CHAPTER 5

Alfredo Fabri POV 

Club Erebus was every Mafia's hot spot. The kind of things that went up in flames and down into charades within its environs were what you'd better left unsaid than taking a swing at it. It was a regular club to the regular public, but to the Mafia, it was much more. 

“Are you good?” I asked Gina for the umpteenth time

“Hell yeah!” She exclaimed with a smirk. Her tone unfailingly hitting an elusive note.

“Tenth,” She added shortly afterwards.

“Tenth?” I queried, confused at the sudden reply which obviously has nothing to do with the question I had asked earlier on.

“It'd be the Tenth time asking me the question tonight” She said, casting a glare in my direction.

I didn't know whether to be stunned at the fact that she had Judiciously kept a precise detail of the number of times I had asked her the question but Gina was Gina, and she had never been one to do things that roved around the regular norm. She was the direct definition of what you would call “Different”, but I'd simply say she was a “Gem” that had no price tag attached.

“Fabri get it together. I'm good.” She continued, snapping her fingers in the air as if to buttress the necessity of pulling myself together.

I did have it together, I always did. 

But I was undeniably concerned about Gina tagging along. Club Erebus wasn't a venue you'd want to portray as predictable or readable, despite the research Gina had made prior to now. I knew whatever happened to Don had more to it than met the eye, and Lil Joe was evidently at the centre of it all. Of course Gina had gone headlong, up against constricting and life threatening cases such as this, and she wasn't the kind of person to waste a bother on, but then again I knew something was off. I didn't know what felt out of place more, the fact that Don Pauolo was nowhere to be found or the fear of losing more members of the family because of this single anomaly in the tree.

“Could you let down the down the glass a little bit” Gina asked, staring at the tinted glasses of the Black Cadillac Escalade we were in. Don't judge me, but it seemed like the perfect vehicle to convey us through tonight's wind. Nothing beats class, Ever.

I obliged her request, and I wind down the glasses of the passengers seat. Although sudden, but I could feel the surge of warmth and assurance that the night's air bore on its shoulders. It has a nice touch to it, and I could tell Gina felt it as well. I watched her shut her eyes, taking a deep breath as the air beat against the tone of her skin.

“How'd you think Marco and the Capo's are holding up back at the house?” She asked, her eyes still closed but her demeanor, rapt enough to display her dire need for an answer.

We had instructed Marco and the Capo's, Marino and LaRosa to make sure that no one had a hint of where we were headed and what we had headed out to do. It was really hard entrusting Marino with such a responsibility, but I knew Marino knew the kind of persons he messed with and I was far way from the list.

“Sure, Marco would do well to keep Marino at bay just in case things begin to go south” I replied and we both let out a chuckle.

“We are here” I added a few minutes later. 

I had only just packed the Escalade at the lot when a Valet pulled up to where we were. We were yet to step out of the car and I guessed that he was waiting for us to promptly do so, so he could move along with the rest of his work.

“So here's the plan. Get as much information as you can get. By any means possible.”

“I'd keep my eyes and ears on the lookout as well. But you know how these things go, whoever is responsible for what happened to Don would be very cautious and would try as much as possible to thread carefully when they see me” I said, my gaze fixed directly on Gina, hoping she'd absorb the info quickly enough.

“Got it!” She exclaimed and again, I could pick out the pitched tone in her voice. It sounded like a merge of an adrenaline and nicotine rush, but one thing was sure, Gina had things covered already.

“And suppose things get out of hand?” She asked, a smile glued to the edge of her boldy glossed lips.

“Do the needful” I replied to her satisfaction, letting out a chuckle.

Despite the fact that Club Erebus was every Mafia's go to spot, there was one asset of the Mafia's that wasn't allowed in the Club, and that was fire arms. No guns, no pistols, No Ak’s, no such. Of course Gina knew this, but she had her way around as always.

I adjusted my black suit, feeling the familiar weight of my watch on my wrist as I stepped out of the Car to assist Gina with the door. My tie was perfectly knotted and my shoes polished to a shine as I walked across to the passengers door. I opened the door, helping Gina by the hand, out of the car. The Valet on Gina's appearance had seemed to have forgotten his Job description because he just stood, drooling over Gina.

 Gina was stunned in a bold red dress that hugged her in just the right places, her stilettos and chandelier earrings sparkling under the from the lot's flood lights. She looked every bit the mafia queen, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride having her by my side.

“Eiii!” I yelled at the Valet, forcefully dragging him away from Dreamland.

Throwing the keys to the cars in his Direction, I and Gina proceeded towards the Club Doors.

“You look stunning. Please help these Men.” I said, throwing a comment in her direction.

“Some Men simply just can't help themselves. Maybe if they put a little effort towards that, I'd just might consider turning down the charm” She let out with a chuckle.

“Well don't dail it down just yet” 

“There's Lil Joe's” I said gesturing towards the direction of the double doors of the Club.

“Poor Lad, He's next in line to go missing” Gina voiced out with a sigh which felt convincingly void of sarcasm.