No More Tears In The End

“I didn’t fuck you Martin. If I wanted to fuck

you, Martin, I would have given them this.” I picked up the remote and turned on the recording of Martin’s conversation with Diego Estaban.

When it was over, I handed him the Justice Department memo that Monika uncovered. “And I would have given them that.”

“Where did you get this?” Martin asked as he continued looking at the memo.

“Like you said, Martin, my people are very talented.” When Martin looked up, I had my gun pointed at him. “I should kill you right now, Martin. If for nothing else, for your part in Diego’s plan.”

“That was just business,” Martin said putting his hands up.

“That’s the only reason you’re still alive. I understand that it was just business. That-and the fact that we can do things for each other in the future. And put your hands down.” Martin put his hands down slowly. “I just needed for us to have an understanding.”

“What understanding is that?”

“That you don’t fuck with me.”

There was a knock at the door and Kevon stuck his head in. “Nick is here, boss.”

“I have meeting to go to, Martin,” I said and stood up. “So, if we’re done here. .”

Martin stood up and I extended my hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not done with Vinnelli,” I said quietly and shook his hand.

After Martin left, Kevon drove me and Nick out to Yonkers to see Angelo. I had been putting him off for weeks. Now that this Vinnelli business was over, it was time to move forward.

When we got to the social club, I was surprised that Fat Jimmy didn’t meet us at the car, so I asked Angee when we got inside, “Where’s fat Jimmy? He sick or something?”

“Jimmy’s dead, Mikey. His wife caught him with another broad and shot them both.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“It is that. So, Mikey, you been thinkin’ about what I asked you?”

“I have. I thought a lot about it, but for personal reasons that I know you understand, I’m gonna have to say no.”

“That’s unfortunate, but not unexpected.”

“Before you decide to whack me hear me out, Angee.”

“I’m not gonna have you whacked, Mikey.”

“That’s good to know. Like I said, Angee, I can’t get involved for my own reasons, but what I will do as a personal favor to you, is I will offer advice and counsel to Stark, and should the need ever arise, I’ll act as an intermediary to resolve any disputes. You got a problem with him, you come to me. But understand, this is not a service. This I do for you out of friendship. I will not accept a fee. But for reasons that I know you understand, I can’t go any further than that.”

“You know what? That means a lot to me. It does, Mikey. I expected you to say no just like you did. I knew I was askin’ a lot of you, and if you had said yes, I knew it wouldn’t be because you wanted to or because of the money or ’cause it was good business. None of that. If you had said yes to this it would be out of loyalty to our friendship. But this-” Angee stood up with his arms out.

I stood up. “I hope that’s acceptable.” Angee came around table and hugged me. Then he kissed me on both cheeks and held my face in both hands. I thought the kiss of death was coming next.

“This means a lot to me, Mikey,” he said and we left his office. When we came out, Nick and Kevon stood up. Angee walked over and shook Nick’s hand. “Congratulations, Nick, you deserve it.”

“Thank you,” Nick said.

I had Kevon drop Nick back at the club. When he left I had one more stop to make. After Kevon parked the car, I got a briefcase out of the trunk and we went in the building. We took the elevator up and Kevon knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

I leaned in front of the peephole. “Mike Black.”

“Don’t go nowhere. I gotta put something on.”