05 Mar The Mafia: Chapter Fourteen

*This rough draft is entirely a work of fictional writing*

D and Maria both agreed to have a dinner date at a Persian restaurant that the family owns and operates called Purrsians.

They are sitting at candlelit table; Maria turns her cell phone off while saying, “Wow. This place is nice – it looks totally different than last time we were here.”

D charmingly replies, “Yeah… you know me. I had to pull some strings to get a table. They finally finished revamping this place and tonight is their re-opening – new menu, new everything – a new dining experience… you know how I do for you boo, you know how I do.”

Maria looks around the table confused, “No flowers or anything?”

D pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and begins reading, “We refine our love, for our love could never be defined, a love without definition or boundaries, just try to explore – en route to a never-ending destination… I’ll find where you hide your love – darling – I’ll find where you hide your love.”

Maria tears up, “Oh stop… you’re going to make me start crying. You know how I love when you sing to me.”

D puts the poem back in his pocket, “Okay, so why you went and wept after I said that? And for the record, I never even sang… I was reading.”

Maria rolls her eyes, “Please don’t start talking like your brother Avi. Everything you say kind of sounds like you’re singing – that’s why it’s so fucked up loving you; can’t stay, can’t leave.”

Before D can respond his cell phone text message sound goes off twice. Maria holds her hand out and says, “Hand it over.”

D replies, “Why?”

Maria continues, “If you have nothing to hide… give me your phone.”

D calmly says, “Shit… I ain’t got nothing to hide.” Then takes his phone out of his pocket and hands it to Maria.

Maria looks down at the phone and sees two text messages from a girl named Selena. The first message says: Hi D! How are you? The second message says: I was wondering when I could see you again – followed by a red heart and smoochie face emojii.

Maria angrily throws the phone at D and says, “Give me your keys.”

D doesn’t say anything and hands her the car keys. Maria grabs the keys, “Since you love walking so much you can walk your ass back home.” She then walks away while the rest of the patrons in the restaurant are staring at D.

A lady at a table next to theirs gives D a dirty look and angrily whispers, “How could you?”

D closes his eyes, shakes his head then finds the waitress to pay the tab. He walks out of the restaurant while calling Johnny, one of the four trenchmen.

Johnny answers immediately, “D – what’s going on? Are you all right?”

D speaks quietly, “Yeah. I’m fine… Maria left me stranded at Purrsians – can you pick me up?”

Johnny responds, “Sure thing my brother. I’ll be there in about five minutes.”

D says thanks then hangs up the phone. He reaches into his front pocket, pulls out a cigarette and lights it up. After a few puffs a homeless man approaches D and asks, “Excuse me, kind sir, do you have a couple of dollars that I can have to go get some food? I haven’t eaten in days.”

D says, “Sure. It would be my pleasure.” He takes his wallet out when all of a sudden the homeless man pulls out a butterfly knife while saying, “Give me all of your money – gimme everything that you have!” However, the homeless man struggles to unlock the blade, “Stay right there – don’t move.”

D continues to stand there, smoking his cigarette while staring at the homeless man frustratingly trying to unlock his blade.

After about a minute of him fumbling the knife around the homeless man finally gives up and says, “Ah, fuck it!” and runs away.

D internally laughs and thirty seconds later Johnny pulls up, “Get on in brother. We’re going to go play some poker with the boys at the clubhouse.”

D gets into the car and says, “Thanks big bro. You’re a lifesaver.”

Johnny starts driving, “Don’t mention it brother – we’re family. And sheesh, it seems like Maria is really pressed on you as of late – what happened this time?”

D sighs, “I don’t know. Some bomb ass girl that I met at the pool the other day texted me during our dinner and she just flipped out. I’m not sure why, I only met her because Maria kicked me out.”

Johnny continues, “Yeah that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. Who is the girl anyway? Do you have a picture of her?”

D takes out his phone and shows Johnny and selfie of him and Selena. Johnny looks at the photo then slams on his brakes veering off to the side of the road to park, “Dude. Do you know who that girl is!? That’s Selena Morena!”

D appears negligent, “No… whose Selena Morena?”

Johnny laughs while hitting his steering wheel, “Bro. That’s Selena Morena, her dad is like the King of Spain or some shit. I follow her on social media – I have a huge crush on her.”

 D smiles, “They still have kings and royalty or whatever in Spain?”

Johnny replies, “I’m not sure, but they’re royalty like you boys are royalty. Dude, I can’t believe that – you were over there doing the Macarena with Selena Morena – unreal.”

D continues to smile, “Oh so they have ties to the upper-echelon and stuff?”

Johnny nods his head, “I’m not sure what that means, but yeah, I guess. Bro. You had Selena Morena sitting on your left nut like she was trying to make your right nut jealous and you’re just sitting there all nonchalant about it?”

D laughs, “I honestly had no idea – I just thought she was some random beautiful girl at the pool.”

Johnny continues to laugh, “I don’t know how you pulled that off bro. Does she know that you’re a prince?”

D shrugs, “I don’t think so. I told her that I was a construction worker and part-time lumberjack.”

Johnny replies, “Dude. And she believed you?”

D responds, “Yeah. Why wouldn’t she? I showed her a video of me chopping wood with an ax – she was getting a little bit excited about it.”

Johnny slaps his face in disbelief, “My brother… tell me how it all went down. I need all of the details.”

D begins to narrate, “Well, so after Maria kicked me out I went to the Ritz Carlton pool bar and I was laying there reading my Quantitative Analysis of Physiological Systems book when all of a sudden this girl approaches me and says that I looked like I could use a drink. So, I said yes and a few minutes later she returned with some alcoholic beverages and… well you know, we started throwing some words around, then that initial serendipity turned to promiscuousness – borderline flirtatious, but then I saw Maria and Jane through my peripherals so I stood up and told her that I had to leave. That’s how it went down.”

Johnny laughs, “Bro. You are too much. Who reads science books at the pool? Bro… I’m telling you – you brothers are lionhearted – girls can feel it when they’re next to you. But bro, I should warn you though, you need to be careful… apparently her dad is a psycho and doesn’t let her date anyone.”

D smiles, “Thanks bro and I’ll be sure to heed your advice. Can you do me a favor though? Don’t tell my brothers about this just yet because they’d probably tell me that I should let things cool over with Maria first.”

Johnny motions that his lips are locked, “No worries my lil bro, I’ve got you. However, you know how I don’t really ask you for too much – but is there anyway you can introduce me to her? I’d give my left hand to meet her.”

—

Selena and her two friends; Cynthia and Julie are sitting at a wine bar – slowly sipping.

Cynthia speaks, “My… what’s gotten into you Selena? You never like to drink.”

Selena boldly smiles and takes a sturdy sip of wine, “I met this guy the other day and I think I fell in love.”

Julie rolls her eyes, “Here we go again Selena… you already know that you and love don’t mix like oil and vinegar. Let me see him.”

Selena gently laughs, pulls out her phone and shows them the selfie of her and D at the pool.

Cynthia gasps, spills her drink and immediately bows her head while speaking quietly, “Oh my gosh… my beautiful baby girl… Selena – do you know who that is?”

Selena is shocked, “No, why?”

Cynthia continues to bow her head, “Selena… that’s D. Him and his other two older brothers, Avi and Jay, run the mafia, they’re gangsters, they’re thugs…”

Selena shakes her head, “What? No way – they run the entire mafia?”

Julie speaks softly, “I’ve heard of them also… I’m not sure if they run the entire mafia, but everyone knows them as The Family. Some people call them Saints, some people call them thugs – how did you not know that?”

Selena nervously laughs, “Shut up. That’s not true. I randomly met him at a pool and he said that he was a construction worker. He even showed me a Rocky-style montage of him doing various hard labor activities…he was there reading a book!”

Cynthia wipes up her spilled drink with a napkin, “What kind of book was he reading?”

Selena takes a big gulp of wine, “I’m not sure, some science book about analyzing systems or something.”

Cynthia continues to speak quietly, “Think about it Selena. Why would a construction worker be sitting there reading hardcore science books?”

Selena smiles, “I don’t know – I mean the real question to ask is why would a so-called gangster be so interested in science?”

Cynthia replies, “That’s a good point. But, I’m certain that’s him.”

Julie grabs Selena’s hand and whispers to her, “Selena – I’ve always wanted to meet them. Can you introduce me?”

*To Be Continued In Chapter Fifteen*