Mobster's Girl by Amy Rachiele Read Free Book Online Page A

come
into a jewelry store? I don’t want anything for myself.
    “Do you have anything Irish or Celtic?” I
ask.
    “Come right over here.” She points to a tall
cabinet made of glass. Inside are intricately made pieces. Some
have green stones in them-emeralds I’m guessing.
    “This one is a Claddaugh…” She starts
explaining what it means. “The heart means love, the hands mean
friendship, and the crown means loyalty. It is white gold and
encrusted with diamonds around the circle. All Celtic jewelry has
some type of meaning.”
    She hands the delicate necklace and pendant
to me. It’s beautiful. It’s small but I don’t think Megan is showy
like my mom. I can just picture it resting on Megan’s neck against
her buttery skin.
    I look up at the clerk, “How much?”
    “That one is five hundred and fifty dollars,
Sir.”
    “I’ll take it.” I say without hesitation. She
smiles at me and goes to wrap it in a nice box with a bow.
    When I get back to the room, Donny appears to
be sleeping but when he hears me come in, he jolts and grabs for
his gun.
    “It’s just me, Donny.”
    “Eh, Tonio, what did ya get?”
    “Some new clothes… perfume for Mom.” I leave
out I got stuff for someone I wish was my girlfriend.
    “You’re a good boy,” he says.
    The next morning we get up early . The
early bird catches the worm or the chooch who stiffed my father out
of five G’s.
    There is a text on my phone from
Alessandra:
     
    Where have u been?
    Antonio: Running errands for Dad
    Alessandra: Will u be at the party?
    Antonio: YES!
     
    Donny did some searching on this dude who
ran. He has a sister on the other side of town. We arrive at her
house at seven in the morning and park on the street a little ways
down. One thing I’ve learned is that doing this kind of stuff can
involve a lot of waiting. I text Vito and Ronnie and ask about
school. I search the X Box website for new games coming out. I play
a game of Angry Birds and wait and wait.
    Donny breaks the silence.
    “Tonio, tomorrow night-don’t forget you gotta
collect from Johnny again?”
    “Yeah I know.”
    “I’m gonna send you alone. Do you think you
can handle it?”
    “Sure, no problem.”
    “If he gives you anything less than three
G’s, you gotta break his leg.” I look up from web surfing. He
continues. “You count the moola, then break his leg if it ain’t all
there.”
    I hesitate, but I say, “Got it.”
    Donny’s head turns and he sees the guy who
ran. Simultaneously, we get out of the black Lincoln. My adrenaline
starts humming through my veins. We pace each other then fan out.
The asshole sees us. He starts to bolt, but I take off like a shot.
I catch up with him instantly and swing out my leg. My leg rips his
out from under him and he goes down-hard. His head smashes on the
cement sidewalk. I hold him down with my foot pressed against his
throat. That’s what twelve years of martial arts training will do
for you.
    Donny gets to us. He riffles through the guys
pockets. He finds fifteen hundred. Not even close.
    The guy pleads, “Donny, I need more
time.”
    “You’re a runner! I don’t like to fuckin’
chase people!”
    “Donny, please, I just need another
week.”
    “thirty-five hundred next week.” Donny says
to me, “Take care of this Tonio.” And I do.
    I grab the guy by his shirt and pull him to a
standing position in one fluid motion. I cock my fist back like
I’ve been doing all week and plant it in the guy’s face. His nose
makes a crack sound and I know I have broken it. I’ve heard that
sound before. I wind my hand up again and punch. The guy wails and
staggers. While he’s staggering backwards I grab his hand and snap
two fingers. He howls long and loud.
    I walk away. Donny already has the Lincoln
running and waiting. I don’t look at the guy crumpled up on the
ground as we screech by.

Chapter 9
     
    Cappatosta (ca bah dos): thick headed, stubborn
     
    Megan:
     
    All week Raven has been talking about