Plain Jane and the Mafia Beast

Vincenzo listened to each point that he already knew. Business being ruined. Their affairs being looked into and they had also had a shipment of coke that had been seized by cops, which they were working on removing all connections to themselves.

“So, the first order of business, I need the cops that whore spoke to. I want to know everything about them. Who their families are, the precinct they work for. We can either end this with civility or they can swim with the fucking fishes, as cliché as that shit sounds. Got it? I want you handling that, Barbato,” Galiza said, looking at Vincenzo.

“Consider it done.”

He listened as Galiza handed jobs down to each man. All of them were given a job that was either Vitale detail or handling of the businesses that had been targeted.

“I want to hear noise about this. I want the streets to know that we don’t sit down and take betrayal easily. I want blood. I want everyone to get the fucking message.”

With that, they were all ready to go.

He had a job to do first, and that meant getting his hands fucking dirty. Cops were always difficult to handle, especially if they had nothing to lose.

****

One month later

“Come on, it’ll be fun,” Rachel said.

“Going out on a blind date does not sound like fun.” Arika grabbed the two plates of loaded burgers with extra fries before turning to her friend. “Believe me, I’ve done the whole blind date thing. He doesn’t show.” She’d tried it once at the last place she worked. It turned out the guy had arrived, taken one look at her, and left without giving her any warning.

She of course was left waiting, wondering what the hell to do.

“This is not a blind date though. This is a bunch of people, girls and guys, getting together Friday night at a bar. There’s dancing, booze, and later we’ll go out for food. Come on, Arika. You’ve got to live a little. You know. What happened to you during that break?”

“Nothing.”

She left the kitchen, and Rachel stood back so she could serve two construction workers their food. They were diner regulars. She smiled as they thanked her before tucking in. The diner wasn’t so busy tonight, but she didn’t mind the easy shift. The couple of weeks she had off due to illness that no one could know about, she caught up on a lot of studying, work, and she finally had her life in order. For the past month she’d been panicking in case a bill landed in her mail, but as yet, nothing.

Heading over to the coffee machine, she filled up her pitcher, and Rachel was there.

“Are you going to tell me what you did on that vacation? I’ve heard a couple of girls talk and they said a guy with a suit came in. He had a meeting with Frank and then ta-da, you still have a job.”

“It’s nothing. Honestly, I just needed some rest. What will it take for you to stop asking so many questions?”

“So easy. Come out with us Friday night. Come on, Arika. It’ll be fun. I know you do believe in having fun, right?”

“I don’t know.”

“Stop being a party pooper.”

“I’m not being a party pooper.”

“Then come to the club. Prove to me you know how to have a good time.” Rachel started shaking her chest and shimmying from side to side. “Come on, Arika. Show me how to have fun.”

“Fine. Fine. Just stop rubbing your body all over me.”

“Honey, you so need to get laid if you think for even a second that is me rubbing my body all over you.”

Arika didn’t want to think about sex or anything to do with men. Since he’d left her in her apartment alone, something had been completely wrong with her. Most nights were spent yearning for him and his touch, and she just couldn’t shove aside the need building in her head. Her fantasies were filled with him.

“Can we not talk about that? Okay.”

Rachel hugged her close. “Wear something sexy. A dress that’s low-cut. You’ve got to show off those babies. They are so fucking sexy to see.” Rachel kissed her cheek.

It was that nagging conversation three days ago that had Arika standing at a bar, wearing a black cocktail dress that molded to every single curve, low-cut as Rachel asked. She watched as Rachel stood in the center of the crowd, all of them cheering as she downed another shot.

Arika had ordered a beer and was carefully sipping the light lager.

She and alcohol didn’t mix well. The men were hanging on to Rachel’s every word. Each time her friend turned toward her, she’d tip her beer bottle at her friend and force a smile to her lips.

This was why she didn’t want to come.

She seemed like an outsider looking in. She wouldn’t feel sorry for herself tonight, and at least while she was out at a bar, she refused to think about him.