Affirmation (21 page)

It would have been cool flying in a luxury jet with many amenities, except
Sergio knew what the stakes were if they got Chip mad.

Nico
took in the scenery. Restaurants, bars, clubs and shuttered storefront business that operated during the day were on this street. This area was predominately Russian. The people coming and going speaking
were the evidence. They also received curious glances which Nico assumed had to do with his hair. He stopped in front of a bar
, it wasn’t the 21 Club but it
wasn’t
seedy
either. He pulled on the brass doorknob and
entered the
dimly lit establishment
. T
ables
lined the walls and
on
the opposite side was a long semicircular bar where several men cradled drinks which they set aside when the new patrons entered and glared at the visitors with unwelcome expressions.

Nico noticed the pictures on the walls
of Italian Americans
. This was a mafia spot
. Nico
wondered what the hell Sergio got himself into.

“What can I do for you?” A man who appeared asked as he blocked Nico’s progression.

“I’m here to speak to Chip.”

“What’s your name?”

“Tell him Sergio.” Nico answered.

The bouncer looked past Nico at Sergio and told the pair to stay there and disappeared down the aisle toward the rear.

Sergio seemed jittery Nico observed. He should be. W
hoever, this Chip guy was, it was evident he was out of Sergio’s league. To have a place like this took money and friends.

The man returned and led them to the back, where they were escorted to the basement. They were stopped and frisked at the foot of the stairs before allowed to proceed. Another type of party took place undergro
und. Strippers worked the poles, others openly entertained well-dressed men.

Nico paid attention to the details. Prostitution and loan-sharking in Brooklyn were the Caminello’s
. Alfonzo frowned on the prostitution, he didn’t demand
those who dabbled in it to forego the practice, he gave them a choice. They could do business as usual, minus the underage girls or
upgrade to gentlemen and leave the pimping and exploitation of women alone. Unfortunately, in the real world, there
is low-life scum
.

The room on the side of the action had a bulletproof door, he could tell by the
thickness and
frame. This was Chip’s office, where he counted his money and watched monitors, nothing shocking to
Nico;
he’d seen thousands of holes like this.

“So, Sergio you brought a friend. I hope he
’s here
to help
you
carry
my money and not for
more
talk.” The stocky man sitting behind his desk exclaimed the second Nico and Sergio were ushered into the office.

Sergio started to speak, “I-.”

“I came along to make sure you keep your word once he pays off his debt.”
Nico offered, shutting the kid up midsentence. This wasn’t time for the blabbering. This was a mob spot and unless the boy had superhuman powers, one misstep and his ass was dead. N
ico could protect his own ass but he wasn’t about to be a shield for a stupid kid.

Chip’s lips pulled down, “Hmm, that’s nice but Sergio here is the person I was talking to and not you.”

Nico noticed
Chip’s full-time employee spread his legs
in a threatening stance in the periphery. “I’m his mouthpiece
;
he’s lost his voice.”

“I hope you can back-up the tough talk, ‘cause Sergio surely can’t. Did he show you what happens when you bark loud but
you’re
really a mouse?” Chip asked
and
scratched his chin, “Only a blind person sports shades at night.”
He
directed the
comment to
Sergio who tried to cover up the bruises on his eyes which Chip took as a sign of disrespect. “Take off the glasses. I like seeing a man’s eyes when I speak!”

Sergio did and Chip grimaced, “Damn I thought I hit you in one eye. I didn’t know I did all that!”

He laughed and Nico decided it was time to stop fucking around and went to sit.
“I’m
here to pay
his debt
–in
full.
I’m not interested in anything else.”

Chip nodded. “Money is a great communicator. He owes me one hundred and fifty grand.”

Nico
took note. Sergio ha
d
a problem with
telling
the truth
. He exaggerated figures.
“Once you’re paid, you don’t harm Sergio or his family
. I
f
Sergio’s
dumb enough to get mixed-up with you again, have fun with him –but his kin, they’re hands off, got that!”

“Hypotheticals aren’t payment. Bitches like Sergio have to have a major incentive to deliver. I get paid, the bitch can walk out of here, I don’t get my money, I’m shooting you both.” Chip snarled.

Nico wasn’t intimidated by the threat. Chip talked that way because he didn’t know who the fuck he was actually dealing with. If he did he’d shut the hell up. T
o
face Nico Serano
outside the family was often reserved for the dying. His appearance changed so often, no one but close family actually knew what he looked like. This is how he got things done quietly, nobody like
s
an over-exposed
celebrity;
just ask the kids, they’ll tell you.

Nico held up
a car
key
.
“There’s a silver rental parked on the north side of the street. Send someone for the duffle bag in the trunk. There’s an extra fifty for your troubles inside.”

Sergio breathed a little too loudly after Nico’s statement. Yep, losing fifty grand must be hard on an amateur con-man. No wonder the kid was in the hole with Chip.

Chip smiled
.
“I like you.” He gestured to
the tough-guy near the door
.
“Go get my money Tony. I think I have a new friend!”

“Now we’re friends?”

“Anybody who can throw in a sweetener like he owns the sugar mill is somebody I call friend.”

Tony went to snatch the key form Nico’s hand,
and met resistance.
He gave it a tug
and Nico’s fingers failed to budge. Slowly, Nico relaxed his fingers and released the remote key when he was good and ready. Nico
answered Chip after dismissing Tony. “
My best friend
was my bother and he’s
passed away
.
I’m not shopping for replacement
s
.
”

Dance music drifted in the office when Tony exited to collect his employer’s money. When the door shut, the sound was of men breathing. It took six minutes tops for Tony to return with the bag. He sat it on Ch
i
p’s desk and the contents were browsed.

“You know Mohawk,
its
good
closing a deal with a
business-man.
We’re solid. Have a drink or a
drink
of the female kind on the house.
”

Nico stood, he wasn’t interested in a drink or anything else Chip had to offer.
He declined, “Thanks for the offer but I don’t drink.”
Nico snatched the key from Tony with ease and
grinned,
“
Th
at’s
how it’s done.”

He would love to break the man’s neck and put that key right in Chip’s jugular, but he wasn’t putting his
neck
out for Sergio
, he wasn’t worth it
. Besides, he didn’t want to delay making it home
to his woman or his boys
.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The sun did come and with it the realization another of their family faced peril of a different kind. Selange’s hand gripped her husband’s fingers tightly as they hurried from the elevator in search of Giuseppe.

Alfonzo had been a pillar during the flight when Selange broke-down in tears. She cried her despair into his shirt, repeating how she was supposed to be at Shanda’s side when she had her child. They had made a girl pact one day as they sat on a bench outside Selange’s building. The friends vowed they would always have each other’
s back. She sobbed and he held his woman, saddened their honeymoon ended this way, heart-broken in fact.

“Where is Shanda Johnson?” Selange exclaimed loudly when they reached the hospital staff gathered behind a familiar counter holding charts and clad in scrubs and white jackets.

“¿Quién?” A nurse asked from her seat behind the booth.

Suddenly, Giuseppe appeared. He looked like hell. “You have made it!”

They sauntered to him and Selange gripped his arms. Her eyes were pleading for news before she could ask, “Please tell me she’
s alright Geo.”

Giuseppe’s hard exterior crumbled. He could only hug his sister-in-law because his soul finally broke. He needed the comforting arms of a mother and Selange was the closest to it. His tears were rivers pouring
on her head. Once it began it would not stop.

“Giuseppe, what
has the
doctor
said?”

He clutched
Selange
tighter for
maternal
warmth
.
“
She is not doing well.”

“What happened, what do you mean, how’s the baby?” Selange’s questions kept coming.

Giuseppe could not give voice to his fears. He wanted Shanda well. The emergency situation
is
one in which he lacked control. An order, money, weapons, none of these things
c
ould fix
it.
Like the storm, he was being humbled and dropped to his knees before a power greater than any he’d known. The child he doubted lie in an incubator, resting like an angel, waiting for its mother and there was
a
possibility
Shanda might not
go home. Guilt seized his chest. Perhaps, he’d been selfish. His desire to experience heaven had caused this. Maybe, he was too roug
h. This was
the punishment
for his arrogance and he wept at what he’d done.
He had a baby boy.

He wanted to shout to his father, to Carlo, “Papa I have a son!”
 

Alfonzo’s mouth tightened. Giuseppe apparently was too distraught to speak coherently, so he got his feet moving to learn exactly what the hell was going on. He leaned over the counter to speak with the nurse. In Spanish he requested information on the patient and when she asked
his relationship to
Shanda
,
he answered truthfully, “Su familia!”

                           
   ****

Selange sat in the chair beside Shanda’s bed. She slept. The IV tubing and monitors were familiar. She’d come to places like this as a visitor and a patient on many occasions. The baby was beautiful as gorgeous as her friend. Whatever anger Selange harbored dissolved the moment she learned of Shanda’s condition. Thank goodness Giuseppe found her when he did or things could have been far worse.

The stubborn, wise-cracks from Shanda were sorely missed. Selange took Shanda’s hand
and lovingly
squeez
ed,
wanting desperately to
pass on
strength.
Shanda
always wanted
a child
and
a guy who would fight to protect
them and boy did she get her wish.

“Sela
’ when did you get here?”

Selange stood at the sound of her pet name
.
“A few hours ago. How are you?”

“I feel shitty.”

Selange smirked and caressed her friend’s forehead
.
“I love the hair.”

“Me too.” Shanda grinned
.
“I figured I could rock anything.”

“Yes, you can girl.”

Shanda looked around the room, searching for the baby, “Where’s my son?”

“The nursery. He’s fine.”

“I hope he develops some color because he’s too white.”