admit. “Made sure to remind me how this makes us look as a family, which means he doesn’t want to look bad, and he doesn’t want New York to think he’s not handling business as acting boss. So, we’ve gotta fix this, quick.”
“You’re goddamn right we gotta fix it quick,” Joe snaps, his skin turning red as his temper flares. “You’re a fucking made guy, Dominic, and my captain. Nobody takes a fucking shot at you without getting clipped. No-fucking-body. So, now that Frankie knows everything, we find these cock suckers and we hit back. Hard. We make it public and out in the open so everybody in the streets knows you don’t come after one of our guys.”
As much as I’d like to tell Joe to calm down, I find myself being motivated by his energy. He’s right, the last thing any street guy would do is take a shot at a made man. It’s street code, and everybody knows it, and when that code is broken, so is your fucking neck.
“Alright, so here’s what we’re gonna do,” I begin, once Joe sits back down. “Charlie, I want you track down this SUV for me. It was dark when it all happened, but I know it was black, and it had a big body, like a Denali or something like that.”
“Okay, Dominic,” Charlie says, pushing his glasses back up on his nose. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“What about Abram? He authorized the hit,” Tommy chimes in.
“I wanna wait on Abram,” I reply.
“What? Why would you wanna wait?” Tommy says, frowning.
“Because I wanna find the shooter first,” I answer. “I want the shooter first, and I want an example made of him so big that Abram can’t ignore it. I want him to know we’re coming for him so he has fucking nightmares about it until the day those nightmares come true. So, find the shooter, and when you do, sit on him. Don’t make a move until you call me. I wanna be there.”
“Wait, you sure that’s a good idea, Dominic? You don’t want your hands getting dirty with something like this,” Charlie advises.
“No, it is a good idea,” I snip. “That motherfucker had the balls to come to my casino and take a shot at me, and he almost hit Alannah. He’s gonna pay, and I’m gonna be there to watch it happen.”
“Who’s Alannah?” Skinny Joe inquires.
“Alannah’s a girl I was with when they tried to make the hit. Fucker almost shot her.”
The three of them look at each other like I just said something offensive.
“What the fuck are you looking like that for?” I ask, scrunching my forehead.
“Nothing, nothing,” Tommy answers for the group. “Just not used to you being out with no girls. You’ve always been focused on business. More of a one night stand kind of guy, not a dinner date guy.”
“Well, I was out with her, so I guess you got me pegged all wrong,” I reply, and I don’t want to talk about Alannah with anybody, so I stand up and change the subject. “Anyway, look, I want the shooter found, like, yesterday. This motherfucker is gonna pay for the shit he tried to pull, and I don’t wanna wait. So, I need all of you on this until it’s done. Call me as soon as you find him.”
I grab my coat and start heading for the door.
“Okay, and where are you gonna be while we’re hunting this fucker down?” Tommy asks, gesturing with his hands.
“I told you, he almost got Alannah. I gotta go make sure she’s okay.”
There’s that look again. The three of them have the same expression like they’re triplets. They look at each other like they know they’re all thinking the same thing, but it’s Tommy who speaks for all of them.
“Look, Dominic, I don’t know who this Alannah girl is, or why you seem so concerned about her, but maybe it’s not a good idea for you to be out and about while there’s a contract on your head. Why don’t you let Joe go with you?”
Skinny Joe immediately stands up in preparation to come along.
“No,” I say quickly. “I don’t need a fucking bodyguard, and don’t worry about Alannah. Just find the fucking shooter, Tommy. That’s it.”
“Okay, Dominic, you got it,” Tommy replies, but I can still see the confusion on his face as I turn around and walk out.
I can understand the confusion amongst the guys. It’s not like me to keep things secret, especially