1.

Tony Grammautta was singing in the stage, for us. Could you fucking believe that? I wouldn’t a year ago, even if you told me it was bound to happen. A bunch of mother fuckers who came from nothing and now could afford the gold watches, the fine handmade Italian suits, the cabriolets, a second mistress when there was a first at home, and Tony, the hottest crooner in the fifty states. I mean, fuck me.

It was 11 p.m when one of  the bodyguards working for Lilith waves on my direction trying to get my attention. I shrugged as if asking what fuck do you want from me? Can’t he just see I am in the middle of a fucking dinner with my friends?

Anyway, clearly my attempts to ignore him were in vain cos less than a minute later he was telling me over the ear that the boss was waiting outside for me.

“Mickey, tell her to come inside. Our VIP guess, please. She’s gonna love it. Look who’s singing. C’mon, look at that. Can you believe? Ahahah! That’s THE Tony Grammautta pal. You want me to pinch you don’t you eh?”

He shook his head and said “I am afraid that that won’t happen. She wants you outside.”

That’s it, I waited a whole week for this lobster and now I was coming back for a cold one. Fuck.

“Alright, alright, gimme a minute, okay pal? I’ll go right behind ya okay Mickey?”

2.

“Clearly, you know how to enjoy yourself Biba”

That I do. And trust me if wasn’t for the fact she had put about thirty guys like me 6 feet under with her own hands I would have a different answer to her remark. But because I didn’t want to add up to that number, not before I ate my lobster anyway, I kept quiet and listening.

“Sorry to interrupt your little party, but I won’t steal too much of your time. I am here just to tell you that tomorrow I intend to expand business here in the Loop and I want you take care of that operation for me. We…”

She kept talking, but I wasn’t listening anymore. I went straight into the numbers of putting the gambling rackets in motion and estimating how much that could increase our revenue.

“Boss, I am very honored for your trust and consideration. You have my word that you won’t regret this decision.”

“Good. Then meet me tomorrow morning in the usual place, so we can discuss details. Whoever you’re going to make your number two? Bring him with you”.

“Understood.”

I was clueless at this point. But if I were ever going to find a solution it would be in NY.

3.

“Yeah operator? Get me on the phone with Giyu, Manhattan, New York. Alright I’ll wait”

And I did. For about five minutes. When I was about to accept the fact that no one was going to get my call on the other side of the line, all of a sudden, a voice said

“Giyu here. Speak”

For the next half an hour I did what I could to convince the man how beneficial it could be for both of us if he gave me his permission to bring one of his men to operate with me in Chicago.

4.

I slammed the phone against the received and immediately picked it up again.

“Yeah, operator? I need you to connect me to New York again. Call Mean_Machine, Manhattan this time will ya?”

This time very quickly the call was replied and very typically of him he said

“Who the fuck is calling me at this hour?”
 

“It’s Biba. Pack your bags and make sure you’re in Chicago tomorrow morning. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”