Part Nine

Charlie sat with Tom at breakfast drinking his morning coffee. He looked over at the taller man who was reading the newspaper, his fingers running under the lines of text and his lips moving as he read the words, and reflected on the past few days. That night hadn't ended well but the next morning Charlie had pulled his house guest into the library and had had a long discussion with him on what was and was not expected of him.

Tom had profusely apologized for making the accusation but Charlie had waved him off. He didn't mention it to Tom, but trading sex for protection or anything else was common and Charlie himself had partaken in the traded favors or more than one willing body.

Charlie had told the taller man that nothing like that would ever happen and when Tom asked why Charlie would allow a virtual stranger to stay with him, Charlie had calmly explained that he enjoyed Tom's company and he was more than well off enough to help the other man especially considering the circumstances with his amnesia.

They'd spoken for a few more minutes before Charlie had to leave for the day. He'd been gratified that Tom had stopped him before he left and they'd shared a short kiss. Tom had waved at him from the door way as he'd left and Charlie had again felt that gooey feeling in his stomach. There was something so very innocent and picturesque about having the the person you like waving and smiling goodbye at you as you left for work.

"What's prohibition?"

Charlie was shaken from his reverie and almost choked on his coffee at the question, "Where'd you hear about that?"

Tom looked up from his breakfast at him, "The newspaper. I've been working on my letters and Mary Alexandra has been helping me by going over the newspaper with me."

Charlie blinked, "Who?"

His green eyed companion looked confused, "She's the maid who does the cleaning. She's really quite nice."

"You mean Mary Anne?"

Tom's head tilted a bit, giving him an exasperated look, "Charlie... Her name is Mary Alexandra not Mary Anne."

The Sicilian got the distinct impression that he'd just made an ass of himself with this. He didn't even know the name of the woman who'd been working in his house for close to two years.

Tom seemed impatient for his answer and asked again, "So what's prohibition? I asked Mary Alexandra to explain it to me but she got all jittery and said it wasn't her place to talk to me about it. Is there something wrong with it?"

Well at least the girl knew enough to keep her mouth shut. Charlie looked at the earnest face of his companion for a moment before he got up from his seat and made his way down the table to sit directly beside Tom. This sort of conversation wasn't to be done shouting over the long table.

"Tom, prohibition is a law enacted by people high up in the government-"

Tom cut in, "People elected by the citizens?"

Yeah right...

But Charlie smiled and continued, "Yes, exactly, they put this law into place that made it a crime to sell or manufacture alcohol."

"But we drink wine almost every time we go out to eat. You drink scotch in the evening."

Charlie sighed a bit. God, he didn't want to have this conversation, "Well, it's not a terribly popular law and not many people follow it."

"But it's a mandate by your ruler. Will he not punish you for violating it?"

Charlie's mouth cocked in a half smile, "Tom, we don't have a ruler. We have a president that's put into power by the people of the country and it isn't him precisely who enacted the law. This country also has two houses of elected officials that propose the law and these two houses edit it and bandy it about until they all agree and then if they are satisfied, they send it to the president and he signs off on it."

The dark haired man looked entirely baffled by the entire process, "Why do you need so many people and steps to create a mandate? Does your rul-president not simply enact laws as they are needed for the betterment of your people?"

Charlie outright laughed at that. He didn't really mean to and he could tell Tom was actually becoming annoyed with him; something the taller man rarely seemed to emote, "I'm sorry Tom. Um. Let me see if I can explain this right. People are not as pure hearted as you think they are. Everyone has an agenda with the goal of increasing their own power as well as helping themselves and their friends and backers. Men get into politics in order to get their own point of view heard and to further their own agenda. Politicians are willing to lie, steal, cheat, and bribe their way into power so even though they did enact a law, many citizens don't agree with those people or their point of view. So yes, technically we were breaking the law by buying alcohol to drink, however, you need to know that not everyone in the government can really be trusted to have your best interest in mind. And as long as we don't fall in the street in a drunken stupor or advertise the fact that we partake in a bit of recreation drinking, most people don't care."

Tom seemed to be taking it all in and rolling it around in his head, "So, the people who put the law into place don't really care what the people want and are only doing what's in their own best interest. And as long as we don't really throw drinking into anybody's face, then it's ok."

Charlie smiled at him, "That's right. Just keep it all low key and you've got nothing to worry about."

His companion sighed and smiled at him and Charlie couldn't resist the urge to reach out and cup the taller man's jaw. Tom continued smiling so Charlie leaned in and kissed him. It started out light but it quickly got a bit heavier as Tom's hand came up to clutch his arm. They eventually pulled away, both panting lightly.

Charlie's words were slightly breathless, "Don't read any more newspapers. Their a bunch of propaganda generated by the government. I've got a decent library, why don't you try reading some of the books in there."

Tom looked thoughtful but nodded his ascent and Charlie dropped his hand from the green eyed man's face and got up to return to his seat.

"I'm gonna be home late tonight, I think. My boss, AR-Arnold Rothstein, is coming back from Scotland today. And I know I've been able to be home a good portion of the day the last few weeks but that was only because he wasn't here. Now that he's back, I'll need to go back to my usual hours."

Tom finished buttering his english muffin, "I should call him Mr. Rothstein if I ever meet him, right? You two must be good friends for you to have a nickname for him and you always speak very fondly of him."

Charlie, truthfully, hoped that Tom would never meet AR but he said, "Yes, when you first meet someone. Just in case, refer to them as mister until they tell you otherwise."

"Alright."

Charlie nodded and got up. He quickly went to Tom's side and gave him a chaste kiss goodbye and left the room. Charlie went to the closet beside the door. Johns already hung his suit jacket for that day inside so he wouldn't have to go all the way back up stairs to get it. He shrugged into the jacket and fedora and left the house. As usual Johns had already brought the car around and it was parked in front of the house.

It was only four blocks to AR's house but he'd need the the car when he went out to take care of his business. Minutes later he was pulling up in front of the ornate white townhouse. Columns and statues decorated the facade proclaiming to all lucky enough to pass by that someone of great importance resided there. Charlie thought it a bit over done personally but didn't begrudge AR his ego. The man had made his first million at age 21, just a few years younger than Charlie himself. The Sicilian had already started collecting his own millions but he was still far from reaching AR's level.

Charlie parked his car and proceeded to the door before knocking. AR's valet, Gerrett, answered the door and gestured for him to enter. The townhouse was just as much of a spectacle on the inside as it was on the outside. Rich wood paneling lined the walls covered in expensive artwork. Ornate french doors opened into the sitting rooms and library to the left. The floors and staircase were an imported marble that could only be afforded by the richest of people. As Charlie ascended the staircase to the second level where Rothstein kept his office and other guest rooms, it was hard to miss the Napoleonic styled french furniture that was set in just the right way to show off the intricate details and lavish fabrics.

These were all juxtaposed by the massive pool table situated in the center of the office. Something many people were aware of was that AR loved his games and the man had no problem displaying that particular fondness in such a noticeable way.

Again, not Charlie's personal taste but when he'd first entered this place as a dirty sixteen year old kid from Mulberry street, he'd been in awe of what the man had accomplished all on his own and he'd wanted that for himself. Charlie supposed that was the point. To show everyone who entered the domain of Arnold Rothstein, what the man was capable of doing, of achieving, and what future partners or employees could perhaps get for themselves if they followed such a successful man.

"Charlie. I'm so glad to see you."

The Sicilian was shaken from his thoughts by the voice emanating from the desk in the corner. AR was looking at him with that smile as he got up and came around the elegantly carved wood desk to stand before him. Charlie had stopped by the pool table and he quickly pasted his usual stoic expression in place.

"AR, we're glad you're back. Business has been slow without you here."

"Well it's nice to know I was missed..."

Rothstein stepped forward once more and put a hand on the Sicilian man's chest and pushed him until his hips hit the table. AR wasted no time as his hand clenched softly but immovably around the younger man's jaw and neck and almost smashed their lips together. It wasn't a violent kiss but Charlie got the distinct impression that AR hadn't partaken in any of the local flavor while he'd been away in Scotland. There was almost a desperate edge to the kiss and Charlie hadn't experienced anything quite so passionate before from the normally stoic man.

Charlie's own hands came up and dug into his boss's hair as the older man brought their hips together and began to grind them against one another. AR was normally so controlled in their encounters, making Charlie feel like a boy with his first roll in the hay every time. And Charlie had always felt like one of many to this man. But this was different.

"Boss-Boss, we need to stop."

Rothstein pulled away abruptly, "Why?"

Because I'm in love with someone else...

"Aren't Lansky and Adonis coming too? We don't want them walking in on anything."

Rothstein seemed to study him for a moment, his head turning slightly to the side as he studied the Sicilian man. AR wasn't one whose cross-hairs anyone wanted to be in. The man took pleasure in killing people. Oh, he never shot anyone or got his hands dirty in any way but he had a way of manipulating situations to his advantage and sometimes that included a few deaths.

AR backed away from him without a word, though, and went back behind his desk and picked up his fallen pen as if nothing had happened. Charlie peeled himself from the pool table and slowly walked to stand in front of the other man.

"Alright Charlie, I'm expecting a shipment up from Philadelphia from Waxxy Gordon. I want you and Lansky to meet them and pickup my supply, usual time and place. But until then I want you to go and talk to Massaria about where he's getting his supply. Find out what he's getting and how much he's paying for it. Don't offer up any suggestions from us, simply have a nice lunch-Here, "Rothsein opened a drawer and pulled out a folded wad of cash. He plucked a few bills out and handed them over to Charlie, "Pay for his lunch. Take this opportunity to speak more of that language of yours."

Charlie said nothing of the veiled insult to his heritage. He'd pissed off his boss and if the worst he got from the man was a few verbal barbs then he was doing better than the last idiot who'd said no to Rothstein, though that had been business related. Charlie liked to think that AR liked him as a person in addition to his appreciation of what Charlie did for his business and for him personally. He'd hoped the man wouldn't off him just because he'd refused his advances for the first time in years.

Charlie nodded at the order and turned to walk out. He was almost to the door when AR called to him again, "And Charlie... Don't think I'll let you refuse me again. You get one free pass from me and you just used it."

Charlie didn't turn or acknowledge AR except for a nod of his head and he walked out.