Sitting up, Aphrodite watched Athena take the armour from her forearm and tie it around the back of Achilles’ legs, the armour covering his heels, his lone place of vulnerability. ‘Now,’ Athena announced, ‘it will be god against immortal warrior.’
Achilles lifted Athena’s sword and mighty shield and turned away from the women. It was then Aphrodite saw the chariot coming out of the desert. No ordinary chariot, it was a huge sea shell drawn by four large sea-horses, who bounced as they came forward. In the shell stood a man with a long grey beard and blazing eyes.
He raised a trident and called out, ‘Achilles!’
The golden warrior moved toward the chariot, jogging now, and Poseidon climbed down to meet him just beyond the oasis. Aphrodite stood with Athena and watched. She hadn’t realised Poseidon was a giant until Achilles struck the first blow, slamming his sword against the iron shield held up by the god of the sea. Poseidon poked with his trident, but Achilles brushed it away with his shield. And the battle raged, Achilles too swift for Poseidon to strike, Poseidon too large for Achilles to fell.
The sun sank in the distant sky and still the battle raged by moonlight and starlight. The sun came up and the two still battled, landing blow after blow against shields, sometimes sword striking trident. They did not waiver, did not slow their attacks.
Aphrodite yawned as the sun filled the sky. She turned to Athena who was so absorbed with the battle she seemed in a trance. Turing away, Aphrodite saw Ajax sitting beneath a tree eating an apple. He stared past her at the fight and paid no attention to her as she returned to the stream to clean herself, walk out the far side of the stream.
The titanic battle raged and Athena told Aphrodite that it would never end, could never end and this was how thunder and lightning were created.
Aphrodite turned and raised a hand for a taxi to take her back to civilization.
A black cab pulled up and Aphrodite climbed in. She straightened her skirt, realising she was dressed. It took another moment to realise she was in 1930s New York, in the shadow of the Empire State Building. In a slimming dress now, Aphrodite climbed out of the taxi and strolled along the street, catching the eye of most men who passed her.
New York, population about seven million in the 30s. Lotta men.
Chapter 12
What More Could A Girl Ask For
LUCY WORRIED her dream was an omen. Were her men gonna square off over her? She could imagine Ox teeing off with Joe Perito, maybe even Al getting in the mix. Speedo would have none of that, for sure, would avoid it. But she knew Sal wouldn’t back down and that frightened her.
She called The Guag at seven a.m.
‘Sure, I’m up,’ he said.
‘When do we have them scheduled?’
‘One at a time starting at noon.’
‘Have them come in together at eleven.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’ She hung up.
If they were together in one room there was no chance two of them could have a run-in separately. That was her thinking. She headed for the shower and then downstairs for some strong coffee and chicory.
Standing naked outside her two walk-in closets, mug of coffee in hand, Lucy tried to decide on what to wear today. She certainly didn’t want to wear anything any of them had seen before, which meant the little black dress was out, so were the sexy outfits she’d put together when she first met them.
It took a while but she remembered the lavender Oscar de la Renta dress she’d bought at Macy’s just before this all began. A streamlined linen chemise, it was short sleeved and very short in length. She had a pair of shoes that matched it perfectly and would wear a lacy bra and pantyhose only beneath it.
She took more time with her make-up than usual and was satisfied in the end. She curled her hair slightly, pinned up the sides with barrettes, arriving at the office before ten a.m. Donna was behind her computer. She wore jeans and a polo shirt and looked nice with her dark hair pinned up on the sides with barrettes. Lucy almost laughed.
It was a typically steamy summer day with billowy white clouds over the dark gulf water and the sky a brilliant blue, very dramatic looking. The beach beneath Lucy’s office window had only a few occupants. The sand was so bright Lucy couldn’t look at it for more than a few seconds, even with her sunglasses.
The Guag arrived at ten-thirty, wearing what looked like a new blue suit.
‘A couple are already outside,’ he said as he sat. ‘Glad we’ll have a few minutes to talk first.’
Lucy waited.
‘It’s good you’ve made a choice. Very good.’ He gave her a relieved look. If he was about to ask her choice, she planned to tell him he’ll find out when they do. Instead, he said something that surprised her.
‘You have a moniker now.’
‘What?’
He gave her a slight smile. ‘I’m The Guag. Your papa was “Big Luke” and you’re Lucy “Lips” Incanto.
She was too stunned to say anything for a moment but her blood rose quickly and she jumped out of the captain’s chair. ‘Moniker? I’m not even in the goddamn Mafia. I’m a woman, remember?’
‘You own most of the family’s assets.’ The Guag kept his voice low. ‘You can’t be a made man, obviously, but you’re as close to being one of us as can be. And word on the street is you’re known as “Lips”.’
Lucy tried to calm down, but couldn’t, so she paced.
‘Who calls me that? Who came up with that?’
The Guag shrugged. ‘It’s like a rumour. Who knows who starts them?’
Lucy stopped in front of the mirror, stared at her pouty lips and said, ‘They’re not that big.’
‘It’s for all your lips. Not just those.’
She wheeled and saw a resigned look on his face. ‘We all know what you’ve been up to, Lucy and word gets out on the street.’
‘What I’ve been up to?’
The Guag opened his arms. ‘I’m not judging you, although your papa woulda …’
‘Woulda what?’ Lucy was yelling now.
The Guag sank back in his chair. After a long moment he added, ‘What can I say?’
‘Nothing!’ She tried staring him down but The Guag just stared back without expression. Lucy looked at the clock on the wall. ‘At eleven, send in Sal Comodo.’
The Guag got up, straightened his jacket and said, ‘I’m your consigliere. I don’t judge or tell you what to do. I give advice only.’
She took the remaining minutes before eleven to calm herself and check herself in the mirror, making sure the sunglass hadn’t left indentations in her make-up. She touched up her scarlet lipstick before going back to the captain’s chair to await Sal. Closing her eyes, she evened out her breathing to calm down but she felt a chuckle rising. “Lips” huh? All her lips. Well, she had to admit, she’d asked for it.
Sal Comodo wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans. He wanted to rub his leg but that was a show of weakness he wanted to avoid as he sat in the waiting room with the four other “candidates”. It was the first time he’d seen them, although his father, underboss of the family had compiled dossiers of the other four.
As he glanced at them, as they all checked out the competition, his heart sank. He was by far the ugly duckling. Joe Perito of New Orleans was tall, six-three at least, built like a football player with thick dark hair and green eyes. His tailor-made suit seemed moulded to his body. The suit was ultra-marine blue, set off by a pristine white shirt and sky blue tie. Jesus H. Christ!
Miami’s Joe Cavalcare, better known as “Ox”, wasn’t as handsome but how could Lucy resist that cleft chin and rugged looks? Every inch a man. If Lucy was leaning toward the good-looking type, Al “The Thrill” Racconto of Kansas City had the inside track with that slicked-back Andy Garcia look. The scar was a nice, masculine touch. How Chicago’s Joseph Furfante figured into the mix was a mystery. He looked like a goof-ball in torn jeans and a Pink Floyd T-shirt. Furfante seemed genuinely interested in Lucy’s cousin, althoug
h Donna was trying her best to show no favouritism.
Sal had opted for the casual look with his jeans and white polo shirt. “Ox” and “The Thrill” joined Perito with suits, each wearing navy blue, “Ox” sporting a red tie while “The Thrill” sported one of sea-foam green.
The door to Lucy’s office opened, drawing everyone’s attention. The Guag came out, nodded to the men and went over to speak quietly with Donna for a few minutes. Glancing at his watch, he turned to Sal and said, ‘You may go in, Mr Comodo.’
It took a second to sink in and Sal knew he was the first to be rejected. He expected to lose and maybe this was the best way. Get it over with. Lying awake in his hotel room last night, he went over this again and again. No way Lucy would choose him but there was no way he’d leave without seeing her again.
He stood, took a step and his leg almost went out. Al reached to grab his arm but Sal pulled away and half-stumbled to Lucy’s door. He felt their eyes on him like coals burning the back of his neck. The strength slowly returned to his leg as he stepped into Lucy’s office. She stood just inside the doorway, smiling at him and looking so much like Pier … no, better than Pier … better than …
Lucy stared into his eyes as he stepped up, opened her mouth to speak, her lower lip quivering a moment before she drew in a breath and said, ‘If you’ll have me, I’m yours Sal.’
What? Did she just say she’d have me?
She smiled broader, her eyes filling.
‘Did you just?’ he managed to say.
She nodded, opened her arms. ‘I choose you. Will you choose me?’
He took her in his arms and hugged her hard, then let up lest he crush her. She hugged him back just as hard, then pulled back and they kissed. Eventually she pulled him around to the captain’s chair, sat him in it then curled up on his lap as they both struggled to get their breathing back to normal.
Sal said it as soon as his breath allowed. ‘Will you marry me?’
‘Yes. But will you marry the Lucy you’ve come to know because I won’t change, Sal?’
‘I don’t want you to.’
She twisted her neck and looked into his eyes. ‘I won’t stop fucking other men until we start trying to have a baby. And after, I won’t turn into a prudish mother. I like sex too much. Can you really live with that?’
‘I like to see you naked, see other men looking at you, even touching you. You know that. All I want is you, Lucy.’
She settled back and they stayed there for a while, until he drew up the courage to ask the obvious. ‘Is that why you chose me? Because you could be with other men around me.’
‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘You know the feeling we have together. I don’t feel that way with any other man. Sex is one thing. With you, Mr Comodo, it’s sex and love and more sex. What more could a girl ask for?’
They kissed again.
‘And you’re the one I want to have babies with. Capito?’
Lucy climbed off, went to the mirror to re-apply her lipstick, then took Sal’s hand and led him through a door to the left side of her office.
‘This was my father’s private office.’ It was a small office with a desk and a dark blue sofa. Lucy pointed to the sofa. ‘Rest here while I tell the others I’ve chosen you. OK, babe.’
‘OK.’ He sat on the sofa and watched her turn and watched those hips move away, back into her office. Sal sat there a moment, his heart still pounding. He took off his tennis shoes and pulled his feet up on the sofa. Hands behind his head, he closed his eyes and went over it all again, every word said in the other room. It was hard to believe.
Lucy had Joe Perito sent in next. He looked so sharp and confident as he strolled across the room and stood with his fists on his hips, waiting for her to say it.
‘Have a seat,’ she said, getting up from behind the desk to go sit next to him. Crossing her legs, she saw him check them out. Those bright green eyes seemed to dance as he stared into her eyes and slowly came to realise what her eyes were telling him. His chin sank and he leaned back.
Her voice came softly, ‘I want you to come back here to be with me whenever you wish. We’ll set up appointments, rendezvous, interludes, assignations, flings, whatever you want to call it, so long as you want me. Maybe you can show me New Orleans.’
It took him a few seconds before, ‘You’re marrying someone else, but you want to have an affair with me?’
‘We’ve had a love affair since you tore my dress at my ninth birthday.’
‘I guess so.’ He smiled sadly.
Ox, when she told him he wasn’t her choice, sucked it in like a big man and nodded. When she presented her proposal, his mouth fell open and his eyes lit up. ‘You’re serious, aren’t you?’
‘Very.’
‘Who did you pick?’
‘You’ll know when all the others know.’
‘So that’s why Perito’s still outside. What happened to the other guy?’
‘He’s resting.’
Al looked so good, she couldn’t help hugging and kissing him. When she told him, he looked stunned for a moment but recovered rapidly. Lucy remembered the old Sicilian saying, ‘Never let anyone outside the family know what you’re thinking.’
That was in The Godfather, wasn’t it?
When she put her proposal to him, he laughed and wouldn’t stop smiling. Sitting on the edge of the chair he promised he’d show her Kansas City like it’s never been seen before. ‘It’s quite a place, really. Not in the spotlight, but a great town.’
Joe Furfante let out a sigh of relief when she told him.
‘That doesn’t help a girl’s confidence,’ she said with a mock look of hurt on her face.
‘No. No. It’s just. Well, me and Donna sorta click.’
‘I know that, silly. So get out of here and tell Donna she can have the rest of the day off. And all of next week.’ It was Saturday, after all.
Lucy sat back in the captain’s chair and closed her eyes for a moment. Letting it all flow out of her, all the anxiety of telling them, of putting out her proposals, of following in Aphrodite’s footsteps.
When Hera pushed Zeus to marry off Aphrodite and the suitors came with their gifts and promises, Poseidon, Apollo, Hermes and the others. Aphrodite chose Hephaestus, the smith-god who had hidden behind the others, ashamed because he was lame. Hephaestus told the goddess of love and desire that he would make a good husband for someone like her because he worked late, leaving her to be herself. After, Aphrodite called her suitors in one by one, telling each when he might come with his gifts.
Lucy got up and went to get Sal. He was standing in the centre of the small office and looked so confident, so happy. He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly again.
‘We’ve got a lot to discuss,’ she said. ‘The wedding, honeymoon, and one little other thing.’
‘What thing?’
‘You running the Incanto Family with me.’
‘Oh that. That’s the easy part.’
She had to laugh.
Stepping back in the office they found The Guag standing in front of her desk. He stepped right over to Sal and shook his hand and said how happy he was for them. ‘We’ll talk business later,’ he added.
Lucy led Sal back to the captain’s chair and told him to get used to it. Then she climbed into his lap and said he’d have to get used to this too. It was then she noticed the nervous look on The Guag’s face.
‘What now?’
‘The hurricane. That’s what?’
‘What hurricane?’
He looked at her incredulously. ‘The one that cut across Florida. The one in the gulf heading for New Orleans. Don’t you watch the news on TV?’
‘No.’
‘Well it’s a Category Five, about twice as wide as Camille and we’re on the East side of the storm, the bad side. So we’re going to have to evacuate.’
Lucy looked over Sal’s shoulder at the gulf. There were small whitecaps now but the sky was just as dark blue and the cloud
s just as billowy. Guess it was the calm before the storm. She turned back to The Guag and said, ‘OK, we’ll pack.’
The Guag said he’d get the ball rolling and turned to leave.
Lucy called out, ‘What’s the hurricane’s name?’
‘Katrina.’
‘Pretty name.’
She closed her eyes and nuzzled against Sal’s shoulder and told herself she’d worry about the storm later.
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Mafia Aphrodite Page 17