”
“I like when you say my King.”
“My King, would you like food?”
“Sí, my Queen. I’m starving babe, I can use your honey,” he said, but he wanted to say more.
‘I need your honey to cling to me and not this blood on my hands. Only you have the power to cleanse my soul with your sweetness.’
****
THE ALFONZO SERIES
♠
ALFONZO: VOLUME I
ASCENSION: ALFONZO VOLUME II
ANARCHY: ALFONZO VOLUME III
ATONEMENT: ALFONZO VOLUME IV
AWAKENING: ALFONZO VOLUME V
ANNIHILATION: ALFONZO VOLUME VI
AFTERMATH: ALFONZO VOLUME VII
AFFIRMATION: ALFONZO VOLUME VIII
ASSOCIATES: ALFONZO VOLUME IX
ANIMUS: ALFONZO VOLUME X
ADVERSARY: ALFONZO VOLUME XI
AVARICE: ALFONZO VOLUME XII
Until next time,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!