ASCENSION (19 page)

“Motive is not proof Dichenzo.
It is true
Mont
icelli was allowed to live
but he no longer sits
on the board
or makes his home in the womb of his homeland.
He is an exile and t
his was our decree.
”

“Your decree is flawed
along with
your reasoning. Monticelli live
s
because of his relation to a member of the board and no other
,
is that not true Umberto?”
His eyes did not waver from the men, “Alfonzo is under my
protection. I
will ensure he is not h
armed or railroaded by snake
s
or sallow old men
!”

Carlo studied the men. They were old but not feeble in thought or resources. They feared
him enough to prudently investigate Frank’s allegation and confirm the documents authenticity
before
issuing
any decision.
He sensed they were conflicted, if what Frank said was true they
were at risk and Alfonzo posed a major threat. On the other-hand, Frank may be instigating
the young man’s death for reasons known only to him.
Carlo would not reveal Alfonzo’s true ancestry; he chose to rely on his reputation with
the council
to secure his
safety
instead
.

Ricky ‘Hatchet’
Barbieri
,
leaned across the table, “
Carlo, hold your tongue!” His eyes bore into Alfonzo, “
You have said nothing
in your
defense young Palazzo. Is there any truth to Frank’s accusations?”

Alfonzo caught sight of the ring as Ricky folded his hands atop the table. He became
momentarily distracted and hesitated.
Did his uncle mention
Sergio Giacanti was Alto
Cancelliere
of the I.B.D
?
He responded to the question, “The only truth spoken from
Monticelli’s
deceitful mouth i
s my
name
and I choose not to defend or give credence to his lies
.”

Dominick listened
amused at the
latest turn of events. He wondered
how long the old man planned this surprise. Once again, the obsession with destroying the
Palazzo’s overshadowed the news he would become Frank’s
successor
.

Umberto convened the meeting pending further investigation and warned Frank, “If
we discover you have brought us here to further your agenda, the punishment
of a
babbo
is
harsh!” When he addressed Carlo, his tone
soften
ed, “Carlo, you are aware of the council’s law.
Let us hope we will not have to
e
voke it.”

Carlo sneered, “
Pray if you do!
” He stood and waited for his son and nephew to follow suit
eyeing the old men with contempt. These were the men
who pledged loyalty to
his father yet they s
a
t in judgment of his grandson. How dare they
?
If they only knew the truth of his blood and Alfonzo’s they would quiver and beg forgiveness before he killed them all
,
instead he turned on his heels and marched from the ostentatious room without a backward glance.

He sensed the hour of subterfuge had ended and the Giacanti’s were poised for war. But he
w
ould
wait,
let them reveal their hand then chop it off!

In the confines of the limousine Alfonzo broke the silence, “Why didn’t anyone tell me
Sergio Giacanti
formed
the I.B.D?”

Carlo’s lips pursed in distaste, “What difference would it ma
k
e?”

Giuseppe agreed in a heavy accent, “
Exactly n
one
. This
council
has no loyalty to its founder.
Their loyalty is to the euro.
”

Carlo appeared disturbed, “
Sciocchi
anziani
di spineless
,” he mumbled in Italian
before translating, “Spineless old fools,
their
law was not upheld after my family was murdered,
yet they dare threaten me with it,
possono
si
bruciano
nell’inferno
.”

Th
e
frightened boy who hid
as his family was
slaughtered
refused to hide again. His brutal reputation was not gained from being
cowered,
it came from crushing anyone who dared threaten
the well-being of his
family!

Carlo
placed a ringed
hand
on his nephew’s
shoulder,
“Their law means nothing, it died with your grandfather
, my father
.
You and Giuseppe will bow to no man.
The boss of
bosses answers
to no one.
Boss
dei
boss
risponde
a
nessun
o
, remember this!
”
He settled in his seat, “
Giuseppe will accompany you home as a precaution until we have received their decision, but
be forewarned we may have no option other than to war with our brothers!”

Giuseppe brought levity to the situation, “Before
we
leave, we
will
enjoy
Italy
, eh
cugino
?” He slapped Alfonzo hard on the back and laughed, “-And I get you
a nice fat woman to suck your dick!”

Alfonzo responded, “I’d prefer a particular set of lips on my dick, but I won’t mind
going back to
Emille’s
.
”

Giuseppe smirked, “We eat first. Mama made you her famous
Fettucini
.
Tomorrow we see
Emille
.
”

Carlo nodded, “Yes and Amelda is anxious to see her
charming
cousin.
You will stay at our home. It is good to spend time with family,
capire
nipote
?
”

“
Capisco
,” Alfonzo replied in Italian. H
e understood completely.
The
blood
ties of
a
family are strong,
it can be stretched across a continent, yet the cord
will not break.
These people were his family and to deny them were to deny his existence.

***

A night with the Dichenzo’s became a series of festive days. His Italian family was much like his relatives in the America’s who loved food and dance. His young female cousin insisted he stay for her twenty-first birthday and he found himself in the company of attractive Italian women eager to make his acquaintance at a party in her honor. He behaved the gentleman,
cognizant of his former fall from grace at El Brava and pledged to refrain from alcohol in the presence of temptation. He phoned Sal each day to hear his voice and sulked alone at night
yearning
for his wife.

The night before his departure he visited the tattoo artist to
have the work
complete
d on his
chest.
E
mille’s
Tattoo House was situated
near
a tourist thoroughfare
in Calabria
.
The stone building with its neon sign was the only non-food establishment on the street. It sat tucked between a bakery, fruit stand and
Napolini’s
Restaurant. But at this late hour the
eateries
were
closed and
Emille’s
business flourished.

They
entered
and
were greeted by the owner
Emille
Bourset
, a Frenchwoman with sensual lips and a mane of blonde hair. Her
excited step
s caused her hair to bounce as she rushed to her unexpected guests,
“
Bonjour
invités beau
, my favorite guests return!”

She kissed each man on the mouth
and when it was Alfonzo’s turn his kiss came with the wine of her tongue. The men laughed when she stepped back and placed her hands on her curvy hips to ask, “Who is my canvas today?”

“
Me
.” Alfonzo said.

“
Bonne
, come with me.”

Vincent remained on guard in front with Constantine. Giuseppe followed
the pair through the curtains to a back room. His father cautioned not to let Alfonzo out of his sight and that
’s
what he planned to do.
They passed a bevy of male workers
engrossed in
tatting
clients
. Exposed asses, tits and more intimate body parts provided human scenery as they filed by. Giuseppe
smiled,
he liked the
funky
body art, especially the scorpion being inked in the large breast of a pretty girl eyeing him. He would get her number, later.

The workers hadn’t looked
up,
they were too engrossed in their work.
Emille
opened the door and waved them in to her exclusive VIP room. Here is where her top clients got the ‘
special
treatment
.’

H
er work room
c
onsisted of a comfortable chair similar to the kind a dentist uses
, her tools of the trade on a rolling tray nearby and a mini-fridge next to a leather loveseat in which Giuseppe
claimed.

Emille
pointed to the seat, “Sit. What are you getting…torso, limbs, what?”

Alfonzo removed his shirt and pointed to the left side of his chest and
upper
arm, “I want
you to finish
this
area
.”

She rubbed her soft hand over her handiwork
smiling,
yes
t
he
phoenix
was
as
beautiful
as
its
male
canvass.
The golden hue of Alfonzo’s skin brought the
colorful
inks to life and sh
e grew excited to complete
her masterpiece.
Her hand fell to
his firm
waist
and she smiled, “It looks very good.”

“You’re the best.”

“I know.” Her lips were on his torso kissing and licking his
taut
skin.

He stood rigid, letting her get her kicks.
Emille
’s
talent
, as he found with most artists came with a bit of
eccentric
s
. Giuseppe dug in the fridge ignoring the scene.
Emille
admired her artwork in a bizarre way. Too bad she never followed through after the sexual teasing. He surveyed the assortment of liquor,
“I must get you
a
better variety
of spirits
Emille
,” he called over his shoulder.

She was fingering Alfonzo’s jewels, kissing his mouth, making him smile, then she stopped suddenly and licked
her lips, “Um…
you…I would fuck…but maybe later. Sit,
relax
and I will get started.”

Alfonzo smirked. He found her antics entertaining
. It failed to arouse him sexually
, although he boasted
a very healthy libido
. Perhaps it was due to his unconscious devotion to his wife
or the fact
Emille
’s
flirtation
s were a deliberate tactic to induce sexual frustration for male clients and sexual gratification for the true object of her desire
–women.
It didn’t matter, she was the best and he was here for
her services as a
tattoo
artist and nothing more
.
He open
ed
his legs
and
she
slid
forward
on the
stool
between
them,
reached for
her instruments and
went to work.