Kingpin (An Italian Mafia Romance) (14 page)

The room goes quiet when he walks in, just out of respect I guess. Frankie ignores the other two and walks straight over to me. We embrace without saying a word—Frankie isn’t much for words since he got out last year, after his fourth stint in prison. If anything ever happens to Leo, we all expect Frankie to be the next boss, and he has my full support. He’s the oldest capo, at fifty-two, and I trust him more than I trust my own crew.

When Frankie sits down at the table, the rest of us follow suit. That’s it, there’s four capos in the Giordano family—Frankie, Big Sal, John, and me—and now that all of us are here, we know the next guys to arrive will be the higher-ups, so we wait patiently. I light a Cuban cigar and shoot smoke up towards the ceiling, and Big Sal does the same. The smell of the cigars reminds me of my father and makes me feel right at home in this room. I know I’m meant to be here. I’m Donnie Collazo’s son in every way.

After only a couple of minutes, the door opens again, and Jimmy Gravatto steps in, followed by the man himself, Leo Capizzi.

Jimmy’s the underboss and right hand man of Leo. Usually, when Leo has something he wants passed down to the rest of us, he gives it to Jimmy to give to us, and we pass it down to our respective soldiers. That’s how This Thing of Ours usually works, but today’s different.

Jimmy struggles to get his fat body into the chair, and his double chin always gives me the urge to laugh, but I know better. He’s been the underboss for a long time, and he’s been in and out of prison longer than I’ve known him. He’s ruthless, and he’d gladly give his life to protect Leo, just like an underboss is supposed to. Jimmy is the very definition of loyalty, and if I’m ever blessed to see the top spot, I want an underboss just like him by my side.

Leo Capizzi is the only true boss I’ve ever known. He was boss when my father was around, and over the years he’s been trying his best to avoid prison, which has forced him to do a little running to avoid prosecution. He’s appointed a couple of acting bosses over the years, but Leo has always come back to his throne. I look up to him because my father looked up to him. He sits at the head of the table and is sure to make eye contact with everybody in the room, nodding his head in approval. He reminds me a lot of Vito Corleone, with those puffy cheeks and raspy voice. I’d do anything this man asked me to do, so I wait on the edge of my seat for him to speak.

“It’s not often I send for you,” Leo begins. I perk up in anticipation. “The fact that we’re all here should let you know how serious this matter is. What I’m about to tell you is a big deal to this family, so I want your undivided attention. I want you all to look around the room and tell me what’s wrong with this picture. Do you notice anything different?”

We all look around, first at each other, then back to Leo and Jimmy. When I see the two of them, I realize what’s wrong. We’re missing someone.

“Where’s Danny?” I ask.

I don’t know how I didn’t realize it before. I must’ve been too focused on the fact that Leo was walking into the room to realize that his consigliere, Danny Ramano, is missing in action. I should’ve noticed that from the get-go, because Leo doesn’t go anywhere without Danny. It’s Danny’s job to be by Leo’s side as his advisor. So, now I’m
really
curious about what the fuck is going on.

“Good question, Dominic,” Leo replies. “What I came to tell you all is that our good friend, Danny Ramano, has flipped.”

The four of us gasp like school girls.

“Danny has turned state’s witness, and he has given information about Jimmy and me. According to my guy inside St. Louis PD, Danny has provided enough information to put us both away for a long time, and it doesn’t look like there’s anything we can do about it. He’s locked up and under witness protection, as is a part of his deal, and the FBI is using his information to press a judge for arrest warrants for Jimmy and me as we speak.”

“That rat fuck!” Sal explodes, slamming his large hand on the table.

Leo puts his hand up and shakes his head.

“There’s no need to get upset. When you’ve been in this game as long as I have, something like this is bound to happen. We all know the Feds best weapon is a rat, and all it takes is one. Now that they have their rat, all we can do is prepare. So, I’m not here to discuss revenge. We’ve had enough bloodshed over the years, and I don’t want this indictment to be the end of Our Thing here in St. Louis. It’s gonna be on all of you now, to make sure this family keeps going. So, there’s something I need to tell you, and it’s even more important than the fact that Danny is a rat. When Jimmy and I are sent away, I will not be running The Family from prison. There will be an acting boss initially, like always, but then a new, permanent boss will be selected. The Commission has already given approval, and they’re gonna advise on the decision, but I have final say. It’s what’s best for the family in the long run.

“I also don’t want Danny’s family touched. None of them. As much as I’d like to send a message to everyone about being a rat bastard, what’s done is done, and the new boss of this family will move things forward, not backwards. Danny’s family will not be harmed. Is there any confusion about anything I just said?”

The four of us stare at Leo, completely stunned. This is a bombshell being dropped in the middle of the glass table and exploding all around us, and none of us know how to react to the devastation.

“This will be the last time all of us meet like this,” Leo continues. “I need all four of you to be on top of your game, because the next boss will be one of you, and I expect the rest of you to show him the same respect and loyalty you’ve shown me all these years. Do I make myself clear?”

We all nod slowly, still stunned, and we stay that way until Leo and Jimmy get up and walk out of the room.

The air is thin for a few minutes. There’s just so much I can’t believe. Danny’s a fucking rat, but we can’t do anything about it, and Leo’s appointing a new boss. That’s a lot of big information for one meeting.

“This is bullshit,” John chirps. He’s suddenly filled with an annoying energy, as he stands and starts pacing like he has to piss. “Why don’t the four of us get to vote for the new boss?”

“Hey! That’s not what Leo wants to do, so you can drop your shit, John. This is a big decision for The Family, and Leo and The Commission are thinking long-term, so they’re gonna weigh all the options,” Sal snaps.

“Look, I understand The Commission wants to advise, but they’re all the way in New-fucking-York; so why are they advising on our business? It doesn’t seem right to me. You guys don’t have a problem with this?”

“Shut the fuck up, John,” Frankie hisses, but John’s on a roll.

“Oh, of course
you
don’t have a problem with it, Frankie! We all know you’re gonna be the next boss anyway. I’m just sayin’ it’s messed up is all.”

Suddenly, Frankie jumps up and points a finger at John.

“I said shut the fuck up! You’ve been a captain for less than a month, and if you want to keep that title, you better learn to keep your fucking mouth shut. We don’t know who it’s gonna be, so shut your mouth and wait for the word to come from Leo or Jimmy.

“Now, all of you heard the old man, he’s about to get locked away, and we all know Leo doesn’t have many years left anyway. So, we’ll be supportive, but we also need to be thinking about how this family is about to change. It’s on us now. So, go back to your crews and do what you can to prepare them. That’s all we can do right now.”

We all agree with a nod, and hug Frankie as he makes his exit. Big Sal is the next to go, but he only hugs me, choosing only to eyeball John as he walks out. Everyone needs time to think, and we have to tell our crews about Leo and Jimmy. It’s a lot to take in, and none of us are happy about the fact that we’re losing a boss and an underboss because the consigliere is a rat. It doesn’t matter if we expect Frankie to be the next boss, this is the kind of thing we hope to avoid in Our Thing. There isn’t much time to dwell on it, though. It’s going to happen no matter what, so I have to get back to my crew and pass the message down.

“Those guys need to learn to relax, huh Dominic?” he says to me, but I ignore him as I put out my cigar and turn to walk out. “Maybe you all need to just loosen up a bit. We’re about to get a new boss. No need to be so tense, Boy Wonder.”

Before my hand can touch the door knob, I stop. Ice shoots from my heart and runs through my veins as I turn around. John’s dumb fucking face stares back at me, grinning playfully. He’s a made guy, so I’m not supposed to hit him. I try to remember that as I walk to him and stop only a couple of feet away.

“You don’t know me very well, and I’d hate for you to get the wrong impression, so it’s important that I’m honest with you. You talk a lot, you know that?” I ask. John frowns, but I continue before he can answer. “And the things you say are gonna get you in trouble. I know you’re older than me, so you think you can say little playful shit and break my balls, but I think there’s something you should know. If you ever call me that again, I’m gonna rip your fucking tongue out of your mouth and use it to make you lick your own asshole.”

I don’t ask if he understands, because I can tell from the frozen, terrified look on his face that he knows I’m not kidding.

I don’t smile, I don’t wink, I don’t fucking play. I just turn around and walk out the door.

You better remember it forever. I’m Dominic Collazo.

Dominic

“A
lright, we all here? Where’s Skinny?”

“He’s in the bathroom. Skinny, hurry the fuck up! Dominic’s here and we got business to discuss!” Tommy screams, even though the bathroom is only a few feet away.

We’re in the conference room of River City Casino & Hotel. “Skinny” Joe Cuzamano flushes the toilet and comes stumbling out of the bathroom as he struggles to get his zipper up. He’s the newest and youngest of all of us at twenty-four, so he’s always under a lot of pressure. The guy’s six-foot two but only weighs a buck sixty, so he’s got long and lanky limbs that look stretched out and creepy. He’s been with me for three years though, and he’s always been a stand-up guy. He’s not quite ready to be made yet, but he’s a good associate who has no problem setting up a score. He also doesn’t mind killing anybody. Skinny Joe’s a little quick on the trigger because he’s short tempered, so if we don’t watch him, he can cause some unwanted attention, but he’s a good guy, nonetheless. He’s just still learning the business side of Our Thing. The blemishes on his face aren’t from acne, they’re from fights he’s gotten himself into from blowing a gasket when he shouldn’t have. He’s taken a few too many punches and kicks to the face, but it usually takes two or three guys to get Skinny Joe down. Stringy arms or not, Joe Cuzamano can fist fight with the best of them.

Skinny Joe takes a seat at the end of the table next to Charlie Mannello. Charlie’s the same age as me, and he’s not made either, but he’s getting there. He’s done a ton of robbing on the streets and he’s starting to do some decent earning of his own via illegal gambling and loan sharking, so the capos are taking notice. I put in a good word for my guys every chance I get, because This Thing of Ours needs to keep growing, and we need guys like Charlie and Skinny Joe to keep The Family going in the right direction. Charlie’s less of a killer and more of a money-maker. He’s a thinker. It’s not often I need to think of ways to earn fast cash because my three casinos do plenty of that, but when the occasion arises, Charlie’s my guy. You need a diamond sold or some evidence to be “misplaced,” you talk to Charlie. You want to get information about a guy, you call Charlie. You want to find someone, put Charlie on it. He’ll clip a guy if he has to, but he’s more the type to find the guy that needs to be killed and watch you do it. He’s the smart one of the crew, and he looks the part with thick glasses resting on a thin nose.

Once Joe takes his seat, I take mine. To my right is Tommy “Two Nines” Caprio. Tommy’s the oldest of the crew, at twenty-seven, and he’s a made guy. Tommy’s a captain’s dream. When things get hot and need to be handled “aggressively”, Tommy’s the one who’s going to handle it. He got his name from the obvious fact that wherever Tommy goes, he’s got two nine millimeter pistols stashed somewhere on him. Sometimes they’re in a double holster under each armpit, sometimes they’re tucked under his belt, sometimes they’re tucked in his socks. It doesn’t matter where they are, just know that they’re always there, and he’s ready and willing to use them. One nod from me and Tommy will put three bullets in your chin just to prove a point. Tommy used to work for Big Sal, but when I got upped to captain, Big Sal gave him up to me as a show of respect, so Tommy belongs to me now. I trust all my guys, but I don’t trust anybody more than I trust Tommy Two Nines. He takes no shit, he makes good money from loan sharking and extortion, and he’s as loyal as they come.

“Hey, when Dominic shows up, you hold your fucking piss until he says what he has to say,” Tommy scolds Skinny Joe just as he’s getting comfortable. Joe tightens up with nervousness. “I don’t care if he talks so long you end up pissing your pants. You wait for Dominic to finish saying his business, you don’t leave.”