He looks away and seems to be trying to calm himself down. He runs a palm over his thick black hair and adjusts his tie. As his face coloring comes back to normal, so does his demeanor.
“But”—he widens his hands out, as if to clear the air—“we’re all men with two sides, and it has been brought to my attention that your merits should be considered.”
I keep my breathing even as I wait for him to verbally declare my fate.
“I understand our Amelia owes you a great deal of debt.”
I finally speak up, “No, sir. I owe her my life. She took a bullet for me today.”
He nods in agreement. “You don’t look so hot.”
“The Lugazzis weren’t kind with their fists, or their bats, if that’s what you’re referring to. None of that matters. I’d die for her.” My answer doesn’t seem to surprise him.
He smiles. “As I said, you have balls, kid. Raphael knew Amelia was in trouble, but he didn’t know it was with this lotto nonsense. That was a stupid fucking plan, if you ask me. Raphael, Carlo, and I… were bottles deep in Stoli when we hatched that fugazi idea up five years ago. But Carlo wanted it, and he dragged our Amelia in. We didn’t know, but you did. Going to Enzo put your life on the line for her safety. You know that.”
“I do.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I love her,” I answer easily and directly.
He’s quiet in his contemplation. “You see, that’s where things get complicated. I want to teach you a lesson, but your honor for Amelia and the life of her family make this difficult. We have your boss, Salinger. We’re holding on to him until we get your answer. You see, we can get rid of him, and no one will be the wiser. The incident with the lotto never happened, and we can all walk away from this clean.”
His proposition is a considerable one. To pretend none of this transpired, that Amelia didn’t break the law at the hands of criminals, everything could just disappear. I’d love that. For myself and for her. Her record would be clean, and I wouldn’t have to fess up to my part in this plan. I could keep my information about how all of this originally started—over bid rigging—and Evangelista and Sorrentino will avoid prison. Lugazzi is already in jail.
It’s a plan that could set us all free.
“I can’t do that,” I state to Frank’s dismay. “I took an oath to honor and serve. I can’t hide the crimes I saw committed.”
“I was hoping you’d see one criminal going away for life as a good enough trade-off. Lugazzi won’t see the light outside a cell for the rest of his life.”
“Nothing makes me happier, sir, but this is more than that. This is honor. I wouldn’t be the man I am if I didn’t keep my word.”
His chin rises in agreement. He might not like me, and he might still want to have me killed, but at least he respects me.
I continue, “I have to give my statement on Salinger’s involvement. Amelia will be implicated, but I’ll do everything in my power to ensure her name is cleared of any charges. She was the pawn. Unfortunately, I will have to implicate why this all started. The contract bidding will come up. The crimes I was here to investigate will be brought forth. You won’t be charged for the drugs because you backed out, but I was informed you are planning on moving product for the Sicilians. I can’t turn my back on that.”
“You act like you know anything about this city. Cocaine is everywhere. It’s in the parks outside of schools and laced with shit you wouldn’t believe. Italians don’t do that. Evangelista’s don’t believe in lacing quality cocaine with cheap heroine. We don’t send it into the schools, and we most definitely would never make it as cheap as candy. You may not see it as clearly, but we have a code. Cocaine is a high class drug, and we only sell it to the ones we know can handle it.
“It destroys lives no matter how expensive you make it.”
“If we don’t move it someone else will. And that person will bring it to kids and addicts.”
“If you move it, you will be caught.”
“I’m not going to jail for your virtue!” Frank states emphatically, and I’m about to speak when another man enters a room.
“I will,” Raphael Sorrentino says from the doorway.
He’s wearing a tracksuit and standing with the use of a cane. I had no idea he was out of the hospital, yet here he is.
I rise and give him my chair. He pushes me away, adamant he stand.
“Raph, you’re supposed to be in bed,” Frank says to his business partner.
Raphael ignores his concern. “I heard you were going to make a deal. I had to hear it all for myself.” He looks me up and down and then holds his head high with a stoic face. “Amelia says she owes you her life, and therefore, so do I.”
Frank stands up. “Raph, you will implicate the family—”
“She came to me in the hospital, frightened. I couldn’t help her. You could,” Raphael speaks to me, ignoring Frank. “You saved her life three times, and now, you’re owed a debt. I can take the hit on all charges regarding the sanitation business.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I square my shoulders, giving him the attention his offer deserves. “I can get you a deal for your cooperation. It’s going to take a lot of work on your end and a damn good attorney, but I will ensure that you’re taken care of with a fair process and protected on the inside.”
“I’d appreciate that, son.”
“A good woman once told me that family is everything. Now, I know where she gets it from.”
He softens at the mention of Amelia. “You know, if I go away for this, I’m going to
