Danny felt his heart racing. Hed always thought of himself as a cool guy, but the idea of getting bumped off had never come so close for him. Sure, he had faced loaded guns before, had even been shot at, but that had happened so fast hed had no time for a reaction. Besides, all that cowboy stuff was way in the past. This was here and now, and at this age, Danny was smart enough to appreciate his own mortality. He thought it ironic that he had always done what he thought would keep him alive the longest. He kept a low profile, didnt sass the bosses, and did what he was told. I guess I always knew that it would come to this no matter what he said to himself. He and Maretti never really got along, but the rules of the life dictated that Cosa Nostra members couldnt kill other members without permission from the head of the family. Maretti must have finally fed Torino enough bullshit to get the nod to bump Danny off. He wasnt too surprised to learn that Maretti didnt have the balls to do it himself, but Danny had to admit that the method he had chosen was a smart move. He would never have suspected this guy, especially since he didnt even know what he looked like. From Marettis standpoint, it would have been perfect. Eliminate a made guy for good and use somebody who wants into the family. No cop or fed would kill somebody to get accepted, no matter how badly they wanted in.
Danny knew as well as anyone that very few in his line of work lived long enough to die a natural death. He didnt need to be reminded how short his bosses were on loyalty. The more he thought about it, the madder he got. Ill show that prick Maretti wholl whack who he said to himself.
Almost as if he were reading Dannys mind, Baxter said If you have any wild ideas about turning the tables on Maretti, you can forget it. Well take care of Maretti for you. We just want you to give us the ammunition well need to take him and his friends down.
-.-
Danny and Max went in at nine-thirty at night. We had no idea how long it would take, so Max had allowed ten hours. We left all of the tools that we thought we might need in our stolen car with the idea of looking at this safe to see what would be required to get it out of the wall. We even had a hand truck. Then wed go back out to the car, get the tools wed need, and come back in and go to work.
Well, Max insisted we wear our masks when we went in to look at the safe, even though it was so late and there was no night watchman. And remember, this was long before the days of security cameras. So we go strollin the fuck into this guys office and here he is bangin some broad on his office sofa. I dont know who was more surprised, him or us, but he was quicker on the draw. Soon as he sees us, he grabs a gun out of his desk drawer and starts blasting away. Fortunately for me and Max, soon as we seen him, we start hightailing it down the hall and out the door. He never hit us, but he sure left a lot of bullet holes in his walls. I dont need to tell you, he scared the shit out of us.
After we got back to where we parked the car, we get in and get the hell out of there. About ten minutes later, Max starts laughin. At first I look at him like hes nuts. Then I start laughin too. We both get to laughin so hard I had to pull over. Anyway, we never heard anything more about that blown job. Max swore it was because the guy and the broad couldnt give the cops a description of us, thanks to the masks. I told Max I thought it was because if the guy reported it, it would come out that he had been banging the broad in his office. I guess thats just how my mind worked compared to Maxs.
-.-
Suppose you only gave up part of the business? Danny asked. Like Frankford Avenue between Bleigh and whatever streets two blocks north? That couldnt cost you very much, and all of my friends are in those two blocks.
That may work Persa said. Why dont you go back and turn my guys loose and Ill call you in the morning.
What the hell are you gonna tell me in the morning? That you changed your damned mind? Sorry.
Persa laughed You got a point he said. You also got a deal. But let me tell you something. I aint forgettin that you killed two of my boys. War or no war, you harm one hair on anybody elses head and Ill come after you with everything I got. You understand? He said this very calmly, but Danny knew he meant it.
I understand he said. Well have Delfonti call you as soon as hes free so you can explain the deal to him. I wouldnt want him to ambush my buddy just because he didnt get the word. And by the way, this deal is just between your group and mine, you know what I mean? Persa nodded and Danny walked away. His parting comment was meant to assure Persa that, no matter what, the cops would not be involved.
Once he turned the corner, Danny reversed his steps and spied on Persa. Just as he suspected, he was talking to two of the men Danny had seen hanging around outside the Tenth Street mens club.
Nothing dumb about him Danny said to himself. ??
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