"In His Debt" (closed)

[Tony2015]

"In His Debt"​

(closed to minxwife)​

"It's clear, Mister Albini."

"Thank you, Geo," I say with a slight smile.

As my Lieutenant -- my right hand man -- opens the rear door of the Cadillac, I step out slowly, still eying my surroundings cautiously. While I trust that Giorgio has fully check out the area and that it is safe to do here the nasty business I am about to do, I remind myself that I didn't get this far in the Peluso Family -- or simply in the organized crime life -- by putting all of my faith in others.

There are simply too many dangers in this life to leave your safety and security in the hands of others, regardless of how good they are and how much you can trust them. Trust will only take you so far, and trust will only be there for you for so long. I know this first hand: I'm just days -- maybe weeks -- away from making my move to take over the Peluso Family, and its the trust that my superiors have put in me that is going to be central to their downfall.

But I have other business to which I must attend tonight, which is the reason my nuts are freezing off at the docks at 2am. I enter an abandoned building, escaping the wind, and find Geo standing before two more of my underlings. Between them, held to his knees on the cold concrete, is an obviously frightened man who immediately begins pleading at the sight of me.

"Please, Mister Albini! I'll pay you. I promise. I just ... I need time. A few days ... maybe a week."

"You're going to come up with $62,000 in a week?" I ask softly as I come to stand just a couple of feet before him. I continue in my soft way, "How do you plan on doing that?"

"Please, Tony--"

Almost before he finishes with my given name, Geo spins on a heel and smashes a fist into the man's face. He reminds him, "Mister Albini."

As the man sobs, his eye now gushing blood down his cheek and chin, he says, "Mister Albini, please ... I'll borrow it."

"No one's going to loan you that kind of money," I say, holding a hand out toward Geo. My Lieutenant reaches into his jacket, pulls out a pistol, then a silencer, and begins attaching the latter to the former. "You've worn your welcome out all over the city."

"I'll do something for you! A favor! A job! I'll rob someone ... kill someone--"

"I can't put that kind of trust in you."

He murmurs and begs, then suddenly says, "My girl friend!"

As Geo hands me the piece, I ask, "What about her?"

"She'll give me the money!"

He's becoming more desperate as he sees me inspecting the weapon, opening the cylinder, checking that it's loaded. It was, and I knew that. I'm just messing with the guy as he continues, "She's got money! She's a model! Magazine covers! The internet! She's beautiful and rich ... and she'll pay you, I promise!"

"Mister Albini." A fourth underling steps up to me. He hands me a pen light and a wallet, opened to a picture of an incredibly beautiful, erotically rounded woman in what looks to be a bikini advertisement photograph.

"Is this her?" I ask.

"Yes! Yes, isn't she something. She'll pay you, I--"

"Is she really a model?" I ask the question to no one in particular, as I stare at the picture under the little light's illumination.

Geo steps closer. "We saw them together yesterday ... when we picked him up. But ... I don't know if she's what he claims she is. She could just be--"

I cut in, shifting my gaze up to the cowering man, "The woman every man on the planet wants hanging from his arm in public."

"Yes! She is! She's beautiful. And she'll pay off my debt."

"What if I didn't want her money?" I ask stepping closer, the pistol hanging at my side just a few inches from the sobbing man's head. "What if I just wanted her?"

He stares at me, uncertain of how to respond. He glances at the gun, then back up to me. "Yes, Mister Albini."

"Yes what?" I say suggestively.

He sobs again, then clarifies, "You can have her, sir."

"To pay off your debt ... you'll let me have your girlfriend."

"Yes..." He's fully crying now, though I don't know whether it's because he's afraid of dying or horrified that he's offering up his lover to cover his debt. He answers the question by crying, "Yes, Mister Albini. You can ... you can have her ... if ... just, please ... don't kill me. You can have her if you don't kill me!"

I lift the pistol and pull the trigger, sending a round into the man's forehead. The slug of metal begins to disintegrate upon impact, sending off some smaller parts. Most of the round exit through the back of his skull, sending a shower of blood and brain matter out onto concrete.

Without missing a beat, I calmly say, "I can have her even if I do kill you."

As the two underlings carry the dead man off to the edge of the dock, intending to toss him into the water -- for the police to find and other dead beats to learn from -- I look back at the picture for a long moment. I hand the picture out to Geo, saying, "Find her."

 

[minxwife]

I'd had a busy morning, baking and icing cupcakes. As the hours passed quickly, I realised I hadn't heard from Rob all day. It's not like him to not text me, but I figured work had him busy. I sent him a one line text and went back to work. I was interrupted in no time from a voice in the shop.

"Hello, is anyone here?" The gruff voice sounded out from the counter. I walked out, wiping my hands on my pink apron and saw a man waiting uncomfortably at the counter. I plastered on a smile, and greeted him.

"Hi, I'm Celia, how can I help you today?" I offered the man sraning in front of me. I noticed he quickly stuffed a piece of paper into his pocket. He pointed at some cupcakes he wanted and I boxed them up for him. Smalltalk fell on deaf hears, he was the silent type and I respected that. I handed him the pink box and waved off payment. "First ones are on me!"

He left the store and I went back to work, switching on the radio and trying to take my mind off Rob's unexplained silence.

 

[Tony2015]

I watch Bruno exit the little bakery and cross the road ... carrying a pink box in one hand as he stuffs a Bavarian into his mouth. As he drops into the back seat, I ask, "Good?"

With his mouth still stuffed full, he grunts, "Vewy'ood."

I can't help but shake my head. I've known the man six years, I don't remember an hour of that time going by without him stuffing some sort of artery clogging food into his mouth. It's only his 6'4" height and broad shoulders that hides the fact that he's also 60 pounds over weight.

"Whatcha wanna do, boss?" the man behind the wheel asks.

"She alone?" I ask over my shoulder.

Bruno nods, then contradicts himself with, "Dunno. Think so."

I look up and down the block, then into the side mirror. I look to the driver and say, "Marco, take the car and Mister Pastry-mouth there around to the alley to the back door. Vincent ... you come with me."

The pair of us exit and cross the road. We look out of place with our expensive suits: it's a simple, blue collar neighborhood which makes us stand out, but it's also the first week of January and the cold it pretty much keeping everyone indoors.

The bell over the door jingles as we enter, and a moment later an incredible woman emerges from the back. I hesitate, stunned. I'd seen the bikini picture during the wee hours and I expect a beautiful woman, but this ... Mary Holy Mother, this woman is simply unbelievable.

"You must be Celia," I manage. As she responds, Vincent is casually walking toward the end of the counter, seemingly checking out all of the baked offerings. As he steps through the gate and behind the counter, I tell her, "My name is Geo Viselli ... and I need you to come with me. It's about your boyfriend ... and the sixty-two grand he owes my boss."

 

[minxwife]

I laugh at first, keeping an eye on the guy walking behind the counter. I'm a little scared, these men are towering over my 5'2" frame and I'm alone in the store. It's a day of quiet trade. The soccer moms have been and gone and lunch is finished so I've just been tidying up before running a delivery order.

"Very funny, but Rob doesn't owe anyone money. He's cashed up, shouldn't you be talking to him? I can't help you, sorry."

I turn to the man behind the counter, starting to feel intimidated by the man walking towards me. I don't let him see the fear as I turn slowly towards him.

"Hey, sorry, you can't be back here. It's employees only and my liability insurance doesn't cover members of the public, so I'm going to have to ask you to go back to the other side of the counter.

Noticing he has no intention to leave, I take a step towards the register and the silent alarm. Now, I'm getting scared. I try and use my most assertive voice to get rid of them.

"If you're not going to buy something, I'd like you to both please leave my store. Rob doesn't owe you and neither do I. I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Maybe try calling Rob to see if he knows what's happening? He seems to be busy with work today, but I'm sure he can explain what's happening?"

I go to reach for the alarm as I'm freaking out now, and the one who calls himself Geo clears his throat, interrupting me. I get distracted and use the opportunity to take off my apron, while waiting for him to state his case.

 

[Tony2015]

Geo Viselli:

I clear my throat noticeably, and the beauty turns to face me. I say calmly, "Don't do that. Bringing the cops in only ... confuses things. You never know whether they're your cops, or our cops ... and sometimes while you're trying to remember whether they're bought off or not..."

As I continue, I glance toward Vincent, and when the woman glances toward Vincent, he casually pulls the tail of his jacket back enough to show the big black pistol slung at his side. I finish, "...people get hurt. Better just to listen to what I have to say ... Celia, wasn't it?"

She either agrees with me or is preparing herself to run, because she unties and removes the flour specked apron. She only reveals more of her womanly curves with the gesture, making me wish I didn't have instructions to immediately bring her back to Tony Albini.

I see her flinch at the sound of Bruno -- who was more than skilled at picking the locks on the back doors of these older buildings -- stepping from the baking area into the sales area. He steps up very close to the register, knowing -- as I do -- that that is the location of the alarm she'd wanted so badly to trigger.

"Celia," I say with a gentle tone. "No one wants to hurt you. And no one wants to see that pretty face or that--" My gaze drops to her unbelievable curves, then raises again as I decide not to make an inappropriate comment about doing something hurtful to her body. "--pretty face get damaged. Be a good girl ... and go quietly with Bruno and Vincent. There's a car waiting in the alley."

I take a step back and, half turning, click the lock shut and turn the sign around to indicate the establishment is closed. "I promise you, no harm will come to you ... so long as you do as I ask of you."

 

[minxwife]

My heart is racing so fast as the three men start converging on me. One of them is the silent man that I gave the cupcakes to, not even fifteen minutes prior. I can’t even call the police. My phone is in the kitchen and two of them are behind the counter with me.

Fear is written all over my face as the door is locked and I’m now completely trapped. I’m still so close to pressing the silent alarm, but it feels like it would be the end of me. I’m not going to make a stupid mistake. Not today.

“Guys, I think you’re making a mistake. I don’t know what you want from me, I can give you the money from my till, I can give you cupcakes. I can’t open the safe yet, but I should be able to around 4 this afternoon.” I’m wondering if they can hear my heart pounding.

Resigned to the fact they’re not going to leave until I do what they want, I sigh, a deep, frightened sound escapes my throat. I step towards the men he calls Bruno and Vincent and they each put a hand on my arms. I keep my breathing steady and my eyes focussed. I want to know where they want to take me, and keep an eye on my surroundings.

Leaving the shop, my bag and phone are left behind in the kitchen as I’m taken to the car. It’s expensive looking, and looks out of place parked in the dingy alley running behind my store. There is a man sitting at the wheel, the car idling and my heart sinks.

I can feel it, I’m either going to get raped or murdered. Or both! They make me sit in the backseat, middle and we drive off. No one is going to know I’m gone, the only person who I normally chat to is Rob, and he’s disappeared. “Please, can someone tell me where you’re taking me?” I beg as the car picks up speed, leaving the neighbourhood.

 

[Tony2015]

“Please, can someone tell me where you’re taking me?”

I look to the beauty and smile. "Enjoy the ride, Celia. It's a beautiful day."

In reality, it actually is. I look out the window at the last remnants of the frost -- and in some places ice -- left from the cold night. I've always loved the city bathes in a sheet of reflecting ice. Of course, the snow ... well, it always makes the city look beautiful for a few hours, but then the snow plows and cars mix up all of the dirt and sand and filth, and...

"In answer to your question, Celia," I begin, knowing that if I don't answer her she's going to either nag me the entire way, burst into sobbing tears, or turn vicious animal and try to get away. "We are taking you to the home of Anthony Albini."

I can tell by her reaction that she is aware of who he is or, at the least, has heard his name on the News or seen it in the Press. Your boyfriend Robert owes Mister Albini a large sum of money ... $62,000 ... plus interest.."

Without missing a beat, I shift from that which is truth to that which is ... well, better for Celia at the moment. "And now, your boy Rob had fled the country ... leaving you to repay the debt he owes."

 

[minxwife]

My throat leaps into my heart as I hear how much Rob allegedly owes. $62,000. He was always buying me nice things and he invested into my shop. I don't even know how to react to this. I just stare out the front window of the moving car. I'm cramped up between these two goons, and if I wriggle to make room for myself, I end up getting squeezed harder between them.

"$62,000. Surely you have to be kidding. What the fuck were you thinking Rob?" I murmur under my breath. I only just realise I've been clenching my fists this whole time, my nails digging into my palms. I'm so mad at him, I don't even realise the car has stopped. The two bozos I'm stuck between pull me out of the car and I stumble out.

In front of me is Anthony Albini's house. Mister Albini, I think wryly. Is he going to make me an offer I can't refuse? My humour turns back to fear as I see no one else is smiling. I try and look around to see if there's an escape route. There isn't.

"Will Mister Albini. Wait. How am I going to pay him? I don't have that kind of money!" Reality has come crashing down around me and I'm spooked. "What am I going to do? What is he going to do to me?" Oh god, don't hyperventiliate, Celia!

 

[Tony2015]

From the perspective of Anthony "Tony" Albini:

"They're five minutes out, Mister Albini."

I look to the man standing in the door of my bedroom and nod. "Make sure her room is ready. Sweep her ... and check the block for tails."

"Yes, sir," he says, departing.

I follow behind the man out of my room and across to the bedroom that will be made for my new guest. From that side of my home, I look down to find the car is already stopped in the driveway. I see Celia Roberts and, unknowingly, I think the same thought Geo did upon eye balling the baking beauty: The dead man's bikini pic of her was nice, but in real life ... unbelievable.

I return to my room and open the large doors of an antique bureau. Behind them are the most modern security monitors, on which I watch the five of them enter my home -- with one man each fore and aft of the woman and Geo and Vincent at her sides, gently holding her arms -- and head immediately through the living room to my studio, where Geo will know the meet is to take place.

My cell buzzes, and I check the text. It's a call I must return, but I have other more pressing matters. My lips widen as I think Pressing up against that body...

I descend to the foyer, check in with an underling on yet another issue, then make my way to the studio to meet my guest. By the time I get there, Geo has her seated before my desk, as he hovers over and behind her and Vincent stands near the glass doors looking out upon the view for which I paid $11 million dollars ... well, after installing all the additional security, advanced communications, underground Safe Room, and speed boat dock, of course.

"Miss Roberts," I begin upon immediately entering the room. I smile broadly as I walk up close to her and offer my hand. "In case no one has filled you in, I amAntonio Albini. My friends call me Tony. And as I would like us to become friends, I am going to insist ... that you call me Tony."

I study her as I wait to see whether or not she will take my hand, looking over her incredibly beautiful face, then allowing my gaze to drop to her voluptuous chest for a short moment before again looking up to her deep brown eyes...

 

[minxwife]

"Listen, Mr Albini," I start and he waves his hand at me, "Tony. I don't know what you want from me. I know your guy said I have to pay Rob's debt, but surely he can pay it off when he gets back? I don't have that kind of money! Even if I were to sell my business, I wouldn't have anywhere near that money."

I take a deep breath and look out the window at the cold winter sun hitting the water, throwing off an icy glare off the water. It's mesmerising but it's not what I'm here for.

"How can I help pay off Rob's debt? My cheque book is back at the shop, your lackeys wouldn't let me grab my bag on my way here." I stare him in the eyes, defiantly, waiting for him to speak.

 

[Tony2015]

Tony Albini

I chuckle and turn to circle around the the wet bar as I say, "Check? Even your flour supplier won't take a check. What makes you think I'll take a check?"

I loft a crystal liquor container, asking Celia if she would like a drink, then resume to making my own as I say, "No ... I'll just take your shop."

I cross back toward her with the drink(s) and sit on the edge of the antique desk. "You'll continue to work your little bakery ... and I'll send some business your way to ensure you remain profitable. But you'll sign over the deed to me ... and when you have paid off you skip of a boyfriend's debt ... plus the vig that accrues in the meantime, I'll turn your shop back over to you."

I lift my drink to my mouth as I study her reaction, then say, "Unless you have a better idea of how to pay me."

 

[minxwife]

"Please, Tony, anything but that. I've seen the dramas on television. You're going to run my business into the ground until it's worthless to me. Can we please work something out? The shop has been a labour of love for me. Gramma and I dreamed of opening it together and I finally did it, with Rob's help. She left to live in Florida and she would want to know it's being run legitimately."

I take the glass he's put in front of me and take a sip. The liquor burns and brings a tear to my eye. I hate begging, but it's come to this. I fan my face to stop the tears, knowing full well this makes them run faster. I burst into tears and cover my face to stop my eyes giving me away.

"Please, Mr Albini, I will do anything. Anything. I can't give you my shop, is there anything else I can do?"

 

[Tony2015]

Tony Albini:

Celia begs, "Please, Mr Albini, I will do anything. Anything."

I lift my tumbler of liquor to my lips again, studying her for a moment. I hear this line a couple of times of month, I will do anything. More often than not, it's spoken by a man -- or very seldom by a woman -- who has nothing they can give me or do for me that amounts to the anything they are promising.

"I can't give you my shop," she continues as I stand from the edge of the desk and begin to circle around to my own chair. "Is there anything else I can do?"

Fortunately, this time, the person begging to me -- the incredible Celia Roberts -- does have an anything at her disposal. And fortunately for me, it is both something she can give me and something she can do for me. As I drop into my chair, I look to Vincent and tell him, "Vinnie, please take our guest up to her room. Ensure that she is comfortable..."

I look directly into Celia's eyes and, with obvious meaning, add, "...and secure. Miss Roberts ... I will give your offer some consideration and discuss it with you in the morning. In the meantime, if there is anything you need ... food, drink ... anything ... Vinnie will be just outside your door. You only need ask."

I look to Vincent, who immediately moves to my guest, takes an arm gently to raise her from her chair, and heads her out of the room.

"Miss Roberts," I say before the pair reach the door. I tell her with a firm but quiet tone, "You've seen the dramas on television. So ... you know what happens to people like yourself who cross people like me, yes...? Please ... stay in your room ... do not give Vinnie any trouble ... and don't make me do something that is not in either of our interests. Understand?"

I allow her to respond, then gesture Vincent to proceed. Once they are gone, I return to the wet bar, mix two drinks, hand one to Geo, and ask him about the bakery.

"I sent a man over with the keys we took from Miss Robert's purse," he begins.

As he continues, I wander over to the doors that look out onto the back patio, back yard, and finally the harbor. The sun behind me to the west is reflecting off the glass and shiny fittings of the dozens of sailboats in the marina, causing the early evening to ... what, sparkle... glisten?

It's a beautiful view this time of the day, but view in the mornings, as the sun it rising a bit to my right causes a glare on the glass is annoying. Two years ago, after a hitman hiding in a marina storage building put a bullet through the glass -- and my shoulder -- we had the original sheets replaced with bullet resistant glass. The effect is that the wonder of the view has been reduced. But it wasn't the view we were trying to save, was it?"

"We put a sign in the window that says Closed for renovation," Geo continues, "and we'll have all the trappings of reconstruction set up by 6am ... work van outside ... paint tarps over the tables and counters ... the works. No one will question Miss Roberts' absence or the shop's closure."

"Good work, Geo," I say absently, watching a pair of sea gulls fighting over a piece of fish carcass they've stolen from a less than observant fisher dealing with the day's catch. "Have the Bookkeeper run the records. Find the deed ... any financial information we might need." I turn to look at him. "She said this ... this guy...?"

"Rob."

"Yes. She said he helped her open the shop. Look through his finances as well. I want to know everything there is to know about the pair of them ... banks they deal with ... possible partners ... skeletons. Check out this dead gramma."

"Not dead," Geo corrects. "Retired ... in Florida."

I smile, not even realizing I'm doing it. Family is always a weakness. I know. I spend the majority of my time here at the Marina House, and yet my own family -- wife, kids, and mother -- have never been here. Despite the added security, it simply isn't safe for them to be here, so they spend the majority of their time at the house outside Chicago, where I know they are relatively safe from my enemies.

After I tell him to check out gramma, Geo dons a look I know well. "And Miss Roberts?"

Geo knows what my interest in our new guest is. Hell, it's his interest as well, though he would never pursue an interest that his superior shared. I turn away to look out into the marina again, not wanting him to see that my cock is beginning to rise at my current thoughts. I hesitate before speaking, sipping at my drink. I half glance over my shoulder and answer, "Keep her safe. Nothing happens to her. I'll deal with her."

"Yes sir," Geo says, and after I dismiss him he turns to leave, adding, "She's a beautiful woman, Tony."

I turn to look to him, but he is already gone. I look back out on the reddening marina and clouds above and beyond, and think, Yes. A very beautiful ... very sexy woman. I'm sure I'll enjoy her.



Geo Viselli:

I reach the second floor room finding Vincent standing in the open doorway, waiting, knowing that I wouldn't have been far behind him. I say softly, "You and the boys did good work today. Take the night. I'll need you at 4am."

I already have a pair of hundred dollar bills folded in my palm for when I shake his hand, and when he realizes I'm passing him a bonus, I say, "Girls and booze. Don't go putting this into your 401K."

He laughs loudly, thanks me, and leaves. I step inside -- just a step -- and study Celia. I sympathize for her. This isn't the first time I've seen an innocent caught up in troubles in which they played no part, and it certainly won't be the last. Of course, it's been a long time since I've seen an innocent who looked like she does, and I, too, feel a bit of a twinge below the belt line as I look over her amazing curves.

"Is there anything you need, Miss Roberts?" I ask with a sincere tone. "Anything I can do for you?"

 

[minxwife]

My heard turned to see the man that just walked into the bedroom. Was there anything I needed? Of course there was! Answers would have been perfect. I spoke slowly and surely.

"I'm hungry, tired and confused. I could eat something, but I sat down and this bed is so comfortable. I could sink in here and sleep forever."

I get up and open the closet door, looking inside. It is full of beautiful, expensive clothes. They must belong to Mrs Albini. Makes sense, I guess, if they have separate rooms, with Mr Albini's - Tony's - line of work. I smirk at the thought of him being in the mafia. He doesn't try and hide it like Tony Soprano did, hiding behind the waste sanitation schtick.

I cross the room and look out the balcony door, something seeming off about the view. Almost like the beautiful ocean view is all grey and hazy. I rub my eyes before realising it's not me, it's the glass. It's criminal to obscure such a beautiful view. I turn to the man watching me and pepper him with questions.

"Where is Rob? Is he dead? Please tell me the truth. I need to mourn him if he is. It's not like him to run away. What's your name? Something Italian? Name ends in a vowel? How do I get something to eat around here?"

I cross the room and wrap my arms around him and whisper into his ear, he shifts and my eyes start to well up.

"I need someone to hold me while I sleep tonight, can you please stay for an hour?"