by Tony Farraj
They stepped out of the office and headed to Frankie’s car, which was parked out front. When Frankie opened the door to the café, he saw two Asian men leaning on his bumper. Frankie didn’t like anyone touching his car. There was a rumor in the neighborhood that one day some guy was walking by and happened to spill a drop of ice cream on Frankie’s hood. Frankie went wild. He made the guy clean the hood with his tongue. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll step away from my car.”
The two Asian men weren’t here to make any trouble. They both stepped away from Frankie’s car without hesitation. One of them even wiped off his and his friend's footprint from the chrome bumper. “Mr. Sakakini, Mr. Hong would like to sit down and discuss the problems we are having and to see if we can solve this minor problem.”
“I understand. I’m trying to find a place were everyone can feel at ease. Why don’t you call’em and ask him if my home would be an adequate place.”
The Asian man reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a chrome-plated phone. After several minutes of conversation, the Asian man handed the phone to Anthony. “Mr. Hong would like to speak to you.”
“Hello?” Anthony spoke into the receiver.
“Mr. Sakakini, its an honor to speak to you again. I see you got my message regarding our meeting.” Mr. Hong spoke loudly.
“I was just telling one of your men that I think a good neutral place for our little meeting would be my home. If that’s alright with you?” Anthony waited for a response from Lee.
There was a long pause, before Mr. Hong answered. “If you and Mr. Sabbetini feel comfortable there, then I trust I shall feel comfortable as well.”
“Good, then lets meet at my house around ten thirty tonight.” Anthony asked.
“Very well, I see you and Mr. Sabbetini tonight.”
Anthony handed the phone back to Lee Hong’s man. The two men smiled and walked away to a waiting car. “Frankie, I need to go back inside and tell Carlo about the phone call.” Anthony walked back to Carlo’s office. “I just bumped into two of Hongs’ men. I told him the meeting would take place at ten thirty. Now I need to ask you something very important; who do you want to invite to this meeting?”
“Well, I think Frankie has to be there. He is my acting under boss. Sonny, and I know you’re not going to like this, but Michael has to be there as well. He’s still a part of this crew. Chris will show up with Sonny, but he doesn’t have any voice in our decisions.”
Anthony didn’t like the fact that Carlo wanted to invite Michael. “I understand your decision to invite Michael, but you know how hot headed he can be. We are talking about running the whole Southwest side and you want to bring in a guy that can’t keep his mouth shut for more than five minutes. He could blow our whole plan, are you willing to take that chance?” Anthony asked concerned.
“I gave you a second chance, don’t you think you can do the same for Michael?”
“Carlo, this isn’t about second chances. It’s about business and Michael can get us both killed. Now we just dodged a bullet with this Sal thing, are you sure we can dodge another bullet closer to home?” Anthony was trying his hardest to keep Michael out.
“I’ll talk to him.”
Meanwhile, back at Anthony’s house, Helen and Mrs. Sakakini where sitting at the kitchen table laughing, when Anthony walked in through the back door.
“Hey you, we didn’t expect you until later on this evening. What’s going on?” Helen threw her arms around Anthony’s neck and pulled him in close to her body.
Anthony paid little attention to Helen’s affection. His mind was focused in the meeting he was having here tonight.
“Are you feeling alright?” Helen could feel Anthony pulling away from her embrace.
“I’m really sorry, it’s just I’m having some important people coming over tonight. Which means I need you to stay in your room.” Anthony turned to his mom.
“Are you asking me to leave my own home?” Mrs. Sakakini was annoyed with her son’s request She got up from the table and walked to her room and slammed the door.
“What the hell’s wrong with you? I have never seen you act like this toward your mother.” Helen was furious with Anthony’s behavior.
“Look, I don’t need you to jump down my throat as well.” Anthony said.
“You know what Anthony? Fuck you!” Helen stormed out the kitchen and walked to Mrs. Sakakini’s room. “By the way, your surprise came in early. Here!” Helen threw a set of keys at Anthony.
“What’s this?” Anthony asked.
“Figure it out, asshole! I’d start in the garage. You know your mom couldn’t wait for you to come home and find you present, but because of your outburst you spoiled that for her. Nice going. I sure hope you’re happy with yourself.” Helen turned and walked away, her voice quivering with anger and saddens.
Anthony stared dumb founded at the keys in his hand and looked out the kitchen window toward the garage. He walked out the kitchen and stood in front of the garage door. The paint on the door was peeling and the handle was held on by one rusty screw. Anthony grabbed the broken handle and pulled up the garage door and found a large object covered underneath a gray sheet. He gentle pulled the sheet, and like water off a ducks back, the sheet slid down and revealed a brand new Mercedes. The high gloss finish mesmerized Anthony. He walked to the driver side door and peered inside. The camel color interior beckoned him to sit down.
Anthony opened the door and slid in, the smell of the new car interior tickled the inside of his nostrils. He stuck the key in the ignition and listened to the engine purr like a newborn kitten. He wrapped his hands on the soft leather steering wheel and tightened his grip. Anthony imagined he was flying down the highway with the windows down and the radio turned up loud, he hadn’t notice Helen and his mom standing there, laughing at him.
“Hey!” Helen slapped the hood of the new car. “Are you alright in there?”
The sudden noise broke Anthony’s trance like gaze. He looked up, only to see Helen and his mom laughing. He felt his face flush from embarrassment. With out saying a word, he got out of the car and hugged both women.” I’m sorry I was such a jerk. I want to thank you both for this unexpected gift. I only have one small question. Where did you get the money to pay for this?”
“You remember uncle Vincent?” Mrs. Sakakini asked. “Well, he came by to see me last week and when I told him you where working for Mr. Sabbetini and that you needed a car, he was happy to give you one. He said it was the least he could do for you.” Mrs. Sakakini said enthusiastically.
“I guess I need to go by and thank him in person.” Anthony placed the car cover back on top of the sparkling automobile. He didn’t want any dust to settle on top of the fine finish. He lowered the garage door and walked his mom and Helen in the house. “Can you both have a seat, I’d like to talk to you about the guests I’m having over tonight.”
“Anthony, you know I don’t want these men in my house. You know how I feel about this.” Mrs. Sakakini said unquestionably.
Anthony could see the anger and the hurt on his mom’s face. “Mom, I understand, but this is the only place these men feel safe. Please, this is very important for me. This will determine my future.” Anthony felt like he was begging his mother for permission to allow him to have this meeting in his own home.
“Your future is to be a doctor, not this.” Anthony’s mom wanted him to go to college. That was her dream. She wanted her son to have a real future. She wanted him to help heal lives, not destroy them. She sat at the table and glared at her son. After several seconds of complete silence, where the only thing that could be heard was the sparrows singing outside in the back yard. Mrs. Sakakini finally said reluctantly. “If this is what you want, then so be it, I don’t like it, but this is your house too.”
“Now that I have that out of the way…” Anthony took a deep breath and turned toward Helen. “I know we have only known each other for a short time, but in that short time, I have gro
wn to love you with all my heart.” With each passing word, Anthony began to kneel down.
Helen sat motionless, her eyes fixed on Anthony. The muscles in her body seemed to tighten. Ever since she was a little girl, she had dreamed what it would be like, when her boyfriend one day would propose.
“I want our relationship to move on to the next level, Helen…” Anthony could hear his own voice shake with nervousness. His pulse quickened. “Will you marry me?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. Inside was a one-caret marquee diamond surrounded by smaller brilliant cut diamonds. “Well, what’s your answer?”
Helen stared at the fine piece of jewelry in the black velvet box. This was the dream; this was the thing she had longed for, ever since she was a little girl. “Yes, Anthony! I would love to be your wife.” Tears of joy rolled down Helen’s soft cheeks, as Anthony placed the ring on her finger. He stood up and gently kissed her soft pink lips. Anthony turned and gazed at his mother. “Well, what about you? You haven’t said a word.”
Mrs. Sakakini stood there in shock. Her hand covered her mouth and her eyes where wide open. “Anthony, I don’t know exactly what to say. Don’t you think you’re rushing this just a bit? You two don’t know each other.”
“Ma, I don’t understand? I thought you’d be happy for me? I found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.” Anthony said shocked.
“Anthony, I want you to be happy, but I want you to take your time making a big decision like this.” Mrs. Sakakini looked over at Helen, she could see the joy she had minutes ago, fade from her lovely face. “Can we talk about this later?”
“No!” Anthony screamed angrily at his mother. “You and Helen have been getting along so well, I don’t understand what’s the problem?”
“I told you, I don’t want to talk about it right this moment.” Mrs. Sakakini stormed out of the kitchen and headed to her room. She slammed her bedroom door with such force, that it rocked the house windows.
Meanwhile, Helen struggled to remove the ring from her finger. “I think it’s best that I leave.” Her tears of joy where now tears of betrayal, she placed the ring on the kitchen table and headed out the front door.
Anthony followed close behind and grabbed her by the arm. “Listen to me; I love you with all my heart. If my mom can’t handle that fact, I personally don’t give a rat’s ass. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m not going to let anyone stop me from loving you. I won’t let anyone stop us from being together, and I mean anyone!” Anthony looked into Helen’s eyes. He could see the hurt all the way to her soul. He wrapped his arms around Helen, but it didn’t feel the same. Helen’s body felt limp and lifeless. She made no attempted to hug him back. She merely broke free from his embrace and walked out with out looking back.
Anthony’s pain turned into rage. He stormed to his mother’s room and burst through the door. “What the hell was that all about?”
“You don’t talk to me that way in my own house. I will not stand here and listen to you yelling at me!” “Mrs. Sakakini said sternly.
“Oh, I’m sorry ma…!” Anthony said sarcastically. “You just destroyed the best thing that’s happened to me in a while and you want me to watch my fucken language!”
“I told you, you two are rushing things. What’s the big hurry?” Mrs. Sakakini asked. “Oh my god, Anthony is she pregnant?”
“Ma, if you screwed up my chances with Helen, I will never forgive you.” Anthony walked out of his mother’s room and back into the kitchen. He picked up the ring and held it tightly in his hand and stared out into space. His heart felt like it was ripped from his chest. He knew there was going to be fireworks when he proposed to Helen; he just didn’t expect them from his mother.
Minutes later, Mrs. Sakakini walked back into the kitchen and sat across from her grieving son. “I didn’t mean to ruin your proposal to Helen, I’m sorry. I was worried about what Michael would do to you when he found out.”
“You don’t have to worry about Michael, I can handle that bastard.” Anthony spoke to his mother, without making direct eye contact. He sat there staring at the ring that he held tight in his hand.
“I know you think you can, but he is like a snake in the grass; when you finally see it, it’s close enough to bite you. I don’t like Michael, he has evil in his eyes.”
“You worry to much.” Anthony felt better about what his mom had done. He understood her reasoning. He just hoped it wasn’t to late. He got up and kissed his mom on top of the head and headed for his room. On the way there, there was a gentle knock on the door. Anthony thought it might be Helen, so he rushed over and opened it quickly. “Helen?” He was surprised to see Carlo standing there instead. “Whatta you doing here? You’re early.”
“I wanted to come by and talk to you about this meeting.”
“Please come in…” Anthony stepped aside. “Ma, Carlo is here.”
Mrs. Sakakini stepped out of the kitchen, smiled and calmly walked to her room.
“ It’s nice to see you again. How’s it going?” Carlo asked, but Mrs. Sakakini ignored his question and continued toward her room. “What’s the matter with her?”
“She’s not to happy about this meeting taking place here.” Anthony escorted Carlo to the kitchen. They both sat down at opposite ends of the table. “What’s on your mind?”
“This is one of the most important thing in our organizations. We have to find a peaceful agreement, before there is an all out war.”
“I agree.” Anthony listened attentively.
“I just don’t know what his grievances are between our families.” Carlo asked.
“The last time I saw Mr. Hong, he said he was having problems with Mr. Mazellie’s predecessor, but he didn’t say if that was you or Sal. He said something about an agreement between him and our organization.” Anthony quickly stepped back in to his business mode. The trouble he was having with Helen would have to way, for now.
“What agreement?” Carlo asked.
“How should I know, it was before my time.” Anthony got up from the table and excused himself. He rushed back to his room to change into something more formal.
Carlo stood up and walked to the refrigerator to get himself a drink. When he closed the refrigerator door, he didn’t notice Mrs. Sakakini standing in the doorway behind him. “Jesus Christ, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“I didn’t mean to scare you don Carlo. I need to start preparing dinner for tonight.” Mrs. Sakakini glared at Carlo with her dark eyes.
“You’re not to happy about this, are you?”
“About the meeting?”
“About all of this. The meeting, Anthony being involved in our organization, him getting shot, you don’t have to worry, I promise. I’ll watch over him.”
“And who well keep an eye out for you, don Carlo?” Mrs. Sakakini asked, as she put on her apron.
The uncomfortable silence was broken, when Anthony yelled from his room.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Don Carlo, I don’t mean any disrespect, I’m worried about my son. I had high hopes, that one day he would be a doctor, a lawyer, anything…” Mrs. Sakakini hesitated.
“Anything, but this.” Carlo finished her sentence. “You know, he’s good at this. He’s a born leader. He reminds me of someone else.”
“Who?” Anthony slipped back into the kitchen.
“Jesus! What is it with this family? Why do you insist on sneaking up on people?” Carlo asked.
Anthony just smiled. “Who do I remind you of?”
“What?” Carlo asked. “It’s not important. You look good kid, better than you have in months. Are you ready for this thing? You’re not nervous, are you?”
“Actually, I am a little nervous, but that just means I’m ready for anything.” Anthony fixed his tie and walked back to his room to take one more look at the whole package. As he put on the final touches, there was another knock on the front door. “Who is it?”<
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“It’s me, Frankie.”
“Come in and welcome to my home.” Anthony let Frankie, Sonny, Chris and Michael walk in.
“Hey Anthony, how you doin?” Sonny asked.
“You don’t want to know. Make yourselves at home.” Anthony said invitingly.
“Last time I checked, this still was our home.” Michael mumbled as he walked by Anthony.
Anthony wasn’t going to let Michael get under his skin tonight. This meeting was too important and Michael wasn’t worth the effort.
“Is Carlo here?” Frankie asked.
“He’s in the kitchen. Can I get you guys something to drink?” Anthony asked.
“I’m fine.” Sonny was the only one that responded. “This house sure brings back a lot of memories. This was the first house his dad had bought. He reminisced about all the times his father used to chase him across the hardwood floor. The days his father carried him to the tiny bedroom he had to share with Michael. Sonny wiped away a single tear and made his way to the kitchen, while Chris and Michael stayed in the living room and Frankie waited by the front door.
“So, what’s this meeting all about?” Sonny sat down in one of the empty chairs around the kitchen table.
“According to Lee Hong, someone broke an agreement that your father had with him.”
“I don’t think my father ever had an agreement with Lee.” Sonny said, somewhat confused.
“Well, according to Mr. Hong they did.”
Suddenly, from the other room Michael could be heard yelling. “That slant eye cocksucker is lying. My dad would never make a deal with that motherfucker!” Anthony turned and glared at Michael. “We aren’t going to come to an agreement if you insist on calling him names. Please try to keep your temper under control.” Anthony was asking politely.
“Fuck you, Anthony! Who died and made you boss?”
“Your dad, that’s who. The only reason you’re here is, because I allowed you to come. So, sit down and shut the fuck up and speak only when you’re spoken too.”
Michael could see Anthony wasn’t in the mood to be toyed with. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Something about the way Anthony looked at him, made Michael back down in a hurry.