by E. R. Fallon
“She has that Garcia guy.”
“He hasn’t got as much manpower as us,” Catherine replied.
“Sam’s a banker,” Violet said, to draw her mother away from an argument and because she knew it would impress her.
Catherine’s eyes brightened. “That’s interesting. What was he doing in our pub, then?”
“He lives in the neighborhood.”
“He’s a newcomer?”
Violet nodded. Although she knew her mother distrusted the wealthy newcomers, she didn’t want to lie to her. “But he’s different than the others,” she quickly said. “He’s nice.”
Her mother became quiet, then she asked, “What’s his full name?”
“Sam Paul.”
“That’s his last name?”
“Yeah, I think so. It must be.”
“I’ve never heard of him, and I read all the newspapers, even the financial sections.”
“I don’t think he’s famous,” Violet said.
“All right, that doesn’t matter. I’m not the biggest fan of the newcomers, as you know. But if you like him then I’m sure I’ll like him. When will I get to meet him?”
Violet smiled at her mother’s words. “I only just met him, and this will be our first date. I know we’re a close-knit family, but I don’t think he’s ready to meet my mother yet.”
“Of course,” Catherine said. “But let me know when I can.”
11
Camille knew that every morning her stepfather Vito had breakfast alone at a café around the corner from where he and her mother lived. Camille hadn’t slept much last night; she’d spent much of the time thinking. Which is how she came up with the plan to speak with her stepfather and let him know just how much was at stake if he refused to help her.
She found Vito seated at a sidewalk table outside the café, reading a newspaper. The table’s umbrella shielded him from the sun. Camille approached him.
“Camille,” he said, looking up from his paper. “What are you doing here?” He seemed uncomfortable being alone with her.
“I need to talk with you,” she said, sitting down in the vacant seat across from him.
He put down his newspaper on the table. “Would you like a coffee? Something to eat?”
She could have used a coffee and something to eat, but she didn’t want to give him the impression that this was a social call. So, she said, “No.”
“Camille, if this is about what happened many years ago, I’m sorry.”
“I never told my mother, if that’s why you’re worried,” she said. “And it wasn’t ‘many years’ ago, it was when I was in high school.”
Vito’s face flushed and he wouldn’t look her in the eye. He drank his coffee. “I had a problem back then, which I no longer have.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Camille replied.
“I’m just trying to enjoy my breakfast, until you came here and . . . What do you want?” he asked her.
“I need you to do something for me.”
“I’m not telling your mother what happened, I’m a changed man,” he quickly said.
“That’s not it, but, remember, I can tell her any time I feel like it.”
“You haven’t yet, and it’s been years. I doubt you ever will.”
“Oh, believe me, I would if I wanted to. But now I want something from you.”
“You want money to keep quiet?”
She expected him to take out his checkbook. “No,” she said. “I don’t care about money.” She knew she was different from her stepfather in that respect.
Vito looked concerned. “Then what do you want?”
“I know you work for the Alfonsi crime family; my mother never hid the truth from me. I need you to set up a meeting for me with them.”
“You sound like your father,” Vito said.
“You knew my father?” Camille asked in surprise.
“Not well, but he was a good man.”
She doubted her father would have associated with the likes of Vito, but to tell him that would be insulting, and she needed him to carry out her favor. “I’m not here to discuss my father.”
“Why does a woman like you want to meet the Alfonsis? Are you in trouble? Because I can help you.”
“I don’t need your money, I’m not in trouble, this would be purely a business meeting.”
“Why do you want to do business with the Alfonsis? You’re a bartender.” He chuckled.
Camille’s face burned with anger. How dare he laugh at her. “I quit my job. I can’t work for the McCarthys any longer.”
“Why not?”
“Because they were involved with my father’s death. It seems everyone knew except for me.”
“Your mother wanted to protect you. But why do you want to meet my guys?”
“I’m going to take what the McCarthys have.”
“You want their pub?”
“No, their crime business.”
Vito gave her a condescending look. “You’re quite ambitious, but you’re only one woman.”
“That’s why I need a meeting with the Alfonsi family, I want them to work with me instead of them.”
“The McCarthys have worked with us for a long time, dating back to the grandfather. We take a cut of their profits so that they can continue to operate in a few neighborhoods in the city, because, of course, we control the whole city. What could you possibly have to offer us?”
She didn’t really know where to start but was determined to learn quickly. “A larger percentage once I take control from them. What’s the split currently?”
“Fifty-fifty.”
“I could give you guys fifty-five, sixty percent.” She knew she could always add but couldn’t subtract.
Vito didn’t react to her offer. “You seem very confident you will be able to take control—why?” he asked.
“I’m ambitious,” Camille said. “And I don’t give up once I’ve set my mind on accomplishing something. Also, my mother said she would teach me what my father taught her, and you know my mother.”
Vito nodded. “All right,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Let’s say you’re able to take control—why should I help you?”
“Because I’ll tell my mother what you did if you don’t.”
Vito sat straight and watched her in silence with a worried look on his face. A waiter came over to the table and asked Camille if she wanted anything. She declined and the man left.
“I don’t think you’ll tell her,” Vito said.
Camille crossed her arms and stared at him. “How come you’re so confident I won’t?”
“Because it’s been years and you haven’t yet.”
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment, which could be now.”
Vito smiled. “You really are something else, Camille. You remind me of your mother when I first met her, and of your father.”
“I’m not here to trade memories with you. Will you help me or not?”
“Do I have a choice? No. I’ll see what I can do. The Alfonsi family doesn’t just meet with anyone, and so if I can’t convince them to see you, I hope you won’t tell your mother.”
“I will, so you better try your best.”
“Camille, I can’t promise you. These guys don’t work that way.”
“You better try your best,” she repeated.
Vito sighed and rose from his chair.
“Where are you going?” she asked him.
“To the payphone across the street to make a call to see if I can convince them to meet with you and when that might be.” He gestured to across the street. Vito was a regular at the café and so no one stopped him from leaving without paying.
“All right,” Camille said, not quite trusting him. Would he try to bolt? “But you better come back, or else I’ll go straight to my mother’s apartment to tell her what happened.” Camille figured her mother would be home.
Vito turned to look at her. “You’re a tough woman, Camille.
I didn’t know how tough you could be.”
“I’m only getting started,” she said with a smile.
She watched him walk across the street to the payphone and kept an eye on him to make sure he wouldn’t walk away. After about ten minutes, he walked back and returned to the table. He sat down.
“They’ve agreed to meet with you, because of me,” he said. “But just the associates will be there, not the boss.”
“It’s too bad the boss won’t be there, I wanted to meet him.”
Vito frowned. “I can’t make him do anything.”
“I’m disappointed,” she said, toying with him. “But I guess I’ll take what I can get. Where and when will this meeting take place?”
“They say they can meet with you at one o’clock today in the backroom of Anthony’s Steakhouse. They own the place.”
“I’m aware of that. All right, but you’ll be there with me to help move things along since they don’t know me.”
“Sure, yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Good. And Vito?”
“Yeah?”
“You better not mess this up.”
“Camille, I’ve tried my best and I’ll try my best while we’re there, but I can’t promise you anything. I have sway in the organization but I’m not in charge.”
“They’ll listen to you, they respect you.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
She didn’t like his answer, but she understood his reasoning, so she nodded. “Will Billy be there?” she asked.
“Probably. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
“No,” Camille said without thinking. “I don’t care.”
She parted ways with Vito and rose to leave.
“One more thing,” Vito said to her.
She turned to look at him. “Yeah?”
“Don’t bring any weapons. I know your mother gave you your father’s gun.”
She knew that just because she was a woman didn’t mean the mob wouldn’t harm her. “I won’t,” she told Vito as she left.
Well before one o’clock Camille headed to Anthony’s. She’d called Johnny earlier and arranged to go to an old pier by the Hudson River early that evening so that he could give her a shooting lesson. It was a place where he and his gang went often to practice. He’d seemed surprised at first that she wanted him to teach her, but then she explained that she recently inherited her father’s gun and wanted to know how to use it properly should she ever need it as a woman alone in the city. That got him to agree to teach her, but now she felt guilty for lying to him. She liked Johnny and trusted him to a certain extent, but she didn’t want her plans for Violet and her mother to be public just yet. She wanted an advantage over them.
Camille arrived at the restaurant dressed professionally in a pantsuit and heels. She entered and was immediately greeted by the hostess, a tall attractive woman who seemed to know who she was right away. The place smelled of wine and cooked meat and garlic and was filled with people having lunch. The woman smiled at Camille and escorted her toward the back of the restaurant. They walked down a long, dim hallway then the woman motioned for her to step through a door and left once Camille opened it. Camille nearly stopped in her tracks, for she came face-to-chest with the very tall and handsome Billy.
“Camille,” he said, looking down at her. “I couldn’t believe it when Vito said you wanted to meet with us. Is everything okay?” He seemed concerned, and Camille realized he still had feelings for her.
Camille nodded. “Yeah, I just have some things that I need to figure out and I thought that maybe you guys could help me. It’s been a long time, Billy.”
“Too long,” he said. “How’s your mother?”
“She’s well. She still talks about you; I think she still wishes we were together.”
“Sometimes I do too,” he said. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Yes.”
Billy frowned. “Who? Do I know him?” he inquired.
She didn’t want to reveal Johnny’s identity to him because she knew that Billy could be a bit vindictive and she didn’t want him to take it out on Johnny.
“No, you don’t know him,” she lied.
“I might. What’s his name?”
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t know him.”
Camille was grateful when Vito appeared in the hallway and walked towards them.
“Camille,” he said, and she nodded at him. He walked past Billy and entered the room.
Billy came close to her and whispered in her ear, “It doesn’t matter if you won’t tell me his name, I’ll find out myself.”
Was that a threat? She didn’t want to make Billy angry because she needed something from his crew, so she didn’t react. But she’d wanted to tell him to leave Johnny out of it.
Camille started to go inside the room, but Billy stopped her.
“I have to check you for weapons,” he said.
“Is that really needed?” Camille asked. “I didn’t bring any. I promise.” She didn’t want his hands on her because that might draw her to him again.
“I promise I won’t bite.” He grinned.
Camille nodded at him to go ahead and she tensed as he knelt and lightly traced over the contours of her legs and waist with his strong fingers. At this proximity he smelled good and masculine, like spicy cologne. She had to tell herself not to be tempted, that they were through.
“Did you want to be here, or did they ask you to come because you know me?” she asked him to keep herself from thinking about his hands on her.
“I haven’t seen you in a while and I wanted to come,” he said. “To see how you are.”
“I’m doing fine,” she replied.
“I know, I can see that.” He gave her a thoughtful glance and smiled. “All right, you’re all set,” he said, and took his hands away.
She exhaled and entered the room after Billy and found Kevin Carmine, Violet McCarthy’s ex, seated at the table under a bright light, which illuminated his dark good looks. The rest of the room looked rather dark and Camille tensed as Billy shut the door behind her. A coffee pot and cups and a tray of pastries sat in the middle of the table. Would Kevin’s presence be an issue because, as the father of Violet’s child, he would seemingly be loyal to her? Or perhaps he kept business separate from family. There was only one way to find out.
Billy pulled out her chair for her and Camille sat down and thanked him. Her shoulders relaxed a bit once she was seated.
Kevin greeted her with a smile and a nod. She was familiar with him from the pub when he and Violet were still together. Vito poured himself a cup of coffee and helped himself to the pastries then asked the others if they wanted any. Camille declined.
“I have to say, Camille,” Kevin said, “I’m surprised you wanted to meet with us. I didn’t know about your troubles with Violet and her mother. But the boss respects Vito and wanted us to come.”
“I appreciate your being here,” she told him.
“I am grateful you all came here,” Vito told the other men.
“The boss knew your father but not well,” Kevin told Camille. “So, we were happy to meet with you.”
Camille thanked him. The Italians were much more formal than the Irish, so she knew this was all a part of that.
“Now, let’s discuss,” Vito said, and looked at Camille, and the pleasantries were done.
“The reason I asked to meet with you is I have a business offer of sorts. You say you are aware of my father through your boss so you must know his history with the McCarthys. It’s my belief that if he hadn’t been killed then the New York Irish mob would have been rightfully his and mine.”
“You’re making an assumption that he would have obtained control from Violet’s grandfather,” Kevin said.
“You and I both know that this is a boys’ club when it can be,” she told him. “I believe my father would have succeeded him. Violet and her mother wouldn’t be in the picture.”
“All right, let
’s say you’re correct. What makes you think that you, one woman, can take control of that neighborhood from Violet and Catherine?” Kevin asked her, and just as she thought, she realized he would be reluctant given his relationship to Violet. “They’ve had control going back to the grandfather and they have an army of guys behind them. Who do you have?”
She figured she might be able to convince Johnny and his men to join her but that would be very difficult due to his general dislike of the Irish, except for her, of course.
Unlike Violet, Camille’s mother was half Italian, and she decided to use that to her advantage. “There’s just me for now, but that will change. I’m determined. My mother is half Italian, and so a partnership with the Alfonsi family would have a special meaning to me.”
“I didn’t know that about you,” Kevin said.
“Yeah, Shelia’s mother was one hundred percent Italian,” Vito told him.
“Still,” Billy said to her. “It’s a huge risk for us to even be meeting with you about this. It could spoil our partnership with the McCarthys.”
Camille wondered if he would be vindictive and discourage the boss from considering her offer since Camille hadn’t reciprocated his feelings.
“I’m not asking you to make a decision today,” she replied. “I wanted to use this sit down as an opportunity for me to express how much a partnership with you would mean.”
“Assuming you’re able to get control from them. We all know they’re not going to just hand over their empire to you without a fight,” Kevin said. “Violet is the mother of my child, and I have to consider that and her safety. To be honest, given what I’ve just told you, I’m quite surprised you’re even here. But evidently, you take after your father. He was also an ambitious man, from what I’ve heard.”
“I don’t plan on harming them,” Camille stated, but deep down inside she knew that it might come to that.
“How do you plan on taking control from them, then?” Kevin asked her.
“Take it easy, Kev,” Billy told him. “I know Camille very well, as you know, and if she says she won’t then she won’t.”
Kevin looked at Vito for his opinion. Camille eyed Vito and gave him a look that said, “You’d better agree.”