Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait. My mom had to use the computer a lot so I didn't get a chance to write yet. Hopefully I'll be able to finish this story over Easter break.
In answer to anyone's question as to why H/A's relationship moved so fast, well, I guess Arnoldo's just a controlling guy and doesn't really need to ask anyone what they want. Kinda like Michael Corleone basically telling Kay to get in the car with him. Now, I need a vote, who wants Arnold to go back to normal and who wants him to be sucked permanently into the deep void of organized crime?
"The Valdinis are expanding their borders a bit," said Arnoldo whilst tapping a ballpoint pen on the edge of his desk.
"But Arnie, what are you gonna do about the other five families?" said Peapod kid who had also made his way into the inner circle as the family advocate.
"Its pretty complicated but it will only take a day to finish the job. I sent Gerald out to tie up a few minor kinks. He'll be finishin' that while me and my wife are goin' out for dinner in center city tonight."
Everyone nodded. Park spoke up. "So, uh you don't mind my asking, but what exactly is this plan?"
"One word boys, trash can day." Arnoldo let his smile slightly widen as he waited for the reaction of everyone else.
"Oooooooh. I get it now!" some of them piped up.
Later that night.
Helga still called him names like 'Football head' and 'Hair boy', but Arnoldo found a certain charm in it because he knew that beneath those words, there was affection. He held up his champagne glass (NA). "A toast, to us."
They clinked glasses. Things were still somewhat awkward between them so they sat there in silent tension. When the plates arrived they still hadn't said much of anything. Arnoldo just sort of sat there and casually watched her.
"Uh, is there something wrong with my clothes, football head?"
He shook his head and smiled.
Creepy. But now that Helga thought about it, it was a good creepy.
She poked at her lobster. Why the heck did she order this? She couldn't get the stinkin' meat out. And there was some kinda weird green stuff on it. It looked like diarrhea or something.
"Lemme have a bite of your linguini Football—"
The sound of shattering glass pierced the air as rocks flew through the window of the small Italian Restaurant! Arnoldo quickly knocked Helga onto the floor and shielded her with his body. The stinging feeling of stones hit his back. A warning. But from who? And how the heck did they know that he and Helga were going to be in Center City?
When the stones stopped coming, Arnoldo rolled away. "Are you ok?"
She nodded. She wasn't exactly expecting to have rocks thrown at them while they were eating. "Yeah, it's no big deal. Thanks…for shielding me."
Arnoldo nodded. He was doing a good job of masking his rage at whoever had done this. NO ONE invaded their personal life like this.
"Hey, let's get outa here?" He held out his arm to her and she took it. There was a sort of tacit between them now. A tacit that something had changed when that rock flew through the window.
"I wanna know who the HECK threw rocks at me and Helga!" yelled Arnoldo angrily slamming his fist on the desk. "And I wanna know how they found out were we were eating!!!"
"You think its Big Gino?" said Gerald with his calmest voice. The answer was pretty obvious but he was really trying to calm his friend down.
Arnoldo calmed down. If it would have been anyone else asking him that he would have snapped at him. "I can't see how it could be anyone else." He paused. "So, is everything set Gerald? Everything's gonna go smooth tonight?"
Gerald nodded. He had it all worked out perfectly. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Arnoldo poured them some vodka. Tonight was sure to put the Valdini family on top.
TBC Stay tuned for "Tonight…."