Chapter 9 Elio #2
For a place packed with retro charm—old arcade games, a bowling ball, a little cafeteria, and this rink—it was surprisingly empty. Especially considering it was the evening, when all the world was finally getting off their jobs and going out with their friends, partners, kids.
Or so I thought. I didn’t have the luxury of working every day for a living.
And it was a luxury to me, having that kind of discipline, making your own money instead of relying upon one’s father, building your own life from scratch.
I did not even have the luxury of friends, or even kids.
Although, if I was to count what was going my way, I did have a partner now.
I paused for a breather, and she halted to a stop right beside me.
“Tired, Romano?”
“These bones ain’t old just yet,” I said.
“So what’s wrong?”
“What are we?” I asked, looking at her. “Besides the whole auction thing. Besides that obligation. What do you think we are?”
“I know you don’t want me to say friends because that wasn’t very friendly what we were doing last night,” she said, making a face, doing an accent. It would have been funny at any other time. Just not now.
“For real, though,” I said, looking up at the disco ball.
It had cobwebs up top. This place was ancient.
Several of the arcade games didn’t work.
There were some with buttons missing, others with screens cracked.
It was a place in ruin. And yet we were here, making the most of it.
Was that significant or metaphoric of something in my life?
I couldn’t tell. But the floor of the rink was cracked in several places, and the man behind the skating shoes booth was old and graying.
If I’d come here on my own or with anyone else, this would have been a sorry sight.
But I’d come here with her, and that made all the difference.
“I’m going to rely upon my more mature instincts instead of saying something that we may both regret later,” she said.
I became afraid. Too afraid of what she might say.
“But I think it’s too early to define us.
We’re two people who have been thrown together by fate, and we’re trying to make the most out of it.
You like me, I like you, there’s something there, but are we girlfriend and boyfriend?
Are we soulmates, marriage material? Is that what you’re asking? ”
“I’m just wondering where this goes,” I said, taking off my skating shoes.
My ankles were killing me. That was strange, because I always went to the gym four days a week, ran two miles every morning.
Perhaps it was the skates. Perhaps it was that I was too old to put these shoes on.
Or maybe I hadn’t warmed up. Maybe I was fixating on the wrong thing entirely.
I should have been paying attention to the conversation.
“Rather than wonder where it goes, see how it’s going so far,” she said, taking my hand. “Because that’s an answer I’ll give gladly.”
“Oh?”
“See, I think it’s going superb, even though you are… you… and I am me. I think that you have charmed me enough that I want to see where it can go.”
She whirled around me in her skates, a scene straight out of one of those old vintage movies. Her in her green dress with the skates on, Cindy Lauper playing “Time After Time,” the disco lights falling on us, and me standing there dumbstruck, shoeless in an empty rink.
“I think—”
I didn’t get a chance to finish what I was saying. At that moment, the doors burst open and in walked Jimmy Donaldson in one of his tracksuits, all by himself.
“Well, well, well, I came here expecting to find you, but look at my luck, it’s both of you here,” Jimmy said, clapping his hands. “Two birds, one stone, bless me.”
My hand defensively went towards my gun. I kept my hand there. I didn’t draw it out yet. This was not what I wanted Maria to see. This side of me was dark. And unfortunately, it had been thrust against the abyss itself, with her standing behind me, her breath shallow, her hands holding my arm.
Now was no time to be afraid. That’s how these guys got you. They preyed on your fear.
I sighed, shaking my head, and walking forward, taking out my gun.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa there, Elio, my boy,” Jimmy sneered. “Don’t go hurting yourself with that toy in your hand.”
I looked back at Maria, and I mouthed the words “I’m sorry,” my heart breaking at the sight of betrayal in her eyes. Poor Maria. What did you expect? Once a gangster, always a gangster.
I pulled the trigger and watched as the bullet went whizzing past his head, nearly clipping him in the ear.
“Still think it’s a toy, motherfucker?” I asked. “What did you do with my men?”
Jimmy was shell-shocked. He hadn’t expected a show of force.
“They… they’re right outside with my men,” he said, pale-faced. “Christ’s sake, I came here to talk.”
I pulled the trigger again, this time the bullet soaring past his knees.
“For fuck’s sake, Elio, stop!” Jimmy said, holding his hands together in pleading.
The guys behind the counter fled. They’d call the cops in a minute.
“Speak. You have thirty seconds,” I said, closing the distance between us, standing right up to him, my eyes level with his eyes. There was fear in his eyes. That was good. He had shown weakness. Now he was my prey.
“Your friend over there,” he said, nodding at Maria, “cost me my reputation. You destroyed my trucks. Messed up my men.”
I didn’t want her to overhear this, but I guess this was happening.
I put the gun to Jimmy Donaldson’s head.
“And?”
“…and….” Jimmy Donaldson was sweating now.
“Here’s the thing, fuck-face. You keep forgetting one thing.
This city is my turf, all of it. North Creek, South Creek, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island.
I’m the one who runs this shit,” I said, my voice growing deeper, menacing.
“If I’m not going from store to store, business to business, demanding protection money, don’t mean I’ve gone soft. ”
“I just meant…”
“I don’t care what you meant!” I roared, and Jimmy fell to his knees, quivering. “You sent men after her! You tried to threaten me. You had the gall to show up here. You must think I’m a declawed and neutered lion on display in the fucking zoo if you’re being so brazen.”
“I just want justice,” Jimmy said, holding out his hand. “Don Romano.”
“You want justice?” I snapped, kicking his hand out of reach.
“Go to the courts. You want forgiveness? Get religion. I’m not the one you come to for either.
I will destroy you, Jimmy. I’ll have your business closed up in one night, all your warehouses raided.
Think I’m playing? Go ahead. Make another wrong move.
Test me. I’ll show you what I’m capable of, motherfucker. ”
I slammed the butt of my gun against his face, drawing blood, smashing his cheekbone.
He yelped in pain and held his face, scurrying backward like an insect.
“Get the fuck out of here, and the next time I see you, I’m going to kill you!”
“Your father wouldn’t approve of this,” Jimmy protested, tears rolling down his eyes.
“I’m not my father, Jimmy. And don’t ever make the mistake of comparing me to him.”
I watched as Jimmy picked himself up and ran out the door, his tracksuit sweaty and splotched with blood.
I put the gun back in its holster.
Outside, blue and red lights began flashing.
I sighed and turned to Maria, who stood there petrified.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” I said. “But this is who I am, no matter how much I try to deny it.”
She didn’t say anything. Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide with terror.
“I’ll have one of the guys drop you home. I understand if you don’t want to continue this charade anymore. I’ll not hold it against you.”
Finally, she nodded wordlessly.
I escorted her outside, where I saw my men standing there frazzled, confused.
“Mr. Romano, sir. We got reports of gunshots,” one of the cops said. “Are you all right, sir?”
“Please make sure that Ms. Thurman reaches home safe,” I said to the cop. I couldn’t trust my men at the moment. They had led Jimmy in through the door. They were not supposed to do that.
The cop nodded at me. I nodded back.
I watched Maria as she got in the cop car. I watched with pain swelling in my heart as the car drove off and turned the corner.
Then I took my gun out again and looked at my men.
“I want to know whose idea it was to let that guy in. Now.”
The men looked at each other uncomfortably.
“Your father, sir,” one of the guards said. “He told us not to interfere.”
Betrayal from within. Why was I not surprised? He hadn’t been able to “teach” me a lesson with the fake auction. Now he was using Jimmy Donaldson as a pawn.
“I’ll have a word with him,” I said through gritted teeth, getting into my car. I’d have a word with him before this night was over. Ask him what his game was. Clearly, he wasn’t done with me just yet.
And he’d cost me a wonderful date with the woman I was sure was the woman of my dreams.