| |
The following afternoon, Eddie heard a light rap on his office door.
“Yeah,” he shouted.
The door opened and Tau and Dario walked in.
“Take a seat.”
The boys sat in chairs in front of Eddie’s desk. Dario began talking about the cash he’d made the previous week when the sound of approaching footsteps and muffled voices interrupted him. Eddie stood, as the boys turned toward the door just as a light knock was heard.
“Come on in,” Eddie shouted.
Two large men walked into the tiny office, now crowded with five people.
“Sal! Marco!” Eddie called out.
With arms outstretched, Eddie walked around his desk to greet them.
“Welcome to my new place-a business, Sal.”
Sal smiled and reached out his hand to Eddie. His dark sunglasses and mustache, along with his stocky, muscular build, gave him an intimidating appearance.
“Eddie. How you’se doin’?”
Eddie took his hand and patted it. He gave Sal’s new attire a nod of satisfaction. The black dress slacks and light blue cotton dress-shirt were major improvements.
Marco shook Eddie’s hand.
“Marco, yeah. How you’se doin?”
“I’m good, Eddie. Thanks.”
Eddie clapped his hands. “Alright. First order-a business—introductions.”
Tau stood, but Dario didn’t, so Eddie leaned over and smacked the back of his head. “Don’t be disrespectful. Stand up.”
“Owe, man!” Dario rubbed his head. “Sorry, Mr. B.”
He stood and tried to look serious. Professional. He put his hands behind his back as he waited for Eddie to continue.
“Dario, Tau, this here’s my cousin, Salvatore Gagliardi. But you can call him Sal.”
Dario reached out his hand to Sal just as Eddie said, “He’s gonna’ be your boss on the street.”
Dario jerked his hand back. “Wait—say what now?”
Eddie hooked his brow. “You gotta’ problem with that, Dario?”
“Well, um. I just thought, you know, Mr. B., I thought I was in charge.”
Eddie couldn’t contain his laughter. He shook his head. “What the fuck, Dario?”
“No.” Dario let out a nervous laugh. “That ain’t what I meant, Mr. B. I ah’—what I meant was—ya’ know. You’re the boss. We come to you, but um ...” He wiped his nose, stalling. “I thought I, ya’ know, I could run my own shit on the street.”
Eddie squeezed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose for a second, shaking his head. When he opened them, he stared at Dario before waving his arms around the room.
“I am the boss, Dario, of all this shit. But Sal here—he’s your boss—out on the street. You go to him with questions, and keep him posted on your comins’-and-goins’ and shit, and give him the cash, capisci? You run your business, but you answer to Sal. You pay Sal.”
Dario looked at Tau and frowned. “Yeah, I capisci.”
Sal chuckled as he took off his sunglasses. He flipped his thumb in Dario’s direction.
“What’s with this guy, Eddie? Why you got a fuckin’ punk like this workin’ fa’ you, ‘eh?”
Eddie watched Dario jerk as if to make a move on Sal, but he knew Dario didn’t have the balls. Sal didn’t flinch. Eddie’s cousin was a couple inches shorter and much beefier than the tall, lanky Dario, and Eddie loved how uncomfortable he’d already made Dario feel. Sal still held power in his appearance and presence. He was just what Eddie needed.
“Alright,” Eddie said, laughing. “Everybody’s gotta’ learn to get along here. This is business, right? Now Sal,” he flicked his thumb in Dario’s direction, “Dario here—he knows the neighborhood like you used-ta’ know the neighborhood. Things have changed, as you already know. We need Dario to flush out the business, right?”
Sal nodded.
Eddie continued. “And by ‘business’ I mean, both the restaurant business and the street business, got it?”
“And Tau—he’s gonna’ be good. He has a whole ‘nuther connection with the Asians—what are they called again, Tau?”
“Hmong, Eddie,” Tau answered quietly, standing tall.
“Right. ‘Hmong’.” To the group, he said, “Did you’se know ‘Hmong’ starts with the letter ‘h’?” He laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t make no sense-ta’ me, know what I’m sayin’?”
The others joined him in a quick laugh, except Tau, who smiled faintly.
Eddie then turned to Marco who stood next to Sal. “And Marco, here—you boys already know him—he’s my driver.”
Eddie pointed at his chest as he looked at Dario. “My driver. You hear me? Do not expect him to drive any-a you’se around.”
The other three nodded.
“He’s got other stuff to do that are none-a your business. But remember,” Eddie pointed at Dario and Tau, “he’s always watching, too. So do your jobs and you’ll have no problems with me.”
Dario opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it.
Eddie walked around to his seat at the desk. “Alright, gentlemen. We’ll need a couple more chairs. Let’s get down-ta’ business.”
Marco left the office and returned with two folding chairs. The group of men huddled around Eddie’s desk, as he leaned back in his chair, listening—loving the concept of running the show.
“Hit me,” he said. “What’d-ya-got?”
The five men spent an hour discussing everything from sports betting, loan-sharking, cigarettes and liquor, product heists, to drugs.
Finally, Eddie leaned back and smiled.
“I like it. This is good. I think we got plenty-ta’ work with here. Now, go on. Get out there and start drummin’ up business.”
The four of them stood.
“Dario,” Eddie said, “run across the street to the parking lot and get Snack’s two grand. He’d better fuckin’ be there. Let me know if he ain’t. And remember, I don’t want any-a you’se comin’ ‘round here too much unless it’s an emergency.”
The rest of them nodded and turned to leave.
“Sal. Marco. Stay for a minute.”
After Tau and Dario left, Eddie asked Sal and Marco what they thought of Dario and Tau.
Sal shook his head. “The Asian kid’s gonna’ be good. I’m worried about Dario. He’s gotta’ big fuckin’ mouth.”
Eddie looked over at Marco, who nodded. “I agree, Eddie,” Marco said. “He’s a loose cannon. But the guy’s got ideas. And, I hate to admit it, but he’s got the most connections outta’ all of us.”
“Shit. I know.” Eddie shook his head. “I gotta’ keep him. I actually need him. Don’t tell him that, right? Keep a close eye on him. He’s nervous now. Keep him that way. We don’t want him gettin’ any cockier than he already is.”
“Okay, Eddie,” Sal said. “Consider it done.”
Marco nodded. “Yeah, I’ll keep watch, too.”
“Alright then,” Eddie said, rising from his chair. “Gotta’ get back upstairs for the dinner crowd. Marco, pick me up tonight?”
“Sure, Eddie. I’ll be here.”
“Good.”
Sal and Marco left Eddie to prepare for the evening rush.
