Chapter 7
Deeper and deeper
The heist scene had been taken care of by morning. Chris raced through the streets of Liberty, pulling eagerly into the Leone Mansion. He couldn't wait to meet Salvatore in person. This was one of the few men Chris had respected in life. His father had worked small jobs for Salvatore back in the 60's, before transferring to the Forelli Mafia in the 70's. In 1971 his father was busted for drug dealing, and since it was on a small scale, he only got fifteen years. He never heard from his father, and when he was born in May of 72' , his illegitimate father still had 14 years to serve in prison. Chris couldn't remember his mother. She died when he was young. Then, that dickhead Charlie Stockhausen adopted him. Charlie's wife was an alcoholic, and she was driving when they were killed. He was glad when they died, but he was still young. Only thirteen. In the mid 80's Chris's father was released. His father never even gave thought to caring for him, and quickly went to some far off place, Chris never knew where. Then, he was taken care of by an elderly couple he had no intention of harming, and finally came to love them. They both died when he was 19. Chris didn't cry much, but this was pushing him. No, he couldn't succumb to emotion. That's what got him into the deep shit with Catalina. He was in too far now, couldn't give up. All these thoughts rushed through his head while he walked up to the front door. He used one of the large, Romanesque knockers. A thin, pale wiry man opened the door.
"May, I help you sir?" the man asked in an elderly British accent.
"Name's Chris.... uh, I'm here to see Salvatore?" Chris stepped in when the man motioned for it. Right inside, sat a portly elderly man. It was him. Chris hadn't seen him before, except in the paper.
"Hey, tiger. I hear you're doing a lot of respectable work. Anyway, me and the boys are gonna talk business, so if you'll take care of my woman for the evening. Maria! Move your butt!" Salvatore made huge, angry gestures in the air, obviously telling the woman to move faster. A young, beautiful Italian woman sauntered seductively out. She was younger than Chris, maybe 25 or 26.
"There she is... the one and only queen of Sheba. Whatever she's doing, I'm sure it cost me money." Salvatore reclined.
Her accent was thick, and certainly Italian, but whiny and annoying.
"Well, you don't think I hang around for the conversation, do you?" Maria said, laughing at herself. Chink in the armor number one; her voice.
"Shut up, get in the limo."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you want I'm sure you're new driver has everything covered. And isn't he all big and handsome? C'mon Fido, let's go meet Enrique down near Luigi's club."
"Watch her, Chris, she can be real trouble." Salvatore said, entering his parlor. Maria headed outside, and quickly proceeded to the limo. Chris followed, and was happy she couldn't turn around to say "I'm up here." and notice he wasn't staring. Chris didn't notice how she was dressed until she got in the car. It wasn't elegant like he though. She wore tight, hip hugging jeans, and red leather jacket with a bikini top under it. She lowered into the Limo. Chris headed to the driver side.
" So, you certainly aren't dressed elegantly." Chris said as he entered and turned on the Limo.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm dressed to party, buddy. I don't need to dress like a damn Mafia Princess everyday, y'know?" Maria applied her make-up and lipstick.
" You look like one of Luigi's girls." Chris said as they pulled out of the driveway. All of a sudden, a sharp pain sprawled throughout the back of his neck. The Limo swerved, nearly smacking into a signpost for a sign that blatantly displayed 'Marco's Bistro'.
"Jesus, woman! You nearly got yourself killed! One inch to the left, and that would have been Hello, Signpost!" Chris screamed, grasping for his gun.
"What the fuck did you think was gonna happen, prick? You don't like the way I'm dressed, then fuck you, you don't have to look." Maria shouted, then looked outside, at the passing buildings. Chris looked down on the passenger seat next to him. It was her makeup kit, not all of it, but it was large enough.
"Alright, I'm sorry. I like the way you dress. You look.... nice. I was trying to humor you, y'know? Maybe I shouldn't." Chris knew that in truth, she did look nice. She looked great. She looked awesome. She looked like a hooker. Chris smiled as these thoughts rolled through his head, and then, they were at the club. Maria got out. She walked over to a Hispanic man, who talked as fast as he twitched. She handed over a wad of 10s, then sat back in the Limo. Chris rolled his eyes.
"Okay, Fido, there is a party over at Atlantic Quays, in one of the warehouses.... okay let's go, Pronto!" She said. This startled Chris, who was distracted by the shady Hispanic. Chris made his way to the Quays. He could here the music inside pumping as Maria got ready to get out.
"Alright, you wait out here while I go in and shake my butt, alright?" Maria stepped out, took off her jacket, threw it in the car, and brazenly strode up to the door men. They just watched her go inside, didn't even ask for an invitation. Chris thought she looked great, but knew she was taken. Not happily taken, but taken.
Chris had waited a good 15 minutes, with same damn megamix playing in the party. Chris just watched the world go by, cars passing, boats harboring, drug dealing, robbing. Ah, Liberty City is great, ain't it? he thought. Wait a second.... he heard distant police sirens, they were getting closer too. He saw two paddy wagons round the corner. Their parking outside was ungainly, but efficient. The wagons emptied. A siren sounded in the warehouse. Maria was the first out, followed by a swarm of partygoers. It's time to party, Chris thought.
* * *
Maria jumped in the car.
"C'mon Fido, let's go! Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go, RIGHT NOW!" Maria screamed.
Chris put the pedal to the medal, and roared off into the street. Two cruisers were after them. Great, I'm in a Limo running from the police. I'm not totally screwed or anything, Chris rolled his eyes. Chris weaved through the streets, as best as he could. He couldn't shake them. He slammed his hand into the seat next to him.
" Damn it!"
When Chris slammed the seat, a small, mechanical compartment came out of the space between the passenger and driver seats. Chris opened it, keeping his eye on the road, shocked as he was. Inside, were five, lean, mean, green hand grenades. He looked up for a sunroof. Shit! It was over Maria's head.
"Uh, Maria!" Chris screamed. Maria was panicking, but she was holding it in.
"What?"
"You see these?" Chris tossed back all five grenades . Maria screamed.
"Calm down, please! Calm down!" Chris screamed. Maria was still frightened, but she stopped screaming.
"Maria, baby. I need you to toss these grenades at the two cruisers. You ever seen a war movie?" Chris didn't wait for a response. "Pull the little pin out, there's five seconds till it blows. Toss it, and pray to God that it works."
"I can't, Chris, I can't!" Maria started to let he panic take over again.
"Maria, please, it's the only way! Do you want to die, or go to prison for the drugs you still got in your pockets?" Chris yelled, taking his eyes off the road and staring right at her. He knew the streets so well, he wasn't in much trouble, except from traffic. Maria picked up one of the grenades, and set the other four to her side.
"No, I don't want to die or get busted!" Maria tossed the grenade out of the sunroof, it clanked along the back of the limo, and then rolled onto the hood of the police, and once it hit the lights it blew. The explosion rocked Harwood, which Chris had made his way quickly to. The exploded police car landed on the other after it took air for a few seconds.
"Yes! Oh baby, that was perfect!" Chris smiled as they pulled into the driveway.
" Alright, now do you still wanna act like a prick around me?" She smiled as she and Chris got out in garage at the Mansion.
" Nah, I guess not. Take care Maria." Chris headed back to the Kuruma.
"Hey Chris, after that... little incident earlier, you treated me real good, with respect and everything. Thanks for the ride."
Chris turned around, and watched Maria head in.
"Hey Maria, don't let Salvatore see you dressed like that." Chris whispered just loud enough so only Maria could hear.
"Good point! Shit! My jacket's still in the Limo! Thanks for the heads up! Bye!" Maria waved, and winked at Chris.
Chris hopped in the Kuruma, and drove his way home. When he got there, he noted to himself. Maria's married to Salvatore. You get into any funny business with Maria and you're fucked as far as the Mafia goes. It doesn't matter. When Chris is the most powerful man in Liberty he'll take care of the Mafia.
Deeper and deeper
The heist scene had been taken care of by morning. Chris raced through the streets of Liberty, pulling eagerly into the Leone Mansion. He couldn't wait to meet Salvatore in person. This was one of the few men Chris had respected in life. His father had worked small jobs for Salvatore back in the 60's, before transferring to the Forelli Mafia in the 70's. In 1971 his father was busted for drug dealing, and since it was on a small scale, he only got fifteen years. He never heard from his father, and when he was born in May of 72' , his illegitimate father still had 14 years to serve in prison. Chris couldn't remember his mother. She died when he was young. Then, that dickhead Charlie Stockhausen adopted him. Charlie's wife was an alcoholic, and she was driving when they were killed. He was glad when they died, but he was still young. Only thirteen. In the mid 80's Chris's father was released. His father never even gave thought to caring for him, and quickly went to some far off place, Chris never knew where. Then, he was taken care of by an elderly couple he had no intention of harming, and finally came to love them. They both died when he was 19. Chris didn't cry much, but this was pushing him. No, he couldn't succumb to emotion. That's what got him into the deep shit with Catalina. He was in too far now, couldn't give up. All these thoughts rushed through his head while he walked up to the front door. He used one of the large, Romanesque knockers. A thin, pale wiry man opened the door.
"May, I help you sir?" the man asked in an elderly British accent.
"Name's Chris.... uh, I'm here to see Salvatore?" Chris stepped in when the man motioned for it. Right inside, sat a portly elderly man. It was him. Chris hadn't seen him before, except in the paper.
"Hey, tiger. I hear you're doing a lot of respectable work. Anyway, me and the boys are gonna talk business, so if you'll take care of my woman for the evening. Maria! Move your butt!" Salvatore made huge, angry gestures in the air, obviously telling the woman to move faster. A young, beautiful Italian woman sauntered seductively out. She was younger than Chris, maybe 25 or 26.
"There she is... the one and only queen of Sheba. Whatever she's doing, I'm sure it cost me money." Salvatore reclined.
Her accent was thick, and certainly Italian, but whiny and annoying.
"Well, you don't think I hang around for the conversation, do you?" Maria said, laughing at herself. Chink in the armor number one; her voice.
"Shut up, get in the limo."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you want I'm sure you're new driver has everything covered. And isn't he all big and handsome? C'mon Fido, let's go meet Enrique down near Luigi's club."
"Watch her, Chris, she can be real trouble." Salvatore said, entering his parlor. Maria headed outside, and quickly proceeded to the limo. Chris followed, and was happy she couldn't turn around to say "I'm up here." and notice he wasn't staring. Chris didn't notice how she was dressed until she got in the car. It wasn't elegant like he though. She wore tight, hip hugging jeans, and red leather jacket with a bikini top under it. She lowered into the Limo. Chris headed to the driver side.
" So, you certainly aren't dressed elegantly." Chris said as he entered and turned on the Limo.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm dressed to party, buddy. I don't need to dress like a damn Mafia Princess everyday, y'know?" Maria applied her make-up and lipstick.
" You look like one of Luigi's girls." Chris said as they pulled out of the driveway. All of a sudden, a sharp pain sprawled throughout the back of his neck. The Limo swerved, nearly smacking into a signpost for a sign that blatantly displayed 'Marco's Bistro'.
"Jesus, woman! You nearly got yourself killed! One inch to the left, and that would have been Hello, Signpost!" Chris screamed, grasping for his gun.
"What the fuck did you think was gonna happen, prick? You don't like the way I'm dressed, then fuck you, you don't have to look." Maria shouted, then looked outside, at the passing buildings. Chris looked down on the passenger seat next to him. It was her makeup kit, not all of it, but it was large enough.
"Alright, I'm sorry. I like the way you dress. You look.... nice. I was trying to humor you, y'know? Maybe I shouldn't." Chris knew that in truth, she did look nice. She looked great. She looked awesome. She looked like a hooker. Chris smiled as these thoughts rolled through his head, and then, they were at the club. Maria got out. She walked over to a Hispanic man, who talked as fast as he twitched. She handed over a wad of 10s, then sat back in the Limo. Chris rolled his eyes.
"Okay, Fido, there is a party over at Atlantic Quays, in one of the warehouses.... okay let's go, Pronto!" She said. This startled Chris, who was distracted by the shady Hispanic. Chris made his way to the Quays. He could here the music inside pumping as Maria got ready to get out.
"Alright, you wait out here while I go in and shake my butt, alright?" Maria stepped out, took off her jacket, threw it in the car, and brazenly strode up to the door men. They just watched her go inside, didn't even ask for an invitation. Chris thought she looked great, but knew she was taken. Not happily taken, but taken.
Chris had waited a good 15 minutes, with same damn megamix playing in the party. Chris just watched the world go by, cars passing, boats harboring, drug dealing, robbing. Ah, Liberty City is great, ain't it? he thought. Wait a second.... he heard distant police sirens, they were getting closer too. He saw two paddy wagons round the corner. Their parking outside was ungainly, but efficient. The wagons emptied. A siren sounded in the warehouse. Maria was the first out, followed by a swarm of partygoers. It's time to party, Chris thought.
* * *
Maria jumped in the car.
"C'mon Fido, let's go! Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go, RIGHT NOW!" Maria screamed.
Chris put the pedal to the medal, and roared off into the street. Two cruisers were after them. Great, I'm in a Limo running from the police. I'm not totally screwed or anything, Chris rolled his eyes. Chris weaved through the streets, as best as he could. He couldn't shake them. He slammed his hand into the seat next to him.
" Damn it!"
When Chris slammed the seat, a small, mechanical compartment came out of the space between the passenger and driver seats. Chris opened it, keeping his eye on the road, shocked as he was. Inside, were five, lean, mean, green hand grenades. He looked up for a sunroof. Shit! It was over Maria's head.
"Uh, Maria!" Chris screamed. Maria was panicking, but she was holding it in.
"What?"
"You see these?" Chris tossed back all five grenades . Maria screamed.
"Calm down, please! Calm down!" Chris screamed. Maria was still frightened, but she stopped screaming.
"Maria, baby. I need you to toss these grenades at the two cruisers. You ever seen a war movie?" Chris didn't wait for a response. "Pull the little pin out, there's five seconds till it blows. Toss it, and pray to God that it works."
"I can't, Chris, I can't!" Maria started to let he panic take over again.
"Maria, please, it's the only way! Do you want to die, or go to prison for the drugs you still got in your pockets?" Chris yelled, taking his eyes off the road and staring right at her. He knew the streets so well, he wasn't in much trouble, except from traffic. Maria picked up one of the grenades, and set the other four to her side.
"No, I don't want to die or get busted!" Maria tossed the grenade out of the sunroof, it clanked along the back of the limo, and then rolled onto the hood of the police, and once it hit the lights it blew. The explosion rocked Harwood, which Chris had made his way quickly to. The exploded police car landed on the other after it took air for a few seconds.
"Yes! Oh baby, that was perfect!" Chris smiled as they pulled into the driveway.
" Alright, now do you still wanna act like a prick around me?" She smiled as she and Chris got out in garage at the Mansion.
" Nah, I guess not. Take care Maria." Chris headed back to the Kuruma.
"Hey Chris, after that... little incident earlier, you treated me real good, with respect and everything. Thanks for the ride."
Chris turned around, and watched Maria head in.
"Hey Maria, don't let Salvatore see you dressed like that." Chris whispered just loud enough so only Maria could hear.
"Good point! Shit! My jacket's still in the Limo! Thanks for the heads up! Bye!" Maria waved, and winked at Chris.
Chris hopped in the Kuruma, and drove his way home. When he got there, he noted to himself. Maria's married to Salvatore. You get into any funny business with Maria and you're fucked as far as the Mafia goes. It doesn't matter. When Chris is the most powerful man in Liberty he'll take care of the Mafia.
