Mafia By Blood (Soul of the Sinner)

by Rumer Raines

  I don’t even need to turn around to know it’s her when I hear the click of Lola’s high heels, as she walks to her desk. “Good morning, Frank. I’m glad you finally made it.” I raise any eyebrow questioningly as I look up at her.

  “I’ve been here. I think I should be saying that to you,” I advise her as I look at the clock. Lola laughs and says she’s has been in for at least an hour. She went on a scavenger hunt looking for mob info. Oh, shit…

  “Did you find out anything important?” I ask, praying that I like the answer. Lola pulls a folder out of her leather tote. “I actually found out quite a few things. I am not sure if you knew this, but there are three mob families running Chicago. Notice I say running because they own a lot of shit and that includes people.”

  “What are the names? I ask. Lola looks around moving her chair closer to my side. She doesn’t want anyone else to overhear what she has to say. I am grateful because I don’t want anyone to overhear her either.

  “There are three families that work together in Chicago. The Gallos, the Morettis, and the Russos. It’s quite surprising that the families actually work together, but they do and quite effectively. They each have their own little specialty and the other family doesn’t get in the way. They make their money from drugs, prostitution, and money laundering. However, they all have legit businesses so no one can ever prove anything. If one family handles the drugs, the other two families don’t.” Lola looks at me wondering why I haven’t said two words. I just need to find out what she knows.

  “What I can’t figure out, is which family is in charge? My research tells me that several families can make up the mob, but one has to be in charge. What’s also interesting is that whichever family is charge gives the entire group his name. We just need to find out who’s pulling the strings with these families.”

  “You are sure these are the only families in Chicago?” I still can’t figure this shit out so I need to know where my family is mixed up in this shit.

  “Everything I have found only indicates the three families, Frank. Do you think there are other families that I am missing?”

  Lola is looking at me questioningly, and I can’t give her any reason to search for any other families, especially since my family is somehow mixed into this situation.

  “No, I don’t. I asked Marcus about the families that he’s heard of and they are the same ones you found. I guess we should start asking around about Knight.”

  “I totally agree with you, Frank. I think we should start with the Gallo family.”

  LOLA

  Frank and I spend most of the day looking for businesses that the Gallo family owns. Frank had us doing background checks on almost every freaking Gallo in Illinois. While he was doing ‘research’; he kept me occupied with looking for meaningless crap. I thought this was pointless and basically a good stall tactic. He doesn’t want me researching and finding anything on the Gallo Family. It’s really no use for me to find anything on the family either. The only information I need is about the man sitting at the desk across from me.

  The theme from Jaws startles me out of my useless research and Frank looks up me with a smirk. I grab my phone. “I have to take this,” I say as I get up from my desk and go into the ladies room to take the call. I know I can’t keep putting this conversation off.

  “Hello?” I answer with an attitude which I know will piss him off. He doesn’t appreciate the attitude, but I also don’t appreciate being called every three hours. If you want me to do a job, leave me alone and let me do it. I’ll let you know if I can’t handle it.

  “Don’t give me a fucking attitude, Lola! You haven’t been checking in like you are supposed to be. You get to Chicago and I haven’t heard from you in weeks. We didn’t ship your ass out there for a fucking vacation. Do you have any information on Deluca? We put you inside the fucking police station so it shouldn’t be that hard.”

  “What information are you asking about?” I ask trying to keep him calm. I realize this has been taking too long and he is right. The family had me assigned as Frank’s partner.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? Is Alex or Frank Deluca going to be taking over the Chicago territory? We know it’s one of them. My money is on Frank. I don’t think they would put Alex In charge of shit. I heard he stole some shit from the police station and Frank had to get rid of it. We want to increase our business and if Frank is in charge, we need to handle it.”

  “How do you know Alex stole something from the station and that Frank got rid of it?” I don’t believe this. I’m right here in the station and haven’t heard squat about shit going missing from the station. Am I really this far out of the loop?

  “Lola, you know you aren’t the only one we have in Chicago or at the station. You’re just the one we thought could get the closest to Frank.”

  “Tell me what Alex stole and how Frank got rid of it.” I should know this. I am a cop and I am getting my information from a criminal.

  I can hear laughing, and for a second I think he isn’t going to give me that information.

  “Apparently, Alex stole a shit load of evidence from the station. There was a huge drug bust and a dirty cop told Alex about it after one of his visits to Frank at the station. His dumb ass actually stole a car along with the drugs and cash from the bust. I don’t know how Frank got involved, but apparently, he and one of their flunkies have a way with bombs and got rid of it all.”

  Shit, I can’t believe Frank actually had it in him to destroy evidence. Maybe I have been wrong about him and he isn’t as clean as I thought?

  “Ok, thanks for sharing. I can probably use this. I have to go.”

  “Lola, I need you to check in every three hours. If you can only send a fucking text, do it. These Chicago fuckers won’t spare you if they find out you’re one of us.”

  “I’ll check in,” I say as I disconnect the call and leave the restroom.

  As I walk back to my desk, I decide to go the long way around and swing by the evidence room. The room is normally locked and there isn’t much activity near the room which is down a rarely used hall. The department really doesn’t want heavy traffic where drugs, money, and other evidence are stored.

  Today there’s an officer standing in the hall and next to the door. “Hey, is this the evidence room?”

  “Yes, it is. Did you need something?” he asks, probably wondering why I’m in this area of the building.

  “I am actually new to the department and thought I would learn where everything is. I’m from New York and must admit I’m impressed. We don’t have armed guards for our evidence room. I guess Chicago is really hardcore.”

  He chuckles and looks at me. “Not hardcore. We had a robbery a few weeks ago so, until our new security system in place, someone will be here guarding.”

  “Wow... someone actually robbed a police station?”

  “Yeah, isn’t that something. Someone got in here and stole almost $750,000 in drugs and cash. The best part is they even stole a cop’s car for the getaway.”

  “That is something. I guess the Chicago criminals are ballsier than the New York ones.”

  He looks at me and shakes his head and I now found my hot button to push with Frank Deluca.

  FRANK

  Lola is back at her desk after her phone call and I can feel her eyes on me. I told her to research the Gallo family businesses to keep her busy. The Gallos is a huge ass family in Chicago and while she is looking at the clean businesses, I am researching the ones that I know are dirty.

  “Did you know some asshole actually stole drugs and money from the evidence room?” Lola asks.

  I am so caught off guard by that question; I actually swallow wrong and start to choke. I grab my bottle of water and take a drink. “Wh… where did you hear that?”

  “I walked down to the evidence room and there was a guard who told me. He said that the bastard stole $750,000 in cash and drugs. You won’t believe this; they even stole a cop’s car from the lot.”


  “Yes, that is unbelievable. It’s even more unbelievable that while I was up here doing research, you were off visiting the evidence room.”

  Lola actually starts to laugh. “Oh, Frank, don’t you get it? I was doing research. Who in the hell would come to a police station and steal that much money and some drugs? Then to top it off, have the balls to steal a car from the parking lot? This has mob all over it! If we find out who did this, we’ll have our first lead on the mob!”

  I can’t let Lola go down this road. I don’t know who saw Alex in the building that day. I don’t know which cops he has in his pocket. I only know that I can’t let Lola start asking questions about this shit. I don’t know how this has been kept quiet, but I am sure ‘our’ people are involved. I just need to make sure she doesn’t go stirring shit up

  LOLA

  I can tell that I struck a nerve when I mentioned the evidence room break-in with Frank. I don’t know why, but my gut is telling me that Frank is just not cut out to be in the mob. I don’t see Frank killing anyone or even having someone else do the dirty work for him. Frank has cop written all over him. I know what I was told, but for some reason, I don’t want it to be true.

  “So, you're saying that the mob actually came into a police station and stole all that shit, huh?” Frank asks with a questioning look. I know he’s trying to throw me off.

  “I think that’s exactly what happened,” I answer.

  “Why would the mob be at the police station, Lola? From what I’ve heard, the mob is anti-anything police. Do you think they were here filling out a missing person report?”

  Now, he’s just being a smart ass trying to piss me off.

  “Maybe they were here snooping? Or maybe they were visiting family?” That should strike another nerve and I can see that it did when he squints his eyes at me.

  FRANK

  I thought I was going to have a heart attack when Lola said: ‘maybe they were visiting family’. Why in the hell would she say that? Does she know more than she is letting on? I almost think she knows Alex stole that shit and I am the mafia connection that she’s looking for. It’s impossible. She can’t know shit; she isn’t even from here. Even if she reviewed the surveillance video, I doubt that Alex would be stupid enough to pose for the damn camera. Alex said that we have people at the station and I am sure they would have gotten rid of any evidence that pointed to either of us. Lola can’t know shit, but it still doesn’t explain how she would have known to throw that plot twist into the situation.

  “Visiting family, Lola? Are you insinuating that we have dirty cops? Accusing your fellow cop won’t be the way to get invited to the Christmas party,” I admonish her. Not wanting to give her time to respond, I’ve decided I am done with the conversation, shut down my computer and call it a day.

  Once again I can’t sleep. I toss and turn thinking about Pop. I keep hearing him tell me how he runs the Chicago mafia and he wants me to take over. He doesn’t want Alex in charge. He wants me to take over and keep the family safe. He wants me to keep Ma, Alexis, and Alex safe. Alex is a wild card and we always knew he was loose cannon. I didn’t need any more proof of that than when he stole all that shit from the station. No planning or anything; he just took it because the opportunity was there. My time is running out and I have to decide what the hell I am going to do. I am either going to help Lola take down my family or I am going to leave the force and run the mob.

  If I only had more time to decide, but time is no longer my friend. I am being pressured by Alex and by Lola. I don’t understand how Lola is so good at this mob shit either. She hasn’t been here long but managed to get the names of the families and find out shit about the robbery. Hell, she even knew it was mob-related. I had asked around about the robberies too, but no one suspected the mob was involved. They just figured it was some druggie who was in at the right time. Not, Lola, she hit the nail right on the head, mob-related.

  I turn to look at my clock to see how much time I have to sleep and its 3 am. Shit, I need to fall asleep fast so I can still get in a few hours before work. I need to be on my game if I am going to be around Lola. The minute I get comfortable and close my eyes the doorbell rings.

  I throw on my pants and whoever is at the door starts pounding on it. The last thing I want is to wake my neighbors. I have good neighbors and we all get along and I prefer to keep it that way. I swing the door open and realize that I won’t be getting my good night sleep. Alex, Thomas, along with two of my cousins, Paul and Peter, waltz in making themselves at home. “What’s going on?” I ask because I can’t think of anything being important enough to come over this time of morning.

  They all sit except Paul. I have never gotten along with Paul. I always considered him to be the troublemaker of the family. I think every family has that busybody woman that keeps shit going in the family. In our family, it seemed that Paul took on that role. If anyone didn’t get along, he was somewhere in the mix.

  “We need your decision, Frank. You have had enough time. There’s a lot of shit about to go down and we need someone giving the orders to the families.” Thomas looks over at me and stands.

  “He’s right Frank. Look, we know this is a big decision for you. The family needs to come first and if you aren’t going to lead us, then let us know so Alex can take control. People are getting antsy and we need to keep control of this shit.”

  I rub my head and go to sit down in Thomas’ now vacant seat. “What families are involved? I assumed it was just our family. You need to give me more information. I can’t make any decisions without knowing what I am jumping into.”

  They are all giving each other a look and I know what they are thinking. They don’t want to tell me shit. They want me to make this kind of decision, but not give me anything. I have made my life decisions on facts and information. Hell, I won’t even buy meat from a grocery store without knowing where it came from. They know me and should know that this “no tells” policy won’t work if they want anything out of me. I can tell that realization has hit Thomas and he gives a nod to the others. “We have to know we can trust you before we tell you anything.”

  “Are you shitting me? I destroyed stolen police evidence for you.” Thomas shakes his head. “No, you destroyed that for Alex. That’s different.”

  I laugh and walk over to my desk that I keep my spare gun. I pull it out and shoot Paul it the leg. “What the FUCK did you do that for?” Paul yells as he hits the ground, writhing in pain. Everyone is now standing, looking at me like I have lost my mind. Peter is kneeling beside Paul, probably trying to stop the bleeding, but at this point I am pissed and I couldn’t care less if he bleeds to death. They’re the mob. If he does bleed to death, they can get rid of the fucking body.

  “I have had all I am going to take of this shit. If you want me to decide, somebody better give me all the information I want, now! It’s my fucking life that will change. Now, who in the fuck are these families?” I lift my gun and I point it towards Peter.

  Alex lets out a chuckle. “I am in no mood for your shit, Alex. I will fucking shoot you too!” He and Thomas look at each other and Alex gives a faint nod.

  They leave several hours later and I have more information. What I realize is, it’s information I wish I never had. I am calling in sick tomorrow and then going to question Ma.

  I always feel a little empty when I pull up outside the house. I think it matters when someone dies, but it is their presence that is always missed. Each time I enter the house I expect to see Pop. He would be working in the garage or sitting in his favorite chair watching some game. I wanted to come over first thing in the morning, but I decided to wait until I knew Alexis had left for work. I don’t want her involved in any of this shit. I still have a key, but I decided to knock since Ma isn’t expecting me.

  “Frankie. Isn’t this a pleasant surprise! Are you sick? Why aren’t you at work?” I give Ma a big hug and a kiss and walk into the kitchen closing the door. “I took the day off. I really n
eeded to talk to you, Ma.” She looks at me and she can tell that I have some serious shit to talk to her about. It’s odd that mothers always seem to know when they are about to deal with some real shit for and with their kids.

  “Do you want a cup of coffee for this chat? It’s too early for the hard liquor.”

  “I’ll take a cup of coffee, Ma. We probably should set the liquor out though,” I warn. A few minutes later, I’m sitting across the table from Ma and we both are sipping our coffee. I can’t believe the conversation that I am about to have with my mother.

  “Well, Frankie, this coffee is very good, but let’s get to it. What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “I guess we can start with how my mother is the real mob boss of the family.” She sighs and takes another sip of coffee.

  “Oh, Frankie, your father inherited the business.”

  “Pop inherited the business from your father.” Ma laughs and shrugs her shoulders.

  “Yes, Frankie he did. My family is the original Mafioso in Sicily. Unfortunately, the family blood is full of women. Men don’t like to be given orders by women. This is why it will always be a little hard to elect a woman as president. The family wasn’t about to give up its control, so they did the next best thing. The husband of the first-born girl runs the mob until a son is born. When my father died, I was the oldest daughter, so your father inherited the family business. Your father was so relieved when we had boys!”

  “Your father was a little worried when you said you wanted to be a policeman. Luckily, we thought we had Alex if you weren’t interested. He started to work with Alex and realized that he would get everyone killed if he was in charge.”