The House by the River

by Lena Manta

  “From what I know, no. They took her like a lamb to the slaughter. They bet on her like a racehorse. As you can understand, nothing was certain. She might have made no impression on you, then their plan would have failed. The word’s going around that they planned to finish me off if the seduction hadn’t worked. Now do you finally get it?”

  “Very well. And what do you want now?”

  “I want you to act smartly. Try to find out as much as you can about the shipment, and the day it arrives we’ll be there. Once again the newspapers will write about the settling of scores in the Mafia, and Peter will be history, while we’ll have the whole shipment of goods at our disposal. Besides that, we’ll send a clear message to anyone else who has their sights on expanding into our territory. As for the girl, enjoy her as much as you like, but fast, because afterward she’ll be . . . used up. Unless you think she’d could be useful for some job, in which case, bring her to me. Linda’s disappeared—we need a new one.”

  Franco looked at his father, and for the first time, Charley felt uncomfortable under his son’s gaze. The younger man sat down again in his chair. The silence that reigned in the room now went through him like an electric current. Without hurrying, he emptied his glass, then stood up to fill it one more time. “So,” he said finally, but his voice had changed. “So the story goes like this, and it doesn’t even occur to you that it could happen differently. For example, perhaps for the first time in Mafia history, the son gets rid of the father.”

  Charley went to stand up but his son’s look stopped him.

  “I listened to you,” Franco went on, his voice ominously low. “Now you’ll listen to me, and very carefully! Your life depends on what I’m going to tell you.”

  “Do you dare to threaten me?” Charlie objected, red in the face.

  “I’ll dare a lot more . . . my dear father. I love Lyn very much.”

  “Even after what I’ve told you?”

  “Especially after what you’ve told me. She has no idea what’s going on around her. She’s only a victim in this story, like her aunt. She’s a rare creature, and I’m very lucky that she loves me. I’m going to marry Lyn, and very soon. And you won’t lift a finger to stop it, Charley. We’ll be a loving family, and you’ll accept Peter with open arms. You’ll introduce yourself to him, and officially at that. And to show you I’m not a fool, I’ll speak to Peter. One third of his shipment will belong to us as punishment for what he plotted under our noses, unless he wants to wind up with a bullet through his head. Work is one thing; Lyn is another. Neither she nor Anna will ever find out anything, like most of the women in our circle.”

  “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

  “A pity! Because that’s exactly how things are going to happen.”

  “And if I refuse?”

  “Then the newspapers will have a lot of work to do in the next few days, dealing with the Mafia settling its scores. We can start now if you wish.”

  Charley didn’t manage to see any of his son’s rapid movements. The only thing he saw was the barrel of a gun pointing at him. The shock was intense. “You dare . . .” he began, out of breath, but he couldn’t continue. The cold steel was resting now on his temple.

  “After your dirty schemes involving Lyn, you’re lucky to be alive. And I may still decide to open the gates of Hell!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That I’m not an idiot! I know very well that Nero—do you remember him?—was the boss of this area before you, and you were one of his boys, right? So, I know that it wasn’t Bik who finished him off, although he paid for it, but you. You killed Bik too, because he was next in succession, and everyone worshipped you for avenging an unjust death—and they celebrated by announcing that you were their new boss.”

  “How could you know all that? You were a baby when those things happened.”

  “You always told me I had to know everything about my enemies.”

  “And you regard me as an enemy?”

  “You don’t want to have this conversation, believe me. So, tonight I’m going to propose to Lyn. But first I have to have a few words with my future . . . uncle. You put on your best manners to receive my bride’s family! And something else. I want my mother’s ring.”

  “Franco, think again about what you’re doing. You’re letting them celebrate at our expense!”

  Franco ridiculed him. “You’re getting old, Charley. You’re getting old and you don’t see what’s happening under your nose. It’s been years since you had the monopoly, and sooner or later, someone like this was bound to spring up. It could have been someone from the west. At least these guys are amateurs and we can control them. But now the market will be saturated. That’s why I told you to introduce yourself to him, and officially. You, Peter, and Bowden will start to go out regularly, and the newspapers will write about the three large enterprises that decided to join forces. The message will reach where it needs to and yet again you’ll get credit you don’t deserve, this time for your foresight. Once we’ve got those two crooks tied to you, we’ll stop losing the small percentages from their smuggling, and we’ll be able to expand to the east. I’ve heard that Nick’s not doing well. He keeps losing ground to some newcomer, someone called Harley, or something like that. We’ll get rid of him and we’ll expand ourselves. You see—while you waste your time on small, unimportant things, I’ve been working.”

  “Could you please lower your weapon?” Charley was now speaking calmly. “I don’t know what annoys me more, the gun pointed at me or the fact that you’re holding it.”

  Franco obeyed. “You didn’t leave me much choice,” he said without any remorse. “It’s really up to you whether this scene will be repeated. Maybe next time I’ll be more upset and my finger will slip on the trigger.”

  “Are you threatening me again?”

  “You haven’t given me your word that things will go as I said.”

  “You have it,” said Charley and got up. Before he left the room he turned and looked at his son. “In the end you may be right. I’m getting old, and I underestimate people I shouldn’t. I underestimated you.”

  Charley left the room, closing the door behind him, and Franco collapsed on his bed like an empty sack. He’d said and done things he never thought he would ever do. He looked at the weapon in his hands. A short time ago he had rested it against his father’s head without feeling any shame, nor did he feel any now. He loved Lyn. She was his and in a little while she’d be his wife. Only that had any meaning.

  Dressed as a bride, Magdalini was the most beautiful thing Franco had ever seen. She was a vision in her white gown, her pale face shining with love for him. Peter was proud and smiling, while Anna couldn’t hide her complex emotions. Despite all her objections, when Franco asked formally for her niece’s hand, she gave her approval because the young man was so obviously in love with Magdalini and moreover he had managed to earn her trust. When the bride left her uncle’s arm to take the hand of her fiancé, the two men exchanged a glance that only they understood.

  After Franco’s visit to Peter’s office on that morning a short time ago, they both understood the path they were walking on. It was a lovely spring day and Peter had begun it in a good mood. In three days the shipment would be in their hands, the dealers were waiting, and his bank account would fill with new zeros. It was the biggest haul he’d made in recent years, and he was grateful to Bowden, who had opened his eyes. Not that his smuggling hadn’t been profitable, but now they’d see him differently. The Mafia had begun to accept him; they’d make Charley accept him too. Franco’s arrival made him uneasy, however. The secretary announced him, and by the time they met, Peter had barely managed to drive away his frowning expression and replace it with a warm smile.

  “Welcome,” he called, as soon as Franco entered his office, but he couldn’t make anything out from the young man’s expression.

  They shook hands and Franco sat down comfortably. He looked around inquiringly before t
urning to Peter, who hadn’t yet sat down.

  “What time does your secretary take a break?” the young man asked calmly.

  “But . . . whatever time I tell her. Why?”

  “Tell her to leave now. I don’t want her secretly listening to our conversation.”

  Peter didn’t consider disobeying for a moment. He sent his secretary away and sat down opposite Franco, worried.

  “What’s going on, son?” he asked.

  “I like you calling me son. Soon we’ll be related. I plan to ask Lyn to marry me,” Franco announced drily, without smiling.

  Peter went to stand up and offer his hand, but Franco stopped him with a movement.

  “Don’t be in too much of a hurry . . . Uncle! First, we two have to have a little chat.”

  “Really, I don’t understand,” Peter stammered, now full of unpleasant foreboding.

  “You will understand soon. You’re a smart man, from what I’ve learned, and your trick with Bowden—”

  Peter abruptly cut him off. “What are you talking about?”

  “If you interrupt me again, I’ll make sure you won’t even be able to say your own name from now on.”

  Peter nodded, frightened now, and Franco continued.

  “As I was saying, it was a clever trick, and it worked. Lyn and I fell in love, just as you wanted us to. I’ll disregard the fact that it was the most immoral and disgusting thing an uncle could do to his niece. What you didn’t take into account, neither you nor your buddy Bowden, was that I’m not an idiot. I know very well how to separate my work from my personal life. I’d have killed you on the spot if that wouldn’t bring unbearable sadness to Lyn and Anna, who I respect very much because she has real class, unlike you, who’s just another bastard. So listen carefully to how things are going to happen. Tonight I’m going to ask for Lyn’s hand, and of course you’re going to agree. The wedding will take place in two months. The shipment is due on Tuesday, and you’re going to give me a third of it.”

  “But—”

  “That’s the third time you’ve interrupted me and each time you do it, you’re risking your life. Right after my engagement to Lyn, my dear uncle, you’ll start to make public appearances with my father, and the Mafia will get the message. From now on you won’t do anything without informing me and the profits will always be split three ways. I don’t know if you and Bowden imagine yourselves as bosses, but you’ll only be the operatives of me and my father, and you’ll take your orders from us. Do I make myself understood? If you or Bowden, or the two of you together, have any objection, you’ll be found with a bullet through the head and I’ll be rid of you. The same thing will happen if you try to mess with me again!”

  Peter listened without speaking, while beads of sweat began appearing on his forehead.

  Franco continued, “I gather I’ve made myself more than understood. Naturally the women won’t find out anything; we’ll be a loving family, but apart from family ties, we’ll also be bound by the vow of silence. Omertà, Uncle Peter!”

  He left without saying anything else, certain that behind him, Peter had collapsed. Caught at his own game, Peter hadn’t expected that the tender Franco would behave like a true Giotto. He had to call Bowden, but he didn’t have the courage to pick up the telephone.

  Everything happened as Franco said it would. The shipment was divided, and in the two months leading up to the wedding, Peter went out quite often with Charley and Franco, while the newspapers began to write that some big business deal was in the pipeline. Following his meeting with Franco, Peter received a pair of diamond cufflinks and on the card was written one word: omertà. Bowden received the same gift.

  On the day he’d met with Peter, Franco had dropped by Magdalini’s house in the evening as if nothing had happened, and her uncle’s coolness and impeccable behavior had impressed him. Peter behaved as warmly toward his niece’s suitor as usual, and only Franco could detect the fear in his eyes. He’d seen it so many times in his other victims that it was easy for him to recognize. He didn’t know for sure, but he suspected that Peter and Bowden had had an intense discussion after he’d left the office and Peter must have scared Bowden as much as he’d been scared himself. Franco knew he didn’t need to worry about those two anymore.

  He had left the house with Magdalini and headed directly for his little apartment, where, as soon as the door closed behind him, she fell into his arms with longing.

  “I missed you,” she said, and her voice had a childish tone that moved him.

  “Me too,” he whispered. “We’d only been separated for a few hours, but the only thing I wanted was to have you in my arms forever. I love you, Lyn. I worship you!”

  His lips found hers eager to respond. Her body was more ready than his, and her hunger for him was even greater than his own. She gave herself to him with an intensity that shook him, leaving him breathless in her naked embrace, while at the same time he still felt thirsty for her. Only a few moments passed before an unexpected movement of her body made him lose control again. He wanted to propose to her. His mother’s ring was waiting in a box hidden in his jacket, but the shapely legs of his beloved had already wrapped themselves around him. Her lips were exploring his face, and her hands spread a shudder of delight across his back. He couldn’t hold back. This woman drove him crazy. All other thoughts evaporated. Her body was the paradise that made him feel complete happiness.

  The diamond ring found its place on her finger some hours later, but even its myriad of iridescent glints couldn’t compare with the light that shone from her eyes and the alabaster beauty of her body. Magdalini looked uncertainly at the huge stone and her expression filled with wonder.

  “What’s that?” she asked him softly.

  “That is my mother’s ring. She always wore it on her hand. I remember how it shone.”

  “And why are you giving it to me?”

  “Because it’s my way of saying that I love you and I’ll honor you all my life. Be my wife, Lyn. That’s the only way I can go on living! From the first moment I met you I understood that if I didn’t make you mine, I’d go crazy.”

  Magdalini fixed her eyes, full of tears, on his. She tried to find the truth in their depths. She found the love that burned in his heart and hid herself in his arms. As soon as her naked body touched his, Franco felt the intoxication of her perfume again. He laid her down and, despite her slight objections, began to explore her hidden hollows. Like a thirsty bee he began to drink the nectar of the flower he was holding, and he stayed there until he felt her body shudder uncontrollably, abandoned to a pleasure she had never known. But Franco experienced an even greater surprise. For the first time in his life, a woman’s climax brought him to the same dizzying height, the same emotional peak. For the first time the satisfaction of another being was more meaningful than his own. Afterward he embraced Magdalini, who hadn’t yet got her breath back, like a precious piece of porcelain.

  On the day of their wedding, the young couple didn’t stay long at the reception that followed the ceremony. They were in a hurry and they didn’t bother to hide it. Most of the guests smiled understandingly. The two newlyweds were so lovely. Anna said good-bye to her niece with tears in her eyes. Franco had arranged a monthlong honeymoon in Europe, but it would last longer than that.

  Before Franco left he gave strict instructions to his people as well as to his father. He didn’t want any trouble while he was away; he didn’t want anything to go wrong that would require them to bother him. It was obvious to everyone that Franco had taken the reins of control in his hands. He did it in such a complete, strong way that Charley didn’t know whether he should feel sorry that he’d unwittingly lost the role of boss so soon, or be proud of his son who was carrying on what he’d begun in a way worthy of the Giotto name. He preferred the latter. His son seemed ready for everything, and Charley didn’t want a confrontation with him. Besides, he had to admit that Franco had brought a new impetus to their work. Their control over their territory
was now undisputed and the marriage to Lyn was regarded as a smart move. Peter’s rise had made the other big bosses uneasy, but Franco’s new role pleased them. There was always a need for new blood and the young man had guts and brains; he’d demonstrated that on many occasions. In addition, Lyn’s wholesomeness and virginal beauty completed the image of the good family that the Mafia demanded. Franco would go far, they all said.

  The honeymoon, which lasted two months, was an endless fairy tale for them both. When they finally had to go back, they reluctantly said good-bye to their carefree life. Back in Chicago, everyday reality was waiting for them and they couldn’t live forever as tourists. When they arrived at the Giotto family’s enormous house, the staff was lined up waiting to wish them well, and Magdalini greeted, one by one, the army of people who would be working for her from now on.

  Charley was waiting for them in his office. He stood up to greet them and kissed his son and his bride, then placed a small box in the young woman’s hands. “It’s my wife’s jewelry,” he explained. “I think from now on you should be wearing it,” he added, without a trace of emotion.

  Magdalini hugged the box to her chest before raising her tear-filled eyes to her father-in-law. “Thank you very much,” she said, as a lump rose in her throat.

  Immediately afterward Franco showed his wife their bedroom, where Magdalini looked around her, enchanted.

  “And to think, when I came to America, I thought the room in my aunt’s house was enormous. This is a whole house!” she cried out happily.

  “Whatever you don’t like you can change. Not only here, but everywhere. Except, of course, for my father’s room and office.”

  “I wouldn’t even think of changing his rooms. By the way, Franco, what should I call him? Do you think he would like it if I called him ‘father’?”

  “It’s better if you call him by his name.”

  “But . . .” Magdalini seemed embarrassed. “Should I call him just Charley, as if he were my friend?”