The Corner Booth (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

Tony heaved a sigh of relief when Cassie left the pizzeria. He knew that he had confused her with his abrupt order, but now as he turned to the man who stood in front of him, he felt he had done the right thing. Before him stood a world he didn’t want her innocence to feel, and as much as he loved Sakis, even more so than some of his brothers, there was a side to the man that frightened even him.

“Sakis, it is good to see you, my friend. When did you return from Philadelphia?”

As he slid into the booth that Cassie had vacated, Sakis gestured for Tony to sit also. “I have been back for a week now. Interesting girl, Cassandra; does Damalis know you are keeping company with one so young?”

“Damalis has nothing to fear from Cassie. The child is new to the area,” Tony retorted defensively. He was relieved he had the foresight to introduce the two—his very pregnant wife and Cassie—just last week when they both were in the restaurant at the same time. In fact, even with the language barrier, they had gotten along so well, Tony had felt slighted at being excluded from their conversation. Yet, he warmed with gratitude when he thought of Cassie’s kindness towards his wife and unborn child. Damalis’s pregnancy had turned out to be an extremely difficult one, and his wife had been on bed rest for several months. The trip to the restaurant had been the first time she had been out of the house in just as much time. Whatever she and Cassie had been talking about in the corner booth, Damalis laughed more than she had in a long time. At the end of the evening, the pair had hugged each other tightly before Cassie left; Damalis had turned to him, eyes glowing, letting him know how much she liked his new friend.

Sakis’s next comment brought him quickly back to the present. “She looked far from being a child. Young, I will give you that, but a child. No, definitely not.” Sakis could still feel her warm outline on his body when they collided. It wasn’t a bad feeling. “So, you have taken her under your wing?”

Tony frowned. He did not like the conversation resting on Cassie. As he stared hard at the man across from him in the booth, he pondered the curiosity. Sakis and he had grown up together in Mykonos, one of the Greek Islands, and had always remained steadfast friends, even as their worlds shifted dramatically during their teenage years when Sakis’s family moved to Athens. Sakis and Tony had stayed in touch, and promised each other that they would eventually come to the States together. America had been in their sights from a young age and the possibilities, through the American dream, beckoned them.

Tony’s aspirations had never been as lofty as his friend’s. All he wanted was a better life from the poverty that surrounded him as he grew up. Sakis had always wanted the same thing, but after he moved to Athens, Sakis had changed dramatically as a person. Tony often wondered what he saw to cause this, for no longer did Sakis want freedom from poverty; he wanted to conquer and control the world. Now, having lived in the United States for the past ten years, from Tony’s viewpoint, Sakis was well on his way to achieving this. He often prayed his friend was not going to get killed in the process.

Cautiously, Tony replied to Sakis’s question, hoping it would be sufficient. “You and I both know what it is like to travel to a new place, where you are an unknown and have nothing. Cassie, simply, is what we were many years ago. She is trying to figure out her path in life. I feed her when she is hungry; I make her laugh when she is down, and she extends the same friendship to me
and
Damalis. That is all.”

Nodding, Sakis took in everything Tony told him. It was true; he remembered those days, and being hungry all of the time with few taking even a moment to throw them scraps from their tables. He respected Tony, and knew that he would never do anything to compromise who they were as a culture, unlike him. He probably wouldn’t have even given the young woman a second glance, if it hadn’t been for the possessive way Tony tried to escort her out to avoid any contact with either him or Stephanous. It was unlike Tony. Then, when he had really looked at her, looked into her brilliant blue eyes, he was shocked to find that she was beautiful.

Tired of the conversation, Sakis lifted the glass filled with ouzo that had been brought by one of Tony’s employees into the air. He waited for Tony to do the same. The glasses touched before they both took a drink, as the silence stretched out before them.

Tony knew that Sakis’s abrupt appearance was not by chance, and he waited patiently for his friend to speak. He didn’t have to wait long.

“Business seems to be flourishing here.”

Tony shrugged. “It is picking up.”

Leaning towards Tony, Sakis lowered his voice and switched the conversation to their native language. “Are you happy, being a pizza man?”

Ignoring the question and the subtle insult, Tony asked one of his own. “What is it that you need, old friend?”

Heaving a heavy sigh, Sakis smiled. “Always cut to the quick. I want you to come work for me.”

Tony shook his head empathically; he should have guessed that was what it was. Sakis had asked before and the answer had always been the same. But it had been awhile. He had figured that Sakis had given up. “You know I cannot. I was not made for your world. You know that.”

Sakis’s face darkened. “Is my world so different from yours?”

From the large office building Sakis owned in downtown Boston to the five successful nightclubs strewn over the state—all which paid for the fantastic mansion Sakis lived in Chestnut Hill—Tony knew that he couldn’t even begin to afford one of Sakis’s homes, let alone one of his shirts. For the first time, Tony laughed. “You know it is. Just from a wealth perspective, I am lagging far behind.”

“Wealth has its own disadvantages, Tony.”

“Indeed. I am sure it does.” Tony contemplated the offer for a millisecond. He made a very comfortable living as a “pizza man” but he also knew Sakis would pay him more in one year than he would make ten years in his little pizza shop. But his father’s words echoed in his head. Words he felt he needed to share with his longtime friend.

“My happiness does not come from how much is in my bank account; it is the arms that hold me at night that make me far richer than anyone I know.”

“Including myself?”

“I know nothing of the arms that hold you, but I do believe you have to sacrifice something to receive another.” Tony never asked about the business his friend ran, but if rumors could be believed, the wealth that Sakis had accumulated was from high-powered weapon sales and the offers of protection to foreign dignitaries. Sakis, he also knew, was very good at his job. Tony had never heard talk of drugs affiliated with his friend—for that he was grateful—but it didn’t change that what his friend did was illegal. It would have saddened him to no end to know that his childhood friend was dealing. “The devil is a hard taskmaster, Sakis.” Tony wondered whether he had overstepped his bounds when Sakis’s face darkened even deeper. But the words spoken next only caused empathy to surge through Tony for his friend, who seemed tired all of a sudden.

“Indeed he is, Tony. I know nothing of the feelings you speak of. I can only hope, when my future bride arrives from Greece, that our union will be even a quarter of what you have found. If that is possible, I will be happy, for you are truly a blessed man.”

After he poured more ouzo in both glasses, once again Sakis raised his. “To your continued happiness, and the hope for mine, old friend.”

The door chimes rang loudly in the now empty restaurant. Tony looked up and frowned. His head spun; the ouzo had started to have an effect on him. It was too late to be more customers. His brow furrowed even deeper as he watched the two men walk in. The black jackets were embossed with ATF on the front, and he knew a larger emblem would be on the back. He rose with a heavy sigh. This was not going to bode well for Sakis. This just wasn’t his night.

“Gentlemen, late dinner tonight?”

CHAPTER 3

“Sorry, you are probably getting ready to close, huh Tony?”

“Don’t worry about it, Derek. The stove is still on.”

Tony watched as Derek walked to the counter as if trying to decide what he wanted to eat. Every nerve in Tony’s body tensed. Their appearance and Sakis’s on the same night could not be a coincidence.

Sakis played with his pack of cigarettes, but hadn’t taken his eyes off Karl. The younger of the two ATF officers stared right back. Out of the corner of his eye, Tony caught Stephan lean forward and brush off an imaginary speck of dirt from his shoes. He wasn’t fooled for a moment by the laid-back postures.

“Can I help you, Officer?”

Karl shrugged. “You look familiar to me, that is all.”

“So, my familiarity allows you to be rude and stare? Is that the American way?” The tension slowly built in the tiny shop.

“Excuse my friend, Mr. Carras. It has been a long day.” A strong hand reached across the table towards Sakis. Expressionless, Sakis shook the offered hand and nodded his head.

“My name is Derek Chandler and that is Karl Jones.”

“You already know Tony, and that is my friend Stephanous.” Sakis waited until Stephan nodded at the two officers before he continued. “Interesting, Mr. Chandler, that you do not even pretend that you do not know me. Please, call me Sakis…is this a good-cop bad-cop moment?”

With his hands raised in the air, Derek stepped back to the counter to pick up his food. “I will only answer for myself, and that would be no. On another day, we may have a few things to talk about. Tonight, we have just finished our shift, and I, for one, would like to go home.”

“Unless, Sakis, you would like to have a conversation tonight?” Karl drawled.

Cold eyes turned again to the younger man. Dislike flashed in his eyes. “What
you
can do is step back and call me Mr. Carras.”

Derek smiled broadly at the large Greek. This man certainly didn’t pull any punches and as he watched Karl’s face turn an ugly shade of mottled red, he figured the Irishman didn’t find any amusement in the insult. Karl had it coming to him. Cocky son of a bitch was going to get himself killed if he didn’t start playing the game right.

“You are welcome to dine at my table, Derek, if you wish. What better time than the present to ask whatever you need?”

Derek easily slid into the booth as Sakis poured another drink. Stephanous watched warily from a distance. As if on cue, Tony placed another shot glass in front of Derek and an ashtray in front of Sakis before he removed his apron, silently locking the main door before he joined Stephan. The only one left standing was Karl, who seemed at a loss where to sit. As the corner booth was not going to be an option, he settled in another booth away from everyone. His face still lit, he swallowed his pride; he had overstepped his bounds on this one and knew that Derek was never going to let him hear the end of it.

Derek dug into his meal. He loved Tony’s cooking; the lie he told Sakis about just wanting to eat and go home didn’t detract from savoring every bite. They had been driving by when they watched the powerhouse and his bodyguard walk in. After much discussion and arguing about going in unprepared, Derek decided to chance it. If nothing else, he would not have to cook tonight when he got home. Asking to sit at the same table of one of the most powerful men in Boston was way more than he ever dreamed. Karl’s faux pas was not scripted and he thanked his lucky stars that the idiot couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Without a doubt, that error precipitated the invitation.

With a renewed level of energy, Derek ate with gusto and finished everything on his plate, until with a satisfied sigh he moved it away from him. Sakis had not said a word the whole time the officer was eating; instead he took his time lighting his cigar and drinking the ouzo. There was more than enough time for conversation. The moment that Derek was done, he filled the man’s glass and handed over one of his top cigars. With a nod of approval, he watched Derek deftly clip the top and twirl it several times between his fingers as he inhaled the scent of the tobacco through the paper. More used to the cheaply made cigars, Derek knew he was going to enjoy this.

Leaning back, he took several puffs; he let the smoke fill his mouth before he blew it out into the air. Sakis, he knew, only had so much patience.

“Rumor has it that you have just returned from a business trip to Philadelphia. I am curious if George Havarti was part of that meeting?”

Sakis chuckled softly. “You are interested in my business dealings, are you? Well, I shall answer then…yes, I met with George. Yet I am pressed to understand why the ATF would be interested in such a boring interaction between two businessmen.”

“Oh, we find your business to be the furthest from boring. Dare I ask if the negotiations were mutually satisfying?” Derek asked, surprised at his own bravado.

“Actually, it was not quite what I had hoped, but there is potential, for sure.” Leaning in closer, his voice lowered so that no one else in the restaurant could hear him, Sakis continued. “We can continue to play this cat-and-mouse game as we enjoy our drink and cigar, or you can tell me what the fuck you are doing here.”

Derek stared down Sakis, before he leaned in as the Greek had done. “Pirates confiscated an extremely large shipment of firearms over a month ago. Peacefully, thank God, all hands survived the attack, but the shipment disappeared into thin air. Now, intel tells me that you are meeting with George Havarti, who, it seems may be wanting the same type of firearms that were stolen. Putting two and two together, it stands to reason where my thought process may lead me.”

“I don’t see how any thought process would lead you to me. I am a simple businessman, with high aspirations, Derek. There is no crime in that, is there?”

“So you know nothing?”

Sakis’s face hardened. “I know that I have never been convicted of a crime, not even a parking ticket, yet you come into a place I consider home, and throw accusations around without proof.” His hand in the air to cut off anything that Derek was about to say, he waited until Stephanous came to the table before he continued. “When you have concrete evidence of any wrongdoing, you let me know. In the meantime, you will kindly leave me to my drink, while you go and double-check with your informant.”

Derek rose and held out his hand. “I appreciate your time, Sakis, and the smoke—it was quite excellent. I am sure we will be seeing each other again.”

Surprised at the genuine respect, Sakis hesitated, but only a moment before he clasped the other man’s hand. “I am sure we will.” Both men nodded before Stephanous walked Derek and Karl to the door.

Derek inhaled the nighttime air deeply into his lungs to stop the trembling in his legs as adrenaline coursed through him.