Post by Leonardo on Jan 26, 2014 21:22:02 GMT -6
Frankie stood at the block, watching the cars go by near 86th, waiting anxiously. The System had all but fallen, and the place was a chaotic mess by now. Mancini's name was completely ridden with corruption and filth, and Crowley had gotten what he wanted. It was his. He could have the shithole, as far as Frankie was concerned. He had held up his part of the bargain, and now he was ready to get his reward.
He saw a white dog trot around the corner with a triumphant gait to match his arrogant grin. He had a paper bag in his mouth. Nothing was moving inside. Frankie could feel the hair rising on the back of his neck and all the way down to his tail. His daughter was in that bag. But she'd better be alive. She'd be alive or he'd kill that dog. He'd murder him in cold blood and stuff his ass in a cheap brown paper bag, and stuff him under a dirty bench in Miller-Davidson for some old couple to find. He was sure of that. Totally sure.
The dog reached him, and said between teeth clenched around the bag. "Youffrank?"
The tom nodded. Unable to say anything lest he explode.
The bull terrier sat the bag down. "You alone?"
He nodded again.
The terrier passed the bag towards him, but stepped on it again, just before it reached the cat. "Remember, you still have obligations."
Frankie glared at him. Now he had to say something. "Pal...give me my dawta. Yous got bigga prollems to worry about den me takin' care of my obligations."
"You don't know who you're dealing with cat. This is a dog's world. You don't amount to anything."
That got a smirk off of Frankie, who glanced to the ground and shook his head. "I don't amount to anything....okay. What's ya name, pal?" He asked with sudden curiousity.
"Tony. Tony Valentine."
"Okay Mista Valentine. Do me a favah and get the fuck off my street." He grinned and snatched the bag, glaring at the dog. "Don't worry, we'll meet again real soon."
The bull terrier shook his head and left. He was ignorant to the wrath of this cat, but he didn't care anyway. He had better things to do.
Frankie peered into the bag hopefully, and was relieved to find his wide eyed daughter Rosa huddled in the back of the paper. "...Rosa?"
"...Papi?"
She exploded into him, and the hugged and hugged and hugged. Both started to cry, tears of joy and relief rolling off of their faces. It was a reunion of two people who had only been seperated for weeks, but it felt like they had not seen each other in years. Frankie set her down, grasping her. "Yous okay? Did they hurt ya?"
"No not really. Oh dad I'm so sorry for leaving! I just got so frustrated and--"
"No No don't worry about dat now it's awl in da past. Listen to me, hey--" He grabbed her face gently and brought it up to his. "It's awl in da past now, baby. Never leave me again, Rosa. Don't you ever." He hugged her tightly. "C'maan, I'm gonna take you home, get you cleaned up. Papi's got a meeting and then imma take yous an' ya granfatha to dinnah tonight. Sound good?"
Rosa wiped her tears. "Sure. Thanks Papi.....wait we have a grandfather?"
*************
Frankie arrived at the Warehouse 30 minutes after he dropped his daughter off back at his apartment. Leonardo had called this meeting. He was a bit nervous because he already knew what it was about, but he still needed to go. As Street Boss, he was responsible for many things, and if he aimed to keep this job, he had to check in with the Don periodically.
"Eh Frankie? 'Ow ya doin'?"
"'Ow ya doowin', Bobbi?" Frankie was surprised to see the pointer mix at the house. He hadn't been around lately. "'Ows ya kid? Ya wife?"
"She's fine, everyone's fine. Say I'm down 'ere cuz Leo says he can't pay me dis week. I thought I's was made, but I don't wanna question 'im ahn it. I think the Family suffah'd a setback or somthin'."
Frankie shrugged. So that was what this was about. He would have to answer for this soon. Perhaps even today. He entered the office and found Leonardo staring out of the window, chewing on a peice of jerky. "Ey Boss." He closed the door and walked up. "Sorry I'm late. You wanted to see me?"
"Yeh. Sit down Frankie." Leo took his seat. "So howzit been wit ya's? Ya family aright? You evah find Rosa?"
"Yeh yeh, she turned up soonah or latah. You know 'ow it is with these kids. Pssh. What ya gonna do, eh?"
"I know exactly what you mean Frank." Leo looked at some notes, chewing absentmindedly. "Say good meeting last night huh? We rocked their worlds seems like."
"We awlways do." Frankie knew something was coming.
Leo chewed away, still looking down at the notes. Finally, he leaned back. "You know Frankie, I've run da numbas six times and I still can't unda'stand wheah sucha massive loss could come from. And afta dat meeting last night, it only strengthens my hypothesis. Somethin's going ahn in da System."
Frankie froze. "Somethin's awlways goin' ahn--"
"I mean it's gaan. Off da fuckin' radar. I don't see it. An' I got guys dat depended on dat place fuh pay. Yous da street boss, so I want you to explain to me how da hell it 'appened."
"Look Boss I tawlked about it yesta'day at da meetin' you was there Al was there. What am I gonna do am I gonna lie to ya face?"
"You and I both know what you say in front of the 'press' is different from what you say to me."
"I dunno what else you want me to say to you! I really don't."
"What the hell ah you tawlkin' about I want you to tell me da fuckin' truth Frankie. Shit just doesn't hit the fan like dis. It's a gradual thing, I would have caught it--you would 'ave caught it Frankie. I feel like somebody's playin' wit my money. I don't like to play games wit my investments. So I want you to explain to me 'ow da hell dis 'appened."
Frankie looked away, staring at the floor. He could feel a hot rush from his face go all the way down to his toes. He could tell the Boss, but what was the point? This was his problem. He would take care of it, and he wouldn't bother Leonardo about it. He spoke in a more hushed voice. "I-I dunno what da fuck 'appened, aright? Maybe I just dropped da damn bawl. I'm sorry."
Leo leaned back, unsatisfied, but knowing that was as far as he was going to pursue it. "You know somethin'? Yous a real peace of work. Do I seem threatening to you? Don't you unda'stand I'm just tryin' to get dis togetha?"
"I unda'stand bawss. I'm gonna help you. I sweah. I just need a couple t'ings."
"You need a couple things."
"Justa couple."
Leonardo just shook his head. He was pissed. But he could see something else was up with Frankie. He decided to discuss another subject. "We'll come back to dat. I want to know what you think about Capaldi."
"Good guy. Why?"
"You know I mean fuh The Crown Jules."
"Oh yeh, I dunno. It awl seems rushed to me. You really t'ink 'e's right for Caporegime?"
"I tell ya what I do think. I think Vinny needs a lil more yeahs unda 'is belt."
"He's gonna be a mess."
"Look at me imma mess. Yous a mess. We's awl one big fuckin' mess. I've got prollems to worry about, dis casino, friggin' Crowley, I gotta keep Juliet innocent--'ow da hell am I supposed to do dat when i gotta wipe Vinny's ass every time he has to shit!? It's time for 'im to grow up. It's time fuh a remodel."
"Okay, okay. What kinda remodel?"
"Wit da way everythin' panning out, I've decided theah's no need for the position of street bawss any longer."
Frankie's eyes widened. This couldnt' be good. Was he being fired? There were only two more positions to be filled, UnderBoss or consiglieri. Unless.....
Leo watched Frankie's body language. Part of the reason he had done this was for punishment of Frankie's poor management of the System, but he also wanted to consolidate things. He was going to establish order if it was the last thing he did. "You're gonna be a Caporegime. An' yous gonna keep Vinny in line until he's grown up enough to take da position of a third Capo."
Part of Frankie's heart fell. He should have been Underboss. He felt a bit of resentment, but he could only blame himself. He had put himself in this situation and insulted Leo's trust. He could only be grateful he was still high up in the mob, and he could still do his work. It wasn't like he was being fired from the position. It just didn't exist anymore. "Yea sure, no prollem. Eh, can I make my request? I promise imma make t'ings right Boss."
"What do you need?"
"I need yous to lift da ban on Crowley's life."
Leo tilted his head, suddenly understanding a bit more now. He even smiled a little bit. "Now why would I do that?"
"Let's just say he an' I 'ave a lil score to settle off da record. An' I t'ink I know jus' whah to staht."
Leonardo pondered it for a bit. Crowley was definitely gaining power now...it was only a matter of time before he controlled the System and became a real problem. Authorizing a hit was one thing. Carrying it out was another. Frankie never missed a hit, but then again, he had never faced a foe like this one before....
He saw a white dog trot around the corner with a triumphant gait to match his arrogant grin. He had a paper bag in his mouth. Nothing was moving inside. Frankie could feel the hair rising on the back of his neck and all the way down to his tail. His daughter was in that bag. But she'd better be alive. She'd be alive or he'd kill that dog. He'd murder him in cold blood and stuff his ass in a cheap brown paper bag, and stuff him under a dirty bench in Miller-Davidson for some old couple to find. He was sure of that. Totally sure.
The dog reached him, and said between teeth clenched around the bag. "Youffrank?"
The tom nodded. Unable to say anything lest he explode.
The bull terrier sat the bag down. "You alone?"
He nodded again.
The terrier passed the bag towards him, but stepped on it again, just before it reached the cat. "Remember, you still have obligations."
Frankie glared at him. Now he had to say something. "Pal...give me my dawta. Yous got bigga prollems to worry about den me takin' care of my obligations."
"You don't know who you're dealing with cat. This is a dog's world. You don't amount to anything."
That got a smirk off of Frankie, who glanced to the ground and shook his head. "I don't amount to anything....okay. What's ya name, pal?" He asked with sudden curiousity.
"Tony. Tony Valentine."
"Okay Mista Valentine. Do me a favah and get the fuck off my street." He grinned and snatched the bag, glaring at the dog. "Don't worry, we'll meet again real soon."
The bull terrier shook his head and left. He was ignorant to the wrath of this cat, but he didn't care anyway. He had better things to do.
Frankie peered into the bag hopefully, and was relieved to find his wide eyed daughter Rosa huddled in the back of the paper. "...Rosa?"
"...Papi?"
She exploded into him, and the hugged and hugged and hugged. Both started to cry, tears of joy and relief rolling off of their faces. It was a reunion of two people who had only been seperated for weeks, but it felt like they had not seen each other in years. Frankie set her down, grasping her. "Yous okay? Did they hurt ya?"
"No not really. Oh dad I'm so sorry for leaving! I just got so frustrated and--"
"No No don't worry about dat now it's awl in da past. Listen to me, hey--" He grabbed her face gently and brought it up to his. "It's awl in da past now, baby. Never leave me again, Rosa. Don't you ever." He hugged her tightly. "C'maan, I'm gonna take you home, get you cleaned up. Papi's got a meeting and then imma take yous an' ya granfatha to dinnah tonight. Sound good?"
Rosa wiped her tears. "Sure. Thanks Papi.....wait we have a grandfather?"
*************
Frankie arrived at the Warehouse 30 minutes after he dropped his daughter off back at his apartment. Leonardo had called this meeting. He was a bit nervous because he already knew what it was about, but he still needed to go. As Street Boss, he was responsible for many things, and if he aimed to keep this job, he had to check in with the Don periodically.
"Eh Frankie? 'Ow ya doin'?"
"'Ow ya doowin', Bobbi?" Frankie was surprised to see the pointer mix at the house. He hadn't been around lately. "'Ows ya kid? Ya wife?"
"She's fine, everyone's fine. Say I'm down 'ere cuz Leo says he can't pay me dis week. I thought I's was made, but I don't wanna question 'im ahn it. I think the Family suffah'd a setback or somthin'."
Frankie shrugged. So that was what this was about. He would have to answer for this soon. Perhaps even today. He entered the office and found Leonardo staring out of the window, chewing on a peice of jerky. "Ey Boss." He closed the door and walked up. "Sorry I'm late. You wanted to see me?"
"Yeh. Sit down Frankie." Leo took his seat. "So howzit been wit ya's? Ya family aright? You evah find Rosa?"
"Yeh yeh, she turned up soonah or latah. You know 'ow it is with these kids. Pssh. What ya gonna do, eh?"
"I know exactly what you mean Frank." Leo looked at some notes, chewing absentmindedly. "Say good meeting last night huh? We rocked their worlds seems like."
"We awlways do." Frankie knew something was coming.
Leo chewed away, still looking down at the notes. Finally, he leaned back. "You know Frankie, I've run da numbas six times and I still can't unda'stand wheah sucha massive loss could come from. And afta dat meeting last night, it only strengthens my hypothesis. Somethin's going ahn in da System."
Frankie froze. "Somethin's awlways goin' ahn--"
"I mean it's gaan. Off da fuckin' radar. I don't see it. An' I got guys dat depended on dat place fuh pay. Yous da street boss, so I want you to explain to me how da hell it 'appened."
"Look Boss I tawlked about it yesta'day at da meetin' you was there Al was there. What am I gonna do am I gonna lie to ya face?"
"You and I both know what you say in front of the 'press' is different from what you say to me."
"I dunno what else you want me to say to you! I really don't."
"What the hell ah you tawlkin' about I want you to tell me da fuckin' truth Frankie. Shit just doesn't hit the fan like dis. It's a gradual thing, I would have caught it--you would 'ave caught it Frankie. I feel like somebody's playin' wit my money. I don't like to play games wit my investments. So I want you to explain to me 'ow da hell dis 'appened."
Frankie looked away, staring at the floor. He could feel a hot rush from his face go all the way down to his toes. He could tell the Boss, but what was the point? This was his problem. He would take care of it, and he wouldn't bother Leonardo about it. He spoke in a more hushed voice. "I-I dunno what da fuck 'appened, aright? Maybe I just dropped da damn bawl. I'm sorry."
Leo leaned back, unsatisfied, but knowing that was as far as he was going to pursue it. "You know somethin'? Yous a real peace of work. Do I seem threatening to you? Don't you unda'stand I'm just tryin' to get dis togetha?"
"I unda'stand bawss. I'm gonna help you. I sweah. I just need a couple t'ings."
"You need a couple things."
"Justa couple."
Leonardo just shook his head. He was pissed. But he could see something else was up with Frankie. He decided to discuss another subject. "We'll come back to dat. I want to know what you think about Capaldi."
"Good guy. Why?"
"You know I mean fuh The Crown Jules."
"Oh yeh, I dunno. It awl seems rushed to me. You really t'ink 'e's right for Caporegime?"
"I tell ya what I do think. I think Vinny needs a lil more yeahs unda 'is belt."
"He's gonna be a mess."
"Look at me imma mess. Yous a mess. We's awl one big fuckin' mess. I've got prollems to worry about, dis casino, friggin' Crowley, I gotta keep Juliet innocent--'ow da hell am I supposed to do dat when i gotta wipe Vinny's ass every time he has to shit!? It's time for 'im to grow up. It's time fuh a remodel."
"Okay, okay. What kinda remodel?"
"Wit da way everythin' panning out, I've decided theah's no need for the position of street bawss any longer."
Frankie's eyes widened. This couldnt' be good. Was he being fired? There were only two more positions to be filled, UnderBoss or consiglieri. Unless.....
Leo watched Frankie's body language. Part of the reason he had done this was for punishment of Frankie's poor management of the System, but he also wanted to consolidate things. He was going to establish order if it was the last thing he did. "You're gonna be a Caporegime. An' yous gonna keep Vinny in line until he's grown up enough to take da position of a third Capo."
Part of Frankie's heart fell. He should have been Underboss. He felt a bit of resentment, but he could only blame himself. He had put himself in this situation and insulted Leo's trust. He could only be grateful he was still high up in the mob, and he could still do his work. It wasn't like he was being fired from the position. It just didn't exist anymore. "Yea sure, no prollem. Eh, can I make my request? I promise imma make t'ings right Boss."
"What do you need?"
"I need yous to lift da ban on Crowley's life."
Leo tilted his head, suddenly understanding a bit more now. He even smiled a little bit. "Now why would I do that?"
"Let's just say he an' I 'ave a lil score to settle off da record. An' I t'ink I know jus' whah to staht."
Leonardo pondered it for a bit. Crowley was definitely gaining power now...it was only a matter of time before he controlled the System and became a real problem. Authorizing a hit was one thing. Carrying it out was another. Frankie never missed a hit, but then again, he had never faced a foe like this one before....