PrincessPipi: Thanks so much!
MrsGooglyBear: Thanks once again! So glad you enjoyed all the small details!
I thought I had clarified, but I keep getting questions about this - YES there is a sequel. Since this is the last chapter, I went ahead and posted the first chapter of the sequel, Venom, for you guys because I'm such a nice person. Honestly, I was anticipating it myself.
I'm so glad this story was so well received and I hope you all follow it to the end. Thanks so much again for the love and support. Thanks to anyone that reviewed and for all the silent readers out there!
"Has anyone seen Jimmy?" Marco asked as soon as he walked in the club. The stupid mother fucker owed him money and he hadn't seen him in three days, not since he left his apartment.
"No, daddy-o. Not in a few days." Vinnie said, looking up from the television. They were watching a horse race that they had placed bets on.
"Shit. You think he made a run for it?"
"I don't know if he's that stupid, boss."
Marco looked over the books, checking on his lucrative business ventures. "Can you bring these by tonight? I'm gonna go by Emilio's, check on things."
"Yeah, yeah. Ronnie go back to work today?" Vinnie sipped from his beer, looking back at his boss.
Marco nodded. "I don't know why. Couldn't talk her out of it."
"Want me to keep an eye out for Jimmy?"
"Yeah, you see him, have him find me. I'm done playing these fucking games."
Marco ignored the cop cars parked outside of the pizzeria. He figured, like him, they had just stopped by for a slice. As soon as he opened the door to the joint, though, he found a very different case.
The two officers had Veronica cornered against the counter, asking her questions. Her uncle, Nino, was just behind her at the counter. When the bell on the door rang as it was pushed open, she looked to Marco, her little eyes swelling with tears, wide with fear.
Seconds later, the officers followed her line of sight, only to see the perpetrator they had come searching for. "Marco Vendetti. We have a warrant here for your arrest." One of the officers came up behind him, cautiously.
"What the fuck is this about?" Marco yelled, pulling away from the man in uniform.
"We received testimony that you have been dealing drugs in Sunset Park. The same drugs that killed one; Alphonse Anthony." The officer explained, pulling out handcuffs. Another officer had to help wrestle Marco to the ground, pressing his shoulders into the black and white tiled floor as they strained to gain control of his hands.
Nino spoke out, "Like I was telling the officers, this is ridiculous. My niece has been with Marco all week. She would have noticed if he was dealing drugs."
"Miss, I'd like for you to come in for questioning." The lieutenant in front of her asked.
"I've answered all of your questions. There has to be some sort of mistake!"
"You're not under oath, Miss Marietti."
"You don't have to answer anything, Veronica!" Marco shouted, his cheek still pressed to the floor. The officer's jerked him upright, forcing him to his feet, now chained in handcuffs. "This is bullshit! You've got no fucking proof."
"We paid a visit to your house, Vendetti. We found more than enough to lock you away for a few years." They began escorting him to the back of one of the vehicles.
"So, Miss Marietti. My name is Officer Bryant. I just want to ask you a few questions."
Veronica's response was to stare at her hands, folded daintily on the table in front of her.
"Can you give your full name please?"
"Veronica Catarina Marietti."
"And your date of birth?"
"March 19, 1937."
"Just to confirm, you are over the age of 18?"
"Yes."
"I now need to caution you, anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"You moved here from Manhattan, is that right?"
"You already know the answer to that."
"Yes or no, Miss Marietti." He sighed.
"Yes."
He sighed, moving on to his next question. "You've been staying with your uncle; Nino Salvaciti?"
"That's correct."
"I also heard about your father. You have my condolences." She didn't acknowledge him, so he continued. "You've had a lot happen to you in the past few weeks. It must be a lot to deal with."
"Can we get on with the questions?"
"Yes, of course. I understand you're anxious, miss Marietti. I don't want to take up too much more of your time."
"Can I see Marco?"
"Miss Marietti, Marco Vendetti is being questioned himself. It won't be possible for you to see him anytime soon. We have enough evidence. He's going to get convicted."
"Then why am I even here?"
"May I continue?"
"Do whatever you need to do." She sighed.
"You met Marco recently?"
"A few days after I moved here." She nodded.
"Did he give you any reason to believe he was involved with illegal activities?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did he mention selling drugs, using drugs, gambling, distribution of narcotics, bootlegging? Anything like that?"
"With all due respect, Officer Bryant, we rarely had time to talk. If we did talk, it certainly wasn't work related."
The officer looked stunned for a moment, quickly gaining his composure and refuting her comments. "Miss Marietti, I find it odd that you would associate with someone like Marco Vendetti, especially after the unfortunate incident with your father."
"Officer Bryant, you don't know anything about me, my father, or my life. Marco didn't kill anyone, he doesn't sell drugs, he doesn't do drugs. He's been with me every day this week. I can account for every hour of every day if you'd like. My boyfriend didn't do anything wrong."
"Is there anything you would like to add or clarify?" He sighed, looking at his notes.
"No. I'd like to be able to leave."
"Very well, Miss Marietti. You're free to go." She stood slowly from the chair, pushing it back with a scrape and walked to the door, her heels clapping on the tile floor. She walked towards the front door and vaguely recognized Jimmy as he was ushered down the hall behind her.
"Vinnie!" Veronica ran through the door of the club.
"Hey, kiddo! We heard what happened. Are you alright?"
"Not really." She shook her head. "Can we go in the back?" She asked quietly. She was well aware that every eye in the place was on her. She wasn't exactly sure where she stood. The Viper's fearless leader was incarcerated and she was just standing by the wayside.
"Yeah, sure." He took her hand, leading her through the door into the secret room she'd never seen. "What did you need to talk about?"
"I'm going back to Manhattan." She blurted out.
"Ronnie, none of these charges will stick. Marco will be out, soon."
"No, they have testimonials stating otherwise. The officers told me everything. They can't get the murder charges to stick, but they have enough evidence to convict him for distribution of illegal substances."
"Oh, Ronnie." He sighed, hating to see her so upset.
"I'm going back to Manhattan. I can't stay here. I just wanted to come say goodbye."
"There's nothing I can do to make you stay?"
"Vinnie, look. This wasn't supposed to be permanent. I was supposed to come to Brooklyn, earn some quick cash, and go back to Manhattan. I don't even know what I'm gonna do about any of this." She shook her head, staring at the ground.
"I'll talk to Philly. Marco has more than enough money to -"
"Forget it, Vinnie. I can't."
"Marco will kill me if you don't." He smirked knowingly. "Anything you need, he said. If anything happens to him, he told me and Philly to take care of anything you need. I think he meant if he was to die in the fight, but I guess this counts, too."
He picked up her bags and put them in the trunk of the cab. "Thanks for everything, Vinnie. I'll miss you the most." Veronica admitted, hugging her good friend in front of the cab. "Don't tell Philly." She whispered.
"Our little secret, Ronnie." He sneered. He handed her an envelope. "This should cover you for a while. You need anything, don't hesitate to call."
"Are you sure I should -"
"I already told you, you're doing me a favor. Marco get's visitors every week and he wants to keep tabs on you. He'll kill me if I told him you didn't go to school. That'll only prolong the sentence." He smirked, then his face turned very serious. "Are you sure you don't want to visit with me? I could come and get you. It's only an hour from the city."
"I told you, I can't. Seeing him in the jumpsuit at the trial - that was enough for me." She whimpered, on the verge of tears.
"Aw, kiddo. Don't do this." He lifted her chin.
She didn't hesitate to embrace him a second time. "Vin, three years is a long time."
"It'll be over before you know it."
There we have it! Sorry it was so choppy. Sometimes it just happens like that.
Once again, the first chapter of Venom, the highly anticipated sequel, is already posted. If you enjoyed, let me know, and feel free to pop over and read the second part.