Chapter Three- My Promise
The music blared from all angles of the building, even had a catchy tune from time to time I thought to myself as scurried through the air ducts above. My destination had finally been reached once my gps navigation had picked up the main office, where all the centralized computer network controlled every nook and cranny of the overpriced nightclub. Earlier that evening an informant had let it slip that a few of the Zaccara's key players would be conducting business in one of the backrooms of the nightclub, and seeing as this war had been a back and forth battle since its brutal coming out party at the Mob Summit, there was no time to waste at another attempt to go get to the head of the organization, which was Claudia Zaccara. I saw this many times on Mission Impossible on my quest to becoming a man of danger to where I slowly began to feel like Tom Cruise, the dashing man of action. It was all classic, I mean here I was crawling through air ducts of a popular nightclub to complete the ultimate task of getting a leg up on the rival in attempts to advance towards being one step closer to getting to Claudia, never did I think I'd be this useful to do much less be trusted to do this job, usually I just followed behind Stone Cold as he kicked down doors to get me into the centralized network because he was afraid I'd be to clumsy to be stealth. Dropping down onto solid ground of the room, I scanned the room gripping on tight to my gun until I found it to be safe to carry on with my portion of the mission. Hacking for me had seemed to be like stealing candy from a baby, it just got easier and easier each time that I did it, relishing at the thought of my untouchable skills I was soon torn from my thoughts my the vibration of my cell phone.
"The Jackal" I answered my cell phone not tearing my eyes away from the screens before me
"I'm feeling like Chinese tonight, what do you want?" Maxie asked me sounding bored out of her mind
"Uh…Chinese sounds good" I replied giving a moments pause to honestly think it over because food these days you had to be sure of what your hunger desired
"Are you almost done with your little project?" Maxie asked
"Almost, I have to fax the paperwork over to Bernie and then I'll be leaving right after" I lied feeling like if I told her what I was really doing then it would only cause her to worry "I have to go. I'll be home soon" I said before another call came in
"Love you too, sheesh" Maxie said before she hung up
"I love you too" I said quickly not realizing my phone had switched over to the next call
"I really didn't need to hear that" Stone Cold replied weirdly at my statement
"Sorry, Maximista called me about my choice dinner selection" I reasoned
"Spinelli, Spinelli…I really need you to focus and tell me have you pulled up their database" Stone Cold said pulling me back to the task at hand
"Yes, I have. All accounts have been routed to the offshore, I can't really identify who is who as of now but it looks easy enough to figure out" I reported
"Good" Stone Cold
"And the rest I'm waiting on your word" I said just as I could hear a round of gunshots go off and the echo of the crowd screaming
"Is that enough word for you?" Stone Cold asked me sarcastically
"Okay" I said before I cut all the lights out in the building making it harder for Zaccara soldiers to escape through the crowd of people "Now that I think about it, I should've got pizza" I said randomly out of the blue
Creeping up the staircase, I could just imagine the banter I was going to get from Maximista for coming in this late at night. Relieving Shakespeare of his guard dog duties, I slowly opened the door to the bedroom still contemplating buying any form of jewelry that would get me off the hook. She lay peacefully in bed as if she attempted to stay up but dozed off while trying to wait for me to come in. Looking at her through the darkness of the room I found her to be quite the temptation, I couldn't believe what I was feeling but then again I always felt like this when I saw her. It felt like hours had passed with me just staring at her beauty before she began to stir awake.
"Spinelli…is that you?" Maxie asked trying to make me out in the darkness
"Tis I the Jackal" I replied with a little bit of laughter in my tone
"What's so funny?" Maxie asked as she began to sit up in bed with my eyes following every move she made at this point
"Forgive me for what I'm about to do" I said relieving myself of my shirt before I quickly made my way over to her to pull her into a passionate kiss.
Her moans rang within my ear as our flesh pounded against each other eventually uniting to become one. Our lips bruised from the constant attack of yearning for the other like we were each others cure for the disease we called love. Soft and smooth was all I can describe of her body as it lay underneath mine completely fulfilled with what my plans were for it. Gaining control of our pleasure, she had never been one for being secondary during love making, which was ultimately the most attractive thing I loved most about her
"So am I forgiven?" I asked pulling her close to my body
"I should be mad more often" Maxie smiled as I couldn't help but place sweet kisses on her bare arms "What did you really do today instead of that cover story you gave me earlier?" she asked
"We were at a nightclub in Manhattan. Zaccara soldiers were spotted there, and yours truly had to get accounts to see what the Zaccara's were up to" I said knowing that lying would be useless to a girl that was practically a great liar
"Damian Spinelli at a nightclub, by golly I think that's what's gotten you so horny" Maxie laughed
"Well it was all business, but I think a hot girl laying in bed got my so called mojo going" I replied
"You can't say it, can you?" Maxie asked me slightly pulling away to look at my face
"Say what?" I asked
"You can't say horny" Maxie laughed
"I don't think I was as you say horny" I replied to her statement
"You come in late in the night, and all of sudden your in the mood for sex. Spinelli, that was horny" Maxie laughed
"Why are we talking about this?" I asked trying not to let my embarrassment show "I had pure animalistic thought of you" I muttered under my breath hoping that she hadn't heard what I said
"Animalistic thought hence meaning you were horny. Face it, you had an itch you just couldn't scratch all by yourself" Maxie laughed
"I have you know that I scratched my itches perfectly fine before you" I said realizing how wrong that sounded "Wait, let me retract my earlier statement" I said as she couldn't hold back her laughter
"Just stop trying to deny it, I mean I don't blame you. I like scratching your itch, but I'm woman enough to say that I Maxie Jones get horny sometimes when I'm around you" Maxie declared
"Your not going to let me live this down are you?" I asked knowing this was a losing battle
"Just say it, just let me hear those words?" Maxie coached me
"I was horny tonight" I finally admitted "There are you happy?" I asked
"Not as much as you were tonight, but yes, I'm happy" Maxie laughed leaning into kiss me
"Have you talked to your dad lately?" I asked brushing my hand against the outline of her arm
"I really don't need to talk to Mac right now" Maxie replied before I turned her to look at me
"Look I can't necessary disagree with what Mac said the other night, and most likely things will get worse, but I refuse to come between you and your father" I said
"He's never going to understand" Maxie replied as I pulled away a stray strand of hair from her face
"I don't need him to understand me, I just need you to be happy" I replied kissing her on the forehand "Just talk to him" I pleaded with her
"Fine, I'll talk to Mac" Maxie finally gave in
Here I was back at the cellar again, it had become our secret place to meet now that the war had picked up in upper and now lower New York. All over the state organizations aligned their allegiances to either the Zaccara's or the Corinthos organization figuring they could gain out this declared war. Though the Zaccara's had managed to gain ground with enlisting yet another scrappy organization that was known for their trade fighting on the ports, things were still looking good for us when it came to getting close to Claudia and Johnny. Sitting at my desk, I had finished sorting through all of the transactions made by the Zaccara organization just as Stone Cold had hunched in covered in band aids after finishing up a mission.
"What do we have?" Stone Cold asked grabbing a seat at the table
"Just about finished, but it looks like we took out a few minor characters last night. Though it does look like they have been making purchases from sister countries" I reported to my mentor
"What type of purchases? Drugs or weapons?" Stone Cold asked grimacing in pain
"You know maybe you should get that checked out" I said noticing that his stone wall exterior was fading
"Go to General Hospital, if I do that then I'd have to report that it's a gun shot graze to the cops, and the cops would use any excuse to lock me up at this point" Stone Cold replied "That'd be a death sentence" he added
"I can call Robin, I'm sure she won't report" I concluded from his previous statement
"I don't want her involved. I just need to get patched up and then I'll be fine" Stone Cold replied ignoring any advice I had for him
"Stop being stubborn" I said pulling out my cell phone to call Robin
"What…what are you doing?" Stone Cold asked immediately trying to take the phone from my hands but I was able to move quick enough to out of arms reach
"Hi Spinelli" Robin answered her phone
"Good afternoon Burgeoning One, I call in medical request from you" I said
"Okay, what's wrong?" Robin asked as if it were protocol
"I can't diverge such information over the phone, but hope that the Burgeoning One can come by Mr. Sir's humble abode" I asked knowing full and well that she was probably running through her mind the possibilities of danger that she could face even entering the premises
"Uh…" Robin said trying to find the words
"I can send a car for you if your worried" I said trying to ease her worry
"Its okay. I'll be over shortly" Robin smiled
Just like she had promised, the Burgeoning One showed up at the expected time that she had given the Jackal over the phone. Although Stone Cold maintained his lie of wellness, both I and the Burgeoning One could tell that his wounds needed far more treatment than what he was providing himself. Once she was finished applying the ointment to his tender wounds, she quickly relieved herself of her gloves to take a quick notice of our surroundings in the cellar that we had spent most of our working days.
"How is he?" I asked
"Jason, is doing well. I don't know how many more bullets he can take, but he is in good shape" Robin laughed "So I take it by your obvious work set up, that what my uncle Mac said had some truth to it" she concluded
"This is the Jackal's occupation, but not by choice" I replied not wanting to waste time refuding what had truth "But I have encouraged Maximista to renew her connection to His Commissionership" I said
"Last I spoke to her she was on her way over to speak with him" Robin informed me
"And how do you suspect that conversation is going?" I asked wanting to know if Maximista had succeeded in her task
"I really don't know" Robin said
"My goal is to not alienate Fair Maximista from her father, but to love her. I do what I do because I can not turn my back on Stone Cold, not when he has done all that he could to protect me through these past couple years" I said
"Oddly I understand. I worry for you, but I understand" Robin replied "Uncle Mac on the other hand will never truly see your reasons as loyalty" she said
"The Jackal would honor a relationship with the father of the woman he loves, but like I've said before, I'd take his resentment towards me over his resentment towards her" I said
"I believe you Spinelli. I believe you" Robin smiled at me just as Mr. Sir came walking through the door
"Robin, what are you doing here?" Sonny asked before he walked over to give her a hug "This would be the last place I'd expect to see you though" he said
"Spinelli called me to check Jason's wounds" Robin replied
"And is he okay?" Sonny asked with concern about his friend
"Jason will be fine. I gave him a shot and he's sleeping it off now, but he'll be fine" Robin replied "But I can tell that you came down here to discuss business, so I will be on my way" she said
"Hey, is Emma's recital tomorrow?" Sonny asked
"Yes, Patrick is making a dozen copies and one will be coming your way" Robin smiled
"Thank you" Sonny smiled giving her yet another hug
"Goodbye" Robin said before she was escorted out of the cellar
"Have you checked the news Freaky boy?" Sonny asked turning on the television
"Not as of late" I replied turning my attention to the breaking news that was being broadcasted
"Breaking News in Port Charles. Son of Crime Lord, Anthony Zaccara, has turned himself in to LAPD for his involvement in the shooting of Michael Corinthos. He is expected to be transferred over to PCPD sometime later next month" The broadcaster said before he quickly turned the television off
"I want you to find out where they are holding him, Jason will take it from there" Sonny told me
"Consider it done" I replied
"Thank you" Sonny said in somewhat of a appreciative tone "And next time think twice about calling Robin. I don't want her in the crossfire" he said
"I know, but she's the only one I trust with Stone Cold at this point" I said
"Yeah. She's among the few" Sonny said before he left
I felt relieved to finally make it through the doors of my humbling abode to be greeted by Shakespeare, who sat by the end of staircase. Well on my way to the kitchen to grab a refreshing bottle of orange soda before I realized something seemed to be strange with this picture. Shakespeare in some ways was a guide for both Maximista and I, who often guided us to the right path most of the time and the fact that he wasn't upstairs roaming around had confused me. Patting him on the head, I quickly made my way up the staircase to hear silent cries come from within the guest bathroom. Opening the door cautiously I could see that Maximista had done her best to hide away from me but had failed at doing so.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked brushing the tears away after I sat closely beside her on the floor
"Yeah, I'm fine. My allergies are just getting worse" Maxie lied
"Your allergic to dust, and I make sure that the housekeeper destroys every ounce of dust she can find, which is close to nonexistent" I said "So tell me what's really going on Maximista?" I asked her
"Nothing. I'm fine" Maxie said
"I really wish you'd just tell me what's wrong because you wouldn't be crying if you were" I said pulling her closer
"Mac and I just got into a bigger argument" Maxie cried
"Was it about me again?" I asked
"If I said no, would you believe me?" Maxie asked
"Yes, but in this case no" I replied just as began to get up from my seat but she was quick enough to pull me back down
"What are you doing?" Maxie asked
"To talk to His Commissionership" I said
"Spinelli, he won't listen to me, and if he saw you he might just kill you" Maxie said
"I don't care. This is all my fault" I protested to her reasoning
"Look I love you for wanting to stand up for me, but this is something that you can't fix. Spinelli, I support you in whatever you do and I will stand by you, if Mac can't handle that then tough" Maxie smiled weakly trying to put up a front for me
"You know I hate this. I hate that I'm coming in between you two" I said lightly caressing her face "Which is why I feel like I have to do something" I proposed
"Something like what?" Maxie asked as I dug in my pocket to pull out a jewelry box "Are you proposing again? You know how well that worked out last time" she said referring to our last attempt at trying to get married
"Its somewhat of a proposal" I smiled at her as I opened the box up to reveal the ring "Its my promise to love you, and to be there for you. Its more along the lines of a promise ring" I told her as tears streamed down her face "I'm going to always be there for you, and I will protect you" I promised her
"I love you" Maxie said leaning in to kiss me as I slid the ring on her finger "Your such a goofball" she then began to laugh
"Oh, I'm the goofball. I give you a ring promising to devote my life to you, and I get called a goofball" I laughed
"Someday" Maxie told me "Someday we'll make this ring official" she smiled at me
"I look forward to that day" I said leaning in to kiss her once more "I'm really looking forward to it Maximista" I broke the kiss to look into her eyes
I could never truly understand what it felt to have a love of a parent due to the lack of parents, but I knew that as much as Maxie protested that she did need her father. Nothing about my job or the world my job existed in made sense but I knew that I had to stand by my family, and from what I know, Stone Cold was all the family I had now, he's the only family I know. Just as much as I couldn't walk away from Stone Cold it hurt to know that she had done so on her father. Her love for me and her love for our relationship fueled most of her decisions, but I couldn't allow her to do so. The lights flickered on as he made his way to the very doorstop I stood. Looking out the curtains, I could see him curse to himself at the sight of seeing me but at this point I was prepared to stay here all night.
"I just want a word with you" I called out gripping on tight to the inside of my sweater
"What do you want Spinelli?" Mac asked making his way outside onto the porch
"I want you to talk to Maximista. You can hate me all you want, but please don't take this out on Maximista" I replied
"My daughter has made her choice, and she clearly chooses to stand by the bad ones" Mac stated
"This is my fault!!! Not hers, its mine" I yelled hoping that it would get through to him
"And yet you still continue to align with the criminals in this town. So yes, this is your fault. I worry every day that my daughter is so caught up in this so called love that she's going to walk right into danger just for being associated with you. Your dangerous, your lifestyle is dangerous" Mac yelled at me with each step he took towards me "You're a fool to think that they won't come after you" he said gripping on tight to my shirt
"I'm protecting her" I said try to release from his grip
"You can't protect her from the violence" Mac said throwing me to the ground "I get that she loves you, I get that, but if you truly loved her you'd let her go" he said
"Your wrong. Your wrong" I said getting up from the ground realizing this was a failed attempt
"I hope for your sake that I am about you" Mac said as I walked over to my car, got in and then left