Animus (7 page)

Sergio’s attire screamed flashy American, designer labels, permanent press and not a hair out of place. The duffle bag he carried even boasted a label and Nico scoffed. “I’ll take care of this,” he informed the guards and they returned to their posts. He looked at Sergio. “Come with me.”

Sergio skipped-jogged to catch up with Nico because once his Uncle’s legs started moving he was gone. They went out the door which read USCIRE.

How could anyone as muscular as his Uncle have such agility, he wondered? Sergio trailed a full landing behind and it’s not like he wasn’t trying to catch up. They passed sinister men on every landing, watchful and not one moved. They just stood there and Sergio got the chills the dudes looked so damn mean. When he reached Nico at the ground level, Nico went straight into giving instructions like a drill sergeant. “I’m going out the door ahead of you. Give me five minutes and then I want you to come out, walk swiftly to the black car parked in section D-nove in the southwest section of the lot and get your ass in the passenger seat. Got it?”

“Yep.”

Nico hoped he did. He didn’t want to risk the photographers snapping pictures of him and Sergio with their zoom lens. The kid talked too much.
Nico went out the door and Sergio checked his watch. Five minutes seemed long. His leg wiggled and he anxiously tapped his foot until it was time to go. He hurried out and looked for D-nove. He initially walked in the wrong direction and remembered Nico said southwest. He found the car where Nico waited with a scowl. “Didn’t I say southwest, so where the hell were you going?”

“I got mixed up.”

“Buckle-up, we’re taking a long drive.”

“Where?”

Nico was out of the parking lot, passing thin rows of vehicles and when they reached the security booth, he braked and spoke rapidly to one of the guards there. Sergio didn’t understand a lick of Italian which allowed Nico to speak freely, “Nobody gets in this lot other than family. Make sure you circle and check the cars thoroughly. Stay alert and don’t slack off, I’ll be back, capisce?”

“Sí.”

Satisfied, Nico drove away. They exited the rear of the hospital where more reporters set up camp. Nico zoomed by. None of the photographers had an opportunity to see their faces or get a picture. The less traveled route is what Nico took to escape the congestion. He didn’t need a map or GPS device to travel around the province. Sicily was his home. Nico knew every piazza and who’s who in the comunità. Many of the locals heard of Nico Serano, but very few actually met him. Nico and Vincent’s ruthless reputation hadn’t garnered many friends. Fear is often what occurred if anyone recognized the brothers, which is why Nico frequently changed his appearance.

Sergio chatted as the wheels bounced over old roads and Nico repeatedly switched gears to navigate inclines and sloping streets. He occasionally commented on the scenery or asked questions such as, “Does everybody here drive a stick shift?”

Nico failed to answer. He steered briefly aligning with other cars and then racing ahead through openings in traffic. Light drizzle sprinkled the windshield on a partly cloudy day but cars sped anyway. The rain season had begun. Many kilometers later, Nico asked, “How’d you get here?”

“The invention of airplanes helped.”

“I didn’t know you owned a passport.”

“Well, I do. I travel you know.”

Nico switched lanes. “Yeah, where?”

“Puerto Rico for one.”

“Anywhere else beside the Commonwealth?”

“Puerto Rico, didn’t you hear?”

Nico chuckled. “Puerto Rico’s a Commonwealth world traveler.”

“Ah, stop fucking with me Uncle and tell me where we’re going and why people are shooting up the family.”

“I’m surprised you forked out money to fly here for family you barely know. Kind of makes me suspicious.”

“Suspicious?” Sergio waved a hand. “You’re suspicious of everybody. I heard the news and flew here. Besides, how’d it look if I showed up for work this morning when my co-workers know I’m related to the boss?”

“You came to keep up appearances then, not because you care.”

“See, I hate when you do that shit. Stop twisting my words.”

“You hate me speaking logically?”

Sergio’s agitation showed. “There’s nothing logical about how you think.”

Nico’s cell buzzed and he pushed a button on the dashboard to activate the safety feature in order to keep his hands free. “Buongiorno, andare avanti.”

Thankfully, the swift response came in Italian. “Sono appena arrivati.”

“Quanti?” Nico asked.

“Tre.”

“Grazie,” he said and pressed SPENTO.

“So, are you going to tell me how Alfonzo’s doing or what?”

“He’s alive and kicking,” Nico answered mechanically. His mind was elsewhere.

“I bet whoever did the shooting had a beef with Giuseppe’s wicked ass.”

Nico wasn’t listening. He exited and raced west. “You said you wanted to be down with family or something to that nature, you still want in?”

“Hell yes!”

“First you have to pass the Vincenzo test.”

“My dad’s test?”

“The one and only. My brother liked breaking in soldati especially the smack talking guys.”

“He did?” Sergio inquired. He didn’t know anything about his father and anytime Uncle Nico talked about him, Sergio went silent.

“Yes and he got a kick out of it, too.”

Sergio smiled wanly. Too bad he didn’t get to meet his father. He heard some really good things about him from Alfonzo. His dad was an excellent shot, he also liked cracking jokes a lot, which Sergio found interesting because he did, too. But, it’s his dad’s bravery that inspired pride in a son. There’s a part of him that wanted to impress his Uncle. He believed Nico’s abrasive attitude stemmed from disappointment or maybe even embarrassment that his brother had such a useless kid. His mom called him, ‘useless’ whenever she got mad. The put-downs were the norm and he began accepting the worst about himself, but here was an opportunity to prove her wrong and to show his Uncle his worth.

They finally pulled onto one of those quaint stradas, which Sergio considered old architecture, solid bricks and stones. There were local businesses, several elderly men and women strolling along actually carrying bags of groceries with breads and leafy greens peering out. Funny, the images were just like the pictures in the magazines he looked at on the flight. Friendly, slow paced, neighborhoods filled with culture, wine, food and smiles. Only thing he disliked is they said Italians ate late. Their average family ate dinner around eight o’clock, hell in the United States people were often finished by six. He actually dug what he saw thus far of Palermo; it had an old school feel which he liked.

He didn’t have time to soak in the scenery
for long because Nico returned to the drill sergeant stint. “Here are the rules. One, you have fifteen minutes to complete the test. Two, any mess must be sanitized. Three, no conversation giving real names or any personal information which can lead back to family. Four, don’t steal anything. Five, you’re on your own once you step out the car.”

“Well, it’s nice to know the rules, but what the hell is this test on?”

Nico opened the glove compartment, took out a pen and paper and scribbled an address. “See that panificio with the blue awning?”

Sergio noticed the color but what the hell was a panificio? “Yeah.”

“The owner opens at one o’clock, but he’s a sucker for lost tourists. Knock on the door; ask can he tell you how to get to this address. He’ll invite you in, offer you a taste of his bread and cheese and you will accept. Take a seat and when he turns around cap him…in the back of the head.”

Sergio grimaced. “Ew, what happens when the shit splatters?”

“Angle to the middle of the skull, keep a distance and step to the side after you fire.”

Sergio noticed his Uncle was emotionless when he talked about capping people.  The crazy-motherfucker was straight-up gangster! “Alright, but I don’t have a weapon.”

Nico remedied the problem and reached inside his backpack to withdraw a lethal weapon attached with a silencer. “You know how to use a gun?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Good.” He tucked the gun in Sergio’s duffle bag. “Alright get going.”

Sergio gripped the strap and opened the door, paper in hand. He had one foot on the curb when Nico said, “Oh by the way nipote, there
are two cooks in the kitchen. No small talk, shoot them quickly.”

“Well damn anybody else I gotta’ off, the dog or cat?”

Nothing from Nico except a glare and then he dismissed Sergio by getting a newspaper from the backseat reclined and began reading. The kid asked too many questions. Nico learned this early about Sergio and the best remedy for a loquacious person is letting them yap to the air. Eventually, their mouth becomes dry and they’ll shut the hell up. When the door slammed Nico smirked. Yeah, Sergio popped a lot of mess about wanting to get paid, even going as far as saying he’d do Nico’s job for the cash. Well, he wanted to be down with the family, he’d have to survive the Vincenzo Test. If Sergio was working for the feds, killing someone would destroy his credibility and if he lacked a back-bone and chickened out, there’s no harm no foul. He hadn’t told Sergio this part; the owner of the shop was a low-tier Mafioso and his crime occurred over twenty years ago when the sonovabitch vouched for Lou!

CHAPTER SEVEN

An indescribable elation is what Maria experienced at the sound of her daughter-in-law’s voice. “Gracias Padre for answering my prayers!” she exclaimed to the darkened room.  After talking with Selange and her son, she hurried to Sal’s bedroom to wake the child. “Your mama is on the phone.”

Sal sat up quickly, seizing the phone, his animated expression a picture of joy. “Mom…mom…are you and dad okay?”

Maria listened with her ear to the side of Sal’s head. She smiled hearing Selange’s voice assuring her son they were fine.

“But, what about Uncle Geo, Shanda and the baby?” Sal asked.

“Shanda and the baby are good. Uncle Geo’s hurt but the doctors
say he’s improving,” Selange answered.

“Is he going to die mom?”

“That’s not something I can answer sweetheart. Your Uncle is tough, you know that right?”

“Yes.”

“He’s strong.”

“Yeah.”

“I know you love him and the only thing we can do is send him good thoughts. This is the time when we have to be strong and believe he’ll get better. Can you think positive thoughts for Uncle Geo?”

“Yeah, I can.”

“Good. He loves you; he always says you’re his other son.”

“Yeah.”

“Love is a strong thing, it can help heal.”

“Alright,” Sal said
and then frowned. “I miss you and dad, when are you coming home?”

“Sweetheart, I more than miss you and your brother and sisters. I want to be home right now, but I have to wait a few more days. I need to ask you to do something; do you think you can help Nana out until we get
there?”

Sal nodded. “Yeah, I can.”

“I heard you were upset. Are you still worried?”

“A little.”

“That’s normal you know. When something terrible happens to people you care about it’s natural to feel concerned.”

“
I was scared.”

“I know you were, but you have to remember not to lash out or act impulsively. People can get really hurt that way or you may get injured, do you understand love?”

“Yes mom. I apologized to Nana and Mr. Bruno.”

Maria caressed her grandson’s hair and held him close. Yes, he had apologized at breakfast and even shook Bruno’s hand like a little man.

“I have my cell and it’s going to stay right here with me. Anytime you want to call, ring me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Nana’s already contacted the school. You’re home for the week, but you still have to do the homework. You can access the assignments on the teacher’s website.”

The whine of a kid echoed in the quiet bedroom. “Ah, come on mom. Can’t I skip homework this once?”

“No, sweetheart. In life you’ll need to focus and push past worry to fulfill your obligations. Okay, your dad wants to speak to you. Good-night –love you much!”

Then Alfonzo’s bass resounded and his mother’s sweet timbre was lost. “Hola hijo, you acting up?”

“Um…no dad.”

“Respetar siempre la abuela, no importa qué!” his dad said angrily.

“Sí, lo siento.”

“Next time you pull some shit like you did I’m spanking that ass hijo, comprende?”

“I won’t do it again.”

“Bueno. Now how’s everything going at home, fill me in?”