ATONEMENT (3 page)

“All we need is
one thing
,
it’s
a
simple request
.”

Constantine said nothing.

“Poor fellow, minding his business
before
you follow
and
kill him so
brutally
.”

His
eyes followed the officer’s hand as he pointed at the corpse
, then they t
raveled up again and he stared straight ahead, unflinching.

“You know
,
if you help us many territories open
and the
prospects for a
Capo
with ambitions
is limitless
.”

Constantine listened to the corrupt officer. Yes, he
’d
been a fool. This was a
n elaborate
set-up. He wondered how much they paid the unsuspecting dead man to
aid in their scheme
and if they told him the danger of such an act? Of course they had not.

“Perhaps we
’ll
send
a
photo of you
wearing
handcuff
s in police custody to Messini.
He
’
ll find it
interesting
, don’t you think?”

Now,
Constantine’s eyes glowered.
Anyone in La Costra Nostra
alleged
to be in cooperation with the
polizei
were
marked for death.
It did not matter their innocence,
there were no impartial juries or possible acquittals. Suspicion was evidence enough and eradication the sole sentence.
The men and their photos would
cause Messini to question his loyalty and soon he would find himself in the aforementioned position. The cunning imposters
left him no option, “What
do
you want?
”

                            
C
HAPTER ONE

The vibrant flowers added to the picturesque landscape.
Its
colorful
scenery provided the perfect
backdrop for
a quiet Sunday for
the Diaz
family.
Alfonzo had not reneged on his promise
and put aside ‘
business
’ to
focus
solely
on
his
children
.
He was relaxed during these times, carefree and engaging. There was no shadow of the rumored nefarious crime
boss. To
his loved ones, Alfonzo was an ideal father
,
husband and successful businessman.

Selange
lay
atop
the grass
,
laptop
open,
finger
ing
the beautiful gold embossed weddi
ng invitation
,
video-chat
ting
with
her best friend
Shanda.
She paused to glimpse
at
her family.
Alfonzo played soccer with the
kids. The children’s
musical laughter
was
evidence of
their
joy in hav
ing their father’s
undivided
attention.
Love and happiness were such fleeting things.
Once they’re
lost, one
can
forget the power of
these
emotions
but
through
memories
recapture them
. T
oday t
he picture of the children
and
their father
were stored in her mind, held in a cranial keepsake box, in the event she needed to open it
and
browse its contents
in
less joyous times. As
the future neared
and
truths were unveiled, the
laughter would
cease
. She was certain of it.
 

S
elange
held
the invitation up to the screen
,
“It’s beautiful. I haven’t seen anything this
nice;
I really love the professional photo of the couple here in the corner.”

“Well, from what I can see the groom is fine. If I weren’t going to Brazil with my
new
boobie
, I’d come.
But girl your wedding invites were banging, too.
”

Selange smirked, “
They were, weren’t they
?”

“Hell yes
, I helped so you know
they were
top-notch
!”

“But these people are celebrating for two weeks
before the wedding
.
It’s crazy because
the bride-to-be wants all the bridesmaids in Milan in a few days. Last minute things, she says and fittings. Then there’s the whole secret
location of the
wedding. T
he
y’re
notif
ying the guests of the
location
only
ho
urs before
, i
sn’t it ridiculous?
”

“
Whoa,
some
high security
stuff
. I
mportant people
must be coming.
I
t’s sort of like when the President comes to New York, only a handful of people know
where he’
s at
.
The CIA and Secret Service worr
y
someone might try to assassinate him
.
Trust me,
if it’s top-secret, somebody high-profile is
in the mix
–but I’m sure Alfonzo k
nows, afterall he
’s
Amelda’s
cousin.
”

“Yeah,
m
akes sense.”

“Nobody wants shit to pop off during a celebration. My dad hated when I went to those house parties in
Bed-
Stuy
. H
e said they
were
never
adequate
ly chaperoned
and
anybody can get in and start
busting
off shots
. The
man was so right.”

Selange snickered. “
But your
butt
always
went anyway.
”

“
G
irl
,
you were up
in
there
shaking your ass,
too!”

“Uh and
why? Because you lied and said it’s your girl’s birthday party and her parents
were home
, that’s the only reason I went
.
”

“You believed anything,
sheesh
,
naïve
Selange
.”

“
I was, wasn’t I?
” She
replied an
d thought
,
but I’m not anymore.
“
The thing
is
,
I barely know
Amelda
and it’s going to feel awkward b
eing in her bridal
party
.”

“
Girl, please. Just go and have fun.
All
you do
are
charities and
schedule shit for the
kids. You need to shake that ass and stop being cerebral all the time!”

“Hey, I have fun
. L
et me add
,
I
want
to be with my
family.
”

“Yeah, right
!
Alfonzo
’s
doing his thing. He’s not with the kids every second of the day. You deserve a break for crying out loud. Utilize some of that money and let’s do a girl vacation.”

“Oh, you’re trying to get a free vacation out of me, some friend!”

Shanda laughed, “I can pay my own way, although if
I
were rolling in dough I’d treat you with no problem.”

“The problem is you’re not rolling in dough and I pay every time we hang.
Free-loader!”
Selange smiled, “But I love you girl and I don’t mind
, seriously.”

“
Back at you.
BK till we die!”

“Brooklyn, in the house!”