Mobster's Girl (6 page)

“How old of a girl?”

“Your age, eighteen or so.” I say.

“Oh, that would be Juicy Couture or Coach
Poppy.”

“Can I see those?” I ask getting excited.

She sprays some stuff on a little piece of
white paper and hands it to me. I bring it to my nose. It smells
good, feminine. She hands me the next one. It smells even better.
But I ask her, “Which one do you like?”

“Oh, I’m a Juicy girl.” She says smiling
provocatively.

“I’ll take that one then.”

“That will be another eighty-five dollars
please.” She’s still smiling and her mouth is getting wider and
wider. I toss another hundred on the counter and she hands me my
change. The clerk starts to wrap the perfumes and puts them in the
same bag.

“Can I have those in separate bags
please?”

She laughs lightly and says, “Sure.” I’m not
positive but I think this girl believes I am buying her perfume.
She puts them in pretty bags and ties each one with a ribbon that
has the name Nordstrom running along it. “Will that be all?”

“Yes. Thank you.” And I snatch the bags off
the counter. Her face falls, and I book it to the entrance of the
mall.

I wander around for awhile and pass all sorts
of stores-clothing, make-up, shoes. I pass Ralph Lauren. I pick up
some pants for myself. Then I walk by a jewelry store. The display
in the window has all sorts of silver necklaces. I decide to go in.
I slowly peruse the necklaces and bracelets.

“Can I help you?” A tall woman in a business
suit asks. She has a bracelet of keys dangling from her wrist.

“I’m just looking.” I say still peering down
into the glass.

“Is it for someone special?” she asks.

What am I doing exactly? Why would I come
into a jewelry store? I don’t want anything for myself.

“Do you have anything Irish or Celtic?” I
ask.

“Come right over here.” She points to a tall
cabinet made of glass. Inside are intricately made pieces. Some
have green stones in them-emeralds I’m guessing.

“This one is a Claddaugh…” She starts
explaining what it means. “The heart means love, the hands mean
friendship, and the crown means loyalty. It is white gold and
encrusted with diamonds around the circle. All Celtic jewelry has
some type of meaning.”

She hands the delicate necklace and pendant
to me. It’s beautiful. It’s small but I don’t think Megan is showy
like my mom. I can just picture it resting on Megan’s neck against
her buttery skin.

I look up at the clerk, “How much?”

“That one is five hundred and fifty dollars,
Sir.”

“I’ll take it.” I say without hesitation. She
smiles at me and goes to wrap it in a nice box with a bow.

When I get back to the room, Donny appears to
be sleeping but when he hears me come in, he jolts and grabs for
his gun.

“It’s just me, Donny.”

“Eh, Tonio, what did ya get?”

“Some new clothes… perfume for Mom.” I leave
out I got stuff for someone I wish was my girlfriend.

“You’re a good boy,” he says.

The next morning we get up early
. The
early bird catches the worm or the chooch who stiffed my father out
of five G’s.

There is a text on my phone from
Alessandra:

Where have u been?

Antonio: Running errands for Dad

Alessandra: Will u be at the party?

Antonio: YES!

Donny did some searching on this dude who
ran. He has a sister on the other side of town. We arrive at her
house at seven in the morning and park on the street a little ways
down. One thing I’ve learned is that doing this kind of stuff can
involve a lot of waiting. I text Vito and Ronnie and ask about
school. I search the X Box website for new games coming out. I play
a game of Angry Birds and wait and wait.

Donny breaks the silence.

“Tonio, tomorrow night-don’t forget you gotta
collect from Johnny again?”

“Yeah I know.”

“I’m gonna send you alone. Do you think you
can handle it?”

“Sure, no problem.”

“If he gives you anything less than three
G’s, you gotta break his leg.” I look up from web surfing. He
continues. “You count the moola, then break his leg if it ain’t all
there.”

I hesitate, but I say, “Got it.”

Donny’s head turns and he sees the guy who
ran. Simultaneously, we get out of the black Lincoln. My adrenaline
starts humming through my veins. We pace each other then fan out.
The asshole sees us. He starts to bolt, but I take off like a shot.
I catch up with him instantly and swing out my leg. My leg rips his
out from under him and he goes down-hard. His head smashes on the
cement sidewalk. I hold him down with my foot pressed against his
throat. That’s what twelve years of martial arts training will do
for you.

Donny gets to us. He riffles through the guys
pockets. He finds fifteen hundred. Not even close.

The guy pleads, “Donny, I need more
time.”

“You’re a runner! I don’t like to fuckin’
chase people!”

“Donny, please, I just need another
week.”

“thirty-five hundred next week.” Donny says
to me, “Take care of this Tonio.” And I do.

I grab the guy by his shirt and pull him to a
standing position in one fluid motion. I cock my fist back like
I’ve been doing all week and plant it in the guy’s face. His nose
makes a crack sound and I know I have broken it. I’ve heard that
sound before. I wind my hand up again and punch. The guy wails and
staggers. While he’s staggering backwards I grab his hand and snap
two fingers. He howls long and loud.

I walk away. Donny already has the Lincoln
running and waiting. I don’t look at the guy crumpled up on the
ground as we screech by.

Cappatosta (ca bah dos): thick headed, stubborn

Megan:

All week Raven has been talking about going
to Alessandra’s party. On the way to school, what she’s going to
wear. On the way home, she’s changed her mind and picked a new
outfit. She has gone over and over whom she thinks is going to be
there.

It’s Friday and she is driving me home.

“Okay,” she says, “I’m going to pick you up
at seven-be ready. Do you think that guy Louie will be there?”

I roll my eyes at this question. She has
asked this same question no less than ten times this week. I have
offered to text Alessandra and ask, but Raven yells, ‘No! She might
tell him I was asking.’

“Yes, I do think he will be there. He is
friends with Alessandra.” I reassure her again.

I don’t mean to be short with her but I’ve
got my own issues going on. All week I have been waiting to see
Antonio. The anticipation is killing me and every day I am let
down. He doesn’t show up for study hall.

I have been dwelling on the way Antonio
looked at me when I was with Troy. His face was murderous. I’m not
sure why but it seemed like Vito was laughing at him. What were
they doing anyway? Besides just standing there glowering at us. I
had an ugly fear deep down inside. It wasn’t for me. It was for
Troy. Then they just left. Just like that.

Troy and I walked home and the atmosphere
between us was not as jovial as before. Troy was uncommonly quiet.
He called me a few times this week but there was something unspoken
between us. He promised to call me tonight because he leaves for
Notre Dame in the morning.

Later that evening he calls.

“Hello.”

“Hi Megan.”

“You all set to go?” I ask getting excited
for him.

“Yeah.”

“Come on, Troy. It will be great. I want you
to call and tell me all about it. I want to know everything from
where the cafeteria is to how annoying your roommate is.”

Troy’s voice gets quiet. “I wanted to ask you
about that party tomorrow night.”

“What about it?”

“Is that guy with a hard-on for you gonna be
there?” he asks softly.

“What?!” His harsh words shock and confuse
me. “Ummm, what are you talking about?”

“Don’t act stupid Megan.” He is practically
yelling at me. In all the years I have been friends with Troy, he
has never talked to me this way.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask heatedly
frustrated.

“The guy, Megan! The guy leaning against the
car-smoking! The one that looked like he wanted to rip my throat
out then have his way with you.” Hurt filled his words.

“Troy, I have to go practice.” I force out.
“I’m playing the harp in church on Sunday. I’m sure you’ve got
stuff to do for tomorrow. Give me a call when you get settled
in.”

“Yeah, whatever, bye Megan.” And he hangs up.
The dead air on the other end of the line made me feel yucky. I’m
not sure why I didn’t want to talk about Antonio to Troy. I’m not
sure about anything.

“Megan!” My mother calls from downstairs.
“Your father wants to talk to you!”

I find my father in the living room with his
feet up on the coffee table watching Soccer.

“Dad?” I say, “Mom said you wanted to see
me.” He turns off the T.V.

“Your mother tells me that you’re going to a
party in the neighborhood.”

“Yes, my friend Raven from school is picking
me up.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about you
going.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask
warily.

“You know what it means. We live here but we
don’t belong here. I don’t know if I can trust those kids.” He
says.

“Alessandra has been very nice to me.”

“Megan, those kids are trouble makers.”

“Dad, I’m going to be eighteen. This is my
last year of school then I am off to join Troy at college. I don’t
think hanging out with Alessandra and a few other kids from school
is going to make a difference now since I have never done it in all
the years we’ve lived here.”

Dad seemed to consider this. “Make sure you
make good decisions. If Antonio Delisi is there or any of his
friends stay away from them. Okay?”

“Okay.” I say and head back to my room for
bed. It has been an exhausting week. Different images of Antonio
keep popping into my head-some delicious and some scary. I fall
asleep to the delicious ones.

It’s Saturday and Raven has called me every
hour on the half hour to make sure I’m still going and to find out
what I’m wearing.

I fix my hair so that my red curls lay in
waves down my back. I put on a crimson colored halter top and dark
skinny jeans. I take a cue from Alessandra’s shoes that she always
wears and select a pair of matching high heeled sandals. If
Alessandra can walk everywhere in high heels so can I. I shove
money and my lipstick in my pocket. I sit on my front steps waiting
for Raven.

In front of Alessandra’s house, a bunch of
people are hanging out. Everyone seems to have a plastic cup in
their hand. I reach for the door handle to Raven’s car when she
asks,

“Ready?”

“Ready.” I say. Startling me, my door opens
it up on its own. A tall guy with light brown hair and green eyes
stands holding open the car door.

“Oh, uh, thank you.” I stammer.

“Hi.” He smiles brightly revealing
beautifully white teeth. “I’m Dino.” He holds out his hand to help
me out of the car. I blush and take it.

“Hi.” Raven comes around the car to where
we’re standing.

“Hi.” Dino says to her.

“I’m Megan and this is Raven.” I say waving
to my friend.

“Yeah, I know who you are,” he says, “I’ve
seen you around.” I don’t have a chance to respond when Vito,
Antonio’s friend pops out of nowhere. Shockingly, this is more
attention than I’ve had since I moved here.

“Hey Red, you want a drink?” He asks.

“Uh, sure.” After the cell phone scene at the
church I’m a little leery of Vito. Louie is now standing behind him
drinking a beer.

“Hi Megan,” he says. I notice Raven go ridged
next to me. I can see why she likes Louie he is cute. I never paid
attention before. He’s not as tall as Dino or Antonio or even Vito.
But he definitely takes care of himself. He’s also smart. I’ve read
some of his papers in English class.

“This is Raven.” Louie salutes her with his
beer and Vito nods.

“What don’t you come in the house and pick
what you want?” Vito says. It seemed like he was trying not to make
it sound like an order. My father told me to stay away from Antonio
and his friends. It’s kind of hard when they’re greeting me at the
car.

Alessandra hugs me when I walk in her house.
I know I haven’t really been friends with her all these years but I
always liked her.

“Ooo, love the shoes!” She says. Dino, Vito,
and Louie are right behind.

“Thanks.”

Raven meets up with some kids our classes. I
scan the crowd quickly. No sign of Antonio. My heart plummets a
little disappointed. I follow Alessandra to the kitchen. She fills
cups lined up on trays with a pink liquid.

Dino leans against the counter. He seems to
be assessing me. There is a gleam in his eye that is anything but
just friendly.

“Megan? Can you help me with these?”
Alessandra asks.

“Sure.” I say glad to do anything. I feel
uncomfortable here. I’ve never spent much time with these people.
There is also a ton of people here I’ve never met before-Dino being
one of them.

I wrap my hands around the handle of the
tray. I turn to go to the living room.

“Can I help you?” Dino asks moving to take
the tray from me. I catch Vito out of the corner of my eye. His
face is threatening. He is staring at Dino like a panther ready to
pounce on its prey.

“No thanks, I’ve got it.” I smile and retreat
in to the thrashing bodies dancing in the living room.

Antonio:

Johnny Nero didn’t have the all the money
again. I need to break his leg now so I can get home, shower, and
get to Alessandra’s party.

Johnny’s face is still swollen from last week
and he is still walking with a limp. I wonder if I should break the
limping leg or the good one.
Should I make the one that’s hurt
worse or make the good one bad?
I don’t need this right now.
I’ve counted the money and the time has come. He’s only five
hundred dollars short. Should I really break his leg for five
hundred of juice? Thinking is bad. My Pop would say ‘don’t
think-just do.’