The Wicked End

New Jersey 2002

Don Luca Deforio stared at the two young men in front of him and shook his head with something that approached a smile. He had run his family for twenty years and seen young hot heads come and go but these two were different, entertaining. He reached a hand up to his shoulder to stroke the fingers that rested there.
“My Angela tells me we made quite a profit on this job thanks to you.”
Angel winked at Frank who didn’t dare return the gesture. Mikey was his usual stone faced self, the blood that had so recently stained his face and clothes. They had cleaned up quickly and both were conscious that they were still wet behind the ears in more ways than one. This job had the potential to make them or break them.
“We had to make sure the information was right Boss. Turns out Mr Murphy was making a killing skimming from us. Hope you don’t mind us using our initiative.”
Now Frank did risk the charming smile and was rewarded with a nod. Angel had a way of dealing with the old man that had combined with Ray’s talents to push them above men superior in both rank and experience. This had combined with more than a little luck but both men had used their respective talents of remove a tiresome problem and bring the profit home.
“You’re a good man Frankie, you and Michael will go far if you keep listening and learning. Take ten percent and go enjoy yourselves.”
“Thank you sir.”
Mikey nodded, he never wanted to give too much away and didn’t intend to stay tied down to the family for any great length of time. He had watched how much Angel was making as a free lance operative, albeit with ties that bound her to do her father’s bidding. While Frank may have wanted to make a name for himself, Mikey wanted the money.
Angel kissed her father’s cheek and left his side as the old man settled into conversation with his consigliore. There was much to discuss, a war was brewing between the families that ran the crime network around the state. Deforio did not want war but knew that many among his family did, his own daughter among them.
“Angela, visit your mother. You haven’t been home in a month.”
Angel dropped her lip in the perfect picture of contrition. Her goddamn mother was a nosy bitch, the typical mafia wife who wanted her daughter to marry well and start springing out grand kids. Both of which were Angel’s idea of hell. She was more intent on talking Frank and Mikes into a threesome before finally seducing Ray.
“Of course Papa….right after I get back from that small matter across town.”
“The captains can do that.”
Angel felt the irritation rise and fought to keep it from her voice, she knew Frank would be cataloguing any and all information that he could use to his advantage. So would the other men in the room. They all knew that the Don had no male child and should anything happen to him there would be a struggle for power that she had no intention of losing.
“Ground work is all done. Won’t take long.”
The Don waved a hand, dismissive but unable to deny her as Ray stepped up to show him the latest profit spread in the fledgling legitimate business he was setting up. Ray was as brilliant as Frank in some sectors, able to see a future that would mix crime with profit until it became impossible to tell them apart. A new path to a future that interested the head of the family to some peoples annoyance and another potential wedge in stability.
“Ray, take my daughter out like you promised. Too much work is not so good.”
The younger man blushed as Frank buried his laughter in Mikey’s shoulder. They had been regaling their friend with explicit stories about the woman he was so obviously in love with just to see the expression on his face. It was charming but Frank knew his friend was heading for a fall, no matter how much she toyed with him Angel was never going to feel the same.
The woman herself merely smiled and blew Ray a kiss.
“Sure, you can take me to Uncle Marty’s for pasta, none of that cheap stuff.”
“Your uncle can’t cook for shit.”
There followed a conversation in passionate Italian that Frank gave up trying to follow after less than two minutes before Angel gave her father a triumphant smile and made a quick exit. Mikey was quick to follow, he wanted in on the job that Angel was planning and she had half promised him that he could tag along during a passionate encounter over the old man’s desk.
“Fucking hell, that man would love to marry me off.”
“What a waste.”
Angel glared at Frank and pushed past the numerous men that were in and out of the house before they reached the large garden outside. He passed her a cigarette and raised an eyebrow at the expression on her face. Mikey stood behind slightly, watching to see exactly who was around.
“What’s got you so pissed off ?”
Angel quickly lit the smoke and also looked around before staring back at Frank.
“He’s on borrowed time, if my father doesn’t listen to the men and what is coming then he won’t live out the year.”
“There will be a war, we all know that.”
Frank blew a smoke ring and thought again of all the advantages that an outbreak of fighting among the families could bring him. The new breed of gangster was rapidly overtaking the old. It was not enough to run drugs and whores, there was no need to take all that risk. Run something larger and better alongside to mask the less legal side of things, he and Ray had discussed it long into the night. They could be rich and powerful in ways that Angel’s father would never understand.
“He won’t get it until the first shots are fired. We have enough enemies and not enough of a powerbase. Not that he will listen to me.”
The three of them stared out and down the gardens of the large estate. There were gardeners working, the bustle of a forthcoming party that the Don was throwing was coming together. Soon the great and good of society would drop their morals to come and party. All three of them would be there although Angel would grace Ray’s arm for the occasion. Mikey glanced at her.
“What will you do ?”
“If there is a war ? Keep out of the way until we see which side is going to win.”
Frank chuckled at the matter of fact tone.
“That’s your father.”
“That’s my boss. If you think family loyalty counts for much you’re wrong.”
Frank didn’t answer, they differed in this one area. While Frank could see the truth of her argument he prized loyalty. It was the way the old man had kept power and consolidated it for so long. Reward those who do good work, bind them to you with blood and honour. Angel preferred to go where the advantage would take her.
“If the war goes badly for us, you’re a target because he’s your father.”
She smiled before looking back toward the house and dropping her tone.
“If the war goes badly for us there is nothing to stop me taking it over.”
Mikey rolled his eyes as Frank shook his head. Like it or not, there was a good percentage of the men that would never follow a woman, even Angel Deforio. That she chose not to see that was a weakness and both the men considered whether there was a method of exploiting it. This relationship had no basis in loyalty, only lust and a shared interest. Frank decided they were edging into dangerous territory and changed the subject.
“So are you finally gonna give in and cut Ray some slack tonight ?”
“You mean am I going to fuck him ?”
Mikey sniggered and both of them nodded which caused Angel to bat her eyelashes in the most demure manner she could muster up. There had been a bet made and she wasn’t about to lose it to either of the men beside her.
“No. He’s a good man unlike you two and I can’t possibly take advantage.”
“He’s hung like a fucking bull.”
Angel’s head snapped around and now Frank did laugh out loud. The bet involved a hundred dollars and a lot of twisting of nipples and other body parts he didn’t want to think about. If she lost, he and Mikes would get a free pass to all kinds of new and interesting games.
“Really ?”
“A fucking great ox.”
Mikey’s deadpan response made all three snort and then try to swallow it as the Don walked past, his arm around Ray’s shoulders. He smiled at his friends, wondering why all three went a little red before they continued walking towards the gardens. Ray was still amazed that she was going with him to the party, he had felt sure that Frank would get that honour.
Frank himself was only interested in seeing who else would be there, what contacts he and Mikey could make. They needed to make some friends among other more senior members of the family and this would be the opportunity. Mikey hated parties but trusted that Frank knew what he was doing, it was all coming together well.
“If there is a war, we could all die.”
“If there is a war, we can take it all. We can be the future of this family.”

Notes