Hearts on Fire 5: Loving Frankie(35)
“Sure thing, baby. What’s your name?” he asked.
She looked a bit timid. His cock hardened. He kind of liked that.
“Frankie.”
He squinted at her.
Ralphy spoke first. “That’s a guy’s name.”
She gave him a dirty look. “Well, obviously I’m not a guy,” she retorted, and Sal watched Ralphy’s body language. He was a fucking animal and had a mean streak in him for disobedient women, as he referred to most of the opposite sex.
Ralphy eyed her body over.
“Further examination may be needed to clarify that, darling.”
“You wish. Can I get you guys drinks or not?” she asked firmly with attitude, and Chino chuckled.
“Martini, dry, no olives, Kettle One.”
“Same here, Frankie,” Sal said. She looked at Ralphy.
“Scotch. Straight up. You might as well bring over the bottle.”
“I’ll be back shortly.” She then walked away. They all watched her.
“Cocky bitch,” Ralphy stated.
“She didn’t like your insulting comment,” Chino replied.
“She has a fucking guy’s name. What the fuck?” Ralphy said.
“Gino has to see what she looks like. Let’s get a picture.”
Ralphy rolled his eyes but stood up and made his way to the bar area and Frankie. Sal watched as he very inconspicuously took several pictures of Frankie, including her ass in the short, tight black skirt.
“Oh yeah. Gino is going to love her,” Sal said.
Ralphy returned.
“This place is fucking crowded. The bartender said every fucking night they’re open. We can easily squeeze some more people in here to sell.”
“I agree. The only thing that concerns me are the owners. From my understanding, they’re very alert and have a good hold on their employees,” Sal said.
“Gloria got in here no problem. She was a fuck-up, too, but still brought in a shitload of money each week. We need to rectify that fuck-up and make nice with Carlotto,” Chino stated.
“Carlotto is sending some of his own men here. We’ll figure this out. We may need to meet with these owners and apply the pressure like you guys did today at Riley’s and the Beach House,” Sal said.
“They have a few more hours to call us. If they don’t, they just might be putting out a fire and damage to their businesses where they’ll need a loan,” Ralphy stated.
“You all set with the plan for arson? We don’t need any more fuck-ups,” Sal said.
“Chino and I have it covered. Like I said, if we don’t hear from these owners, and they’re not on board with paying a little security each month, then this first and only warning should make them very cooperative,” Ralphy told Sal.
Sal nodded. His guys knew what to do and how to apply the pressure. He pulled out his cell and looked at the pictures Ralphy had taken. The woman Frankie was fucking hot. He sent his brother the pictures and a text.
This is the broad Gloria was jealous of. What do you think?
* * * *
“They’re there now, Louie. Ralphy and Chino said a few of the other places would bring in some nice funds, too. They applied the pressure, spoke to the owners, and gave our terms of agreement,” Gino told Louie Carlotto over the phone.
Gino’s cell phone went off, and he read his brother’s text message.
“So if your brother believes these to be lucrative businesses, then I expect results fast, or you’re going to have to find another way to pay off the debt.”
Gino felt his chest tighten. They were all going to get knocked off if he didn’t make nice with Carlotto and get him more money.
“We’ll do it. Just give us this week, and we’ll have everything in order.”
“You’d better. I have men in town now. So watch that you don’t fuck up. My informants tell me your brother is being watched and investigated by the police. I don’t need pigs on my ass. I’ve had to buy enough cops, and I’m not buying local beach bum ones.”
“I understand. By the way, my brother just sent me a picture of the woman Gloria attacked at Prestige. Pretty fucking hot stuff. Big tits. A real sweet beauty.”
“Send me them. We’ll be in touch.”
Carlotto disconnected the call, and Gino sat up straight in his chair.
The blonde was pretty fucking hot. He sent the photos to Carlotto and then read his brothers message again.
“What man wouldn’t fuck a piece of ass like that?”
He texted back.
Maybe she’ll be a perk to our new business in Treasure Town? Find out what you can, but lay low. Give me an update as soon as Ralphy completes phase one.
* * * *
Carlotto disconnected the call from Gino Baletti and sat back in his chair.
“How did that go?” Pasqual asked him.
“I’m not sure if he’ll pull through. We may need to cut our losses and move on. It’s not like we need the extra business.”
“But those clubs on the beaches with all the damn college kids are gold mines.
“Ruffio and Santana did their own research. They think the businesses are very lucrative.”
Carlotto heard his phone go off. He glanced at the text message.
“Fucking Geno. He’s sending me a picture of the waitress Gloria assaulted when she got caught dealing. He says she’s a knockout.”
Pasqual smirked.
Carlotto opened up the text and had to do a double take. He leaned forward and grabbed onto the desk.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Pasqual asked, standing up and coming closer.
“He fucking found her. Gino found Francesca.”
“What?” Pasqual asked as he came around his boss’s desk and looked over his shoulder.
Carlotto took in the sight of her in the tight, barely there waitressing outfit.
“She looks so different,” Pasqual said.
“She’s hiding out in the same fucking town, working at the same fucking club we’re about to take over. We’ve searched everywhere for her. Tell me this isn’t fucking fate and that she doesn’t belong with me?” Carlotto said as he stared at her pictures. She looked incredible. He’d spent nights dreaming of that body, of fucking her. He’d even tried fucking blonde whores just to get her out of his head.
“What do you want me to do first, boss?”
Carlotto looked at Pasqual.
“First things first. Kevin is going to be a problem to deal with.”
“We can take him out. Problem solved.”
“I still need him and his connections in the police department. Plus, he owes me his life. His debt will never be paid unless I tell him he’s free if he gives me Francesca.”
“I say fuck that bastard. He doesn’t own her. She took off to get away from him. He cheated on her, abused her, and put her in direct line of fire. She took off and has been on her own. She’s working at a fucking bar and nightclub instead of the professional career she loved. Fuck that prick.”
Carlotto chuckled.
“You really hate Kevin, don’t you?”
“Like I said, give the okay, and he’s gone. Forever.”
“I want to be careful here. If the feds and the local police have their eyes on Gino and Sal Baletti, then we don’t want to be seen with them. We don’t need to go take Francesca and cause more trouble.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Call Kevin. Tell him I found something he lost.”
“You’re going to give him Francesca?” Pasqual asked.
Carlotto looked down at the picture on his phone and leaned back in his chair.
“I’m going to let him do the dirty work. Let him go out to New Jersey and grab her. He’ll bring her back here, and then we’ll get rid of him.”
Pasqual smirked.
“That’s one hell of a plan. But aren’t you worried he might hurt her or maybe fuck her another time?”
“He fucked her for over a year. What the hell is one last time? It’s the least I can allow him before I put him in his grave.”
Pasqual chuckled.
“Call Rufio and Santana. Give them the heads-up that Kevin is coming and have them find out all they can on Francesca. That way we make it easy for Kevin to grab her. In forty-eight hours, she’ll be back in Chicago and in my bed. Where she belongs.”
* * * *
Jake McCurran tried to remain controlled and not blow his stack. The owners of both Riley’s and the Beach House had asked for a private, secure meeting out on the docks in Bayline. He was shocked as they told him about the men approaching them from out of town and threatening them. They asked for money each month and also the ability to freely sell drugs at their clubs. They told the owners, Brian from Riley’s and Chester from the Beach House, that if they didn’t comply, then they would apply a bit of pressure and force them, too. They threatened their business, their families, and their patrons.
As he gathered all the information he needed that evening, a call came over the radio as Chester’s cell phone rang.
The Beach House was on fire. Engine 20 was currently putting it out.
As they rushed to the scene, Jake called Buddy and Turbo and had them meet him there. This was all too much of a coincidence not to investigate full force and immediately. No gangster thugs were going to come into Treasure Town and try to force the hands of hard-working citizens in the community. Organized crime was a serious matter and now he wondered who else in town might have been confronted and who was giving in out of fear?