~Chapter Sixteen: Iron Bars are Thicker than Blood~

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ShoveItWithNinjas is basically an awesome person who legit made me smile. Also, the previous chapter is private, which is why, if you're not a fan, you can't see it. I know how to count, thank you very much ;)

***

“Look, I’ve told you everything I fucking know! You don’t have shit on me, so take all your threats and shove them up your asses,” Benji Romano spat, banging his fists on the table in frustration.

Fred Farley lit a cigarette with painstaking slowness, regarding with disdain the pitiful excuse of a “bad guy” sitting across from him. “OK, I think it’s time for the both of us to cut the bullshit and be honest with each other,” he said, taking a long drag. “We caught you with a fucking minor, Benji, and it’s not the first time, apparently. We know about the drugs. And we know about your cousin Pauly. So why don’t you do yourself a favour and cut the Pinocchio crap ASAP.”

Benji was starting to get hot. It happened every time he was in deep shit. First his toes heated up in his Carvalho shoes, then his thighs; his chest; and finally his whole face. He was a walking fireball.

“I… I didn’t know she was just a kid,” he offered weakly, hanging his head. Once Theresa finds out, she’ll screw me over!

“Yeah, sure, and Pam Anderson’s tits are hereditary,” said Farley, his top lip curling in disgust. He had to physically restrain himself from beating the little shit to a pulp. Drugs were one thing – paedophilia was another. Even so, he switched track, opting to play good cop for a little while. “Look, it’s OK, Ben,” he said, in a much gentler tone. “We all have our little quirks. You like banging school kids. I like my moustache exactly five centimetres in length.” He paused. “You don’t want to do time for loving someone, do you?”

“I don’t love her,” Benji said quickly, glancing at the large tinted window at his left side. “I love my wife.”

“Sure, sure.” Farley waved his hand flippantly, brushing it off. “So I have a proposal for you. I’m sure you’re smart enough to see where I’m going…”

Benji’s eyes became slits, and he folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not snitching. And I sure as hell ain’t wearing a fucking wire,” he spat.

“So loyal,” Farley grinned. The smile left his face as he leaned forward. “Listen, you little bitch, no court in hell will be lenient on a sicko like you. You think you’ll get two years because the girl won’t testify? Think again, you sick fuck. You’ll get a heavy one, find yourself behind bars, and a score of horny boyfriends to choose from. And where will Pauly be? Counting his money and laughing at his faithful puppy dog of a cousin getting butt-fucked on the regular!”

Benji swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. Theresa’s sweet face flashed before his eyes.

You couldn’t resist a Hello Kitty backpack, could you?

“Tell me what I have to do,” said Benji, his head lowered.

***

“Where the fuck you been?” Pauly Pirelli fumed, itching to slap his cousin’s stupid face.

“I… I was out of town,” Benji said lamely, looking away. He took a seat beside his cousin, ignoring the stares of the other men in the boardroom.

“Out of town, huh?” Ruthless banged his fist on the table. “This meeting is important. Everyone managed to make it on time, but you!”

“Sorry, Pauly,” Benji muttered, unable to look Ruthless in the eye.

“Apology not accepted. I’ll deal with you later.” Ruthless turned his attention back to the other men, who were sitting patiently, relieved that they were not bearing the brunt of Pauly’s infamous anger. “We’ve gone over the formalities. So I’ll get right to it: That punk they call el Diablo is fucking MIA. Who the hell referred him to me?”

Paolo Brasi reluctantly cleared his throat. “I did… but, just because he’s not returning your calls, doesn’t mean he hasn’t finished the job,” he finished weakly, bracing himself for another famous Pirelli Explosion.

Just because?” Pirelli mimicked sardonically. “You think I’m overreacting?” he spat, wanting to wring Brasi’s turkey-like neck in his hands. “Did you know that Dekker dated Ardeur’s daughter in the past?”

The palpable silence told everyone that no, he didn’t.

“So it’s quite possible that he’s taken my money and ran off into the sunset!” he barked, spit frothing at his lips. “And another thing: Vincent knows I’m behind the kidnapping. He’s also been to Dekker’s house. If he’s baying for my blood, he’s baying for yours, too, so don’t, for one fucking second, think you’re all in the clear. I should have popped the bitch myself instead of delegating!”

“Forgive me, Pauly…” Marco Conti began, as Pauly’s eyes manically swivelled to him. “How about we contact Ardeur? Make an ultimatum. Pretend that we have his daughter. Make him sweat.”

I can’t let everyone think Marco’s got the brains, Ruthless thought, his eyes becoming slits.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Marco,” said Ruthless after an interminable silence, tapping his fat sausage-like fingers on the mahogany table. He turned to look at his cousin. “Benji, get Ardeur on the phone.”

“Huh?” Benji snapped out of his reverie after a long moment. Why the fuck is everyone looking at me? Shit, do they sense something’s off?

“You’re daydreaming?” Pauly snapped. “I asked you to get Vincent Ardeur on the phone. Can you do that? Or is too much for you?”

Fuck you, Pauly. You deserve to rot behind bars.

“I’ll get right on it,” Benji said placidly, getting up. “What exactly should I say?”

“Anything, Ben,” Ruthless said distractedly. “Anything your little head can come up with.”

I will enjoy taking you down, you arrogant shithead, Benji thought furiously, as the rest of the room sniggered.

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