Tempted By The Mafia Boss

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Mimi

“I gotta meeting set up with Porter in two hours,” Gina says handing me the little piece of paper in her hands. “I told him you wanted to talk to him about William Russo so he wouldn’t have any cause to think you were there for trouble.”

“Thank you,” I answer and thank my lucky stars that Gina is so street smart.

Tony stands next to her, towering over her with his height and shifts his weight from one foot to the other.

I lean against the counter top by the bar and press my fingers into the cool granite surface as I look at the details on the paper.

It’s for a strip club called The Jade. It’s near the south side of the docks. A place I know to keep well away from.

As in far, far away.

It’s the kind of place where all the low life’s hang out. You either go for information on criminals, or if you need a hit on someone. Drugs, prostitution, any and everything illegal happens there, and if you’re gonna die, it will be there.

Shit… that’s where I’m going.

I stare ahead past the little tables of the restaurant and through the double doors where the people are walking on the side walk. Their shadows mingle with the streetlights and moonlight.

“I was thinking with security so tight we could take Tony. He blends in well around parts like that,” Gina states with a twinkle in her eyes .

I glance at Tony who’s already nodding. He’s impressed me, definitely. He’s barely left Gina’s side, even before all the bad started happening he was with her. like he was determined to show that he’s nothing like Mario.

“Girls, I’m gonna say I’m not happy with this,” he shakes his head now running a hand over his goatee. He looks a little like Van Gough with it, but like a very handsome version with his piercing blue eyes and olive skin.

I like the way he looks at Gina. I like how he cares for her.

“Tony I just need you to look out. That’s it,” Gina says.

“Like fuck. You, Gina… doll you’re gonna get me fired and I’m crazy for doing everything you ask me to do.” He smirks at her.

“I will make it up to you,” Gina promises.

“You better.” He winks at her and I know that means I most likely won’t see my friend for most of the day tomorrow, or him.

With the plan I have in mind I’ll be saying my goodnight to her from now.

“Thank you both for doing this for me. I think though that it’s probably best if you stay Gina,” I sigh.

She gives me the incredulous glare I knew I would get from her and shakes her head.

“What? What the hell, no Mimi, the point was we’d go together and Tony would keep watch,” she counters.

“I don’t want to put you in danger if there’s any. Everything is too risky as it is. I was thinking the less people who go the better, so maybe me and Tony should go.”

Tony is a known Giordanos guy, but he’s not high up enough on the order of security to make anyone shifty worried.

I have my guards with me and they’re outside. I plan to take them for extra safety but ask them to hang back.

“I don’t like it. I want to go,” Gina protests

“No. Please. I’ll be okay.”

I look to Tony who thankfully seems like he’s in agreement with me.

“I don’t like any of it but I agree that if this creep has less people asking him questions the better,” Tony states. “Plus if anything does happen then I just have one of you to worry about. Girls, this guy has been in prison twice for the same thing.”

I look to him. I didn’t know that part. “What was he in prison for?” I ask.

“Rape and burglary, I did a check on him and he’s not the best of people trust me,” Tony answers.

Gina stills and sighs. “Jesus Tony, I wish you hadn’t told us that.”

“Doll, I’m not going to hide anything from you. It’s smart if the two of us go in and the guards hang back.”

“Okay… okay. We’ll do that. Please call me the first chance you get. please. I’m going to worry now.” She says bringing her hands together. Her eyes crinkle with the worry she speaks of.

I move from behind the counter and give her a hug.

“I’ll be safe. I promise. I’ll ask minimal questions,” I tell her. “He knows what I’ll be there for so there’s no need to worry really. We’re just taking precautions.”

Taking precautions and hoping things run smooth.

She nods her agreement and I grab my bag.

Tony hands me a small hand gun. “Mimi take this,” he looks serious. “You use it if you need to. Simple meeting but these aren’t simple times and this place is no walk in the park.”

I take it. I don’t like guns, but I know how to use one.

“Thank you. I hope I won’t have to use it.”

One last hug from Gina, and Tony and I head out.

I told my guards I needed to meet a friend of my cousin’s who wanted to invest in my business.

That was the excuse I gave. Excuses like that work when you’re in bad company who are always into anything shady as shit.

They knew to hang back and allow Tony to come with me.

I’m a bag of nerves just being in this part of town but grateful for Tony’s presence. I’ve never come here before but I’ve heard enough.

We walk into The Jade and what greets us practically at the door is a man and woman having sex.

It’s not like at The Dark Odyssey where it’s gratified. First off this place has a smutty, creepy feel to it and the woman who I’m guessing is probably a stripper here looks like she’s on drugs. She’s completely naked and her nose is red raw.

Instinctively Tony places an arm around me and pulls me closer.

“Stay right next to me, Mimi,” he says, a whisper in my ear.

When I follow his gaze I see a bunch of guys around a table snorting white powder.

Shit… come on Mimi, White powder?

It’s fucking cocaine or crack, or some other shit.

We walk past topless and naked women on poles dancing, women giving lap dances with dollar bills tucked into their panties, and more people having sex.

We’re heading towards the backrooms. That’s what the note instructed.

We’re supposed to go to the back and tell the man at the door we’ve come to see Porter.

I don’t know what Porter is here in this place, it doesn’t seem like he owns it but I’m guessing if he can arrange for us to meet in the back he must be important.

Of course it doesn’t sit well with me that I’m arranging to meet with an ex-con. Salvatore would lose his shit if he knew what I was up to.

Salvatore… I still can’t believe … we…

I’m not thinking about it. I’m not. This distraction of speaking to this Porter person about Mom has kept me going for the last thirty six hours. I’ve managed to be distracted by it for thirty six hours.

It’s not that I haven’t thought of Salvatore. I just haven’t thought about the fact that we aren’t together anymore.

Those words don’t feel right in my mind and makes tears sting my eyes.

Quickly, I shake the sadness from my heart as Tony and I get to the door that looks like it leads out back. There’s a big burly guy with a leather bandana and a long gray beard at the door. Tattoos cover his face, neck and any visible skin.

“Hey pal,” Tony says, taking the lead. “We’re here to see Porter. Gotta meeting with him at eight. He said don’t be late.”

The guy doesn’t answer. He just pulls out his phone and presses it to his ear.

“Two people here to see you boss, a guy and a girl,” the man says into the phone. In two seconds he hangs up and looks to me. “He says just the girl can go.”

A chill runs down my spine.

“Why, we both want to see him?” Tony counters.

“You heard me,” he snaps.

I glance at Tony who looks worried as hell. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine I’m sure. I’ll be quick.”

“I’ll be up here, waiting.” Tony nods.

I take a step to go down through the door but burly guy stops me. “Purse stays up here.”

Shit. My gun’s inside the purse. I hand the purse to Tony and resume my calm.

“Spread em,” the man adds.

I lift my arms and he proceed to tap down my sides looking like he’s enjoying touching me more than I like. I’m wearing a tank top and jeans. He presses on the bulge of my pocket where my phone pushes out.

He takes it out and looks at it like he’s inspecting it for something.

“It’s a simple iPhone. No special gimmicks doesn’t even have the latest pixel features,” I tell him, shaking my head and lifting my shoulders into a shrug.

He hands me back my phone and I place it back in my pocket.

“Go down the stairs. It’s the first room on the right. He’s waiting for you,” he instructs.

“Thanks.”

Pressing my lips together I glance at Tony then I go through the door. I walk into a corridor that looks heaps better than the rest of the club. There’s a hint of paint in the air like the place has been recently painted. It’s burgundy and cream adding a touch of class to the place.

Doesn’t make me feel any better though. Shit, when I told Gina to stay behind the last thing I thought was that I’d have to go see this man by myself.

I know straight up that if he’s requesting to see just me it’s because he doesn’t want trouble and I’m less likely to give it.

I walk down the corridor and go over all that I want to say to him.

I’ll start with the fact that my mother died. I don’t need to say how she died. Just that she’s dead and she used to work in the D. A’s office with the States attorney.

That’s my starting point although mentioning D. A and States Attorney don’t really seem to fit with this guy being an ex-con. He agreed to see me though. So that must be worth something. He knows why I’m here and he agreed to see me. If it was all bad and he was bitter talking about his past on the right side of the law I doubt he would have wanted to talk to me.

What I want from tonight is just a lead. That’s all I’m hoping for since I’m not real sure what I should be asking.

I get to the start of the stairs and go down them. They’re long and winding and it takes at least two minutes before I get to the bottom and stare on at the rooms before me. I see the one I want and head to it.

Porter answers when I knock on the door and I push it open. My heart tenses up when I see the sight of him.

He has a scar running right across his right cheek and a burn scar on his left down to his neck. He smiles at me with a missing front tooth and a leery vibe.

“Come in Maria Cipriani,” he states and I do.

I walk into the large room which has an archway that goes down to more corridors.

I didn’t realize how big this place was. Leading so deep underground.

It makes me wonder where it all goes to. It didn’t seem all that big from above.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Hello Mr. Santiago,” I say walking up to him. I put out my hand to shake his and he looks at my outstretched hand for a second or two before he takes it.

I sit and I stare at him as he watches me. I’m not sure I like the way he’s looking at me. It has an uneasy feel to it that adds to my discomfort.

“Thank you so much for seeing me.” I smile hoping I don’t sound as nervous as I feel.

“You’re welcome. I understand you have questions about William Russo. How can I help you?”

Here goes. I need to just be basic and get his sympathy first.

“My mother used to work for him. She died a few years ago. I was just … well I’m collecting some stuff for a memorial I wanted to put together for the family.” Jesus Lord, that was the story I came up with yesterday. Thinking stuff up in my head, however, is so different to saying it out loud. I’m giving myself points for not sounding as nervous as I feel. “She wanted to be a lawyer and I remember how fondly she spoke of Mr. Russo. I was thinking of doing a memory book of sorts and was hoping he would sign it. I’m not sure of his whereabouts. There’s no listing of him anywhere. I know you worked closely with government officials like him.” God… I hope that sounded okay. I really do. “Did you ever work for him at all?”

The corners of his lips turn up into a smile. “I did. What a nice thing to do for your mother. Nice lady. I’m sure she would have loved such an idea.”

He knew her?

“I didn’t realize you knew her,” I say.

“I did and right now I could be looking at her twin. It’s a compliment sweetheart, your mother was very beautiful.” He chuckles.

My awareness spikes as his flat emotionless brown eyes stare back at me. A tremor slithers through me knotting my insides warning me to tread softly and be careful.