Blood Street

Blood Street Chapter 2

Chapter II

Enzo Salerno put his head on his desk. It felt like it was going to spontaneously combust. When he started building his empire, he knew it would be no picnic being the boss, but that didn't make days like today any easier. 

Enzo called in Sophie Koch, his consigliere, into his office. It was odd for women to take part in organized crime families at such a high level, but Enzo was unlike any boss this city had ever known. Times had changed and he thought it reasonable to have a woman at the highest level of his organization. In fact, Sophie was the most valuable member of his syndicate. She was bright and energetic, having graduated near the top of her class at Penn Law School. Like Enzo, she hadn't found any satisfaction in the "legitimate" business world. 

Sophie entered his spacious office in Old City. Although he had a nice view of the skyline, he kept the Venetian blinds closed to keep away prying eyes. 

Enzo lifted his head from his desk. He felt like crap, but Sophie appeared alert and attentive. As always, she maintained a professional appearance and could pass for a partner at a prominent law office in the city. The difference was she had a soul, unlike most of those blood-sucking leeches. 

"What's the matter, Enzo? You don't look well." 

"Thanks. You know just what to say to make a guy feel good." 

Sophie gave him a dazzling smile. "You know I don't mean it like that. I'm just wondering if you're sick. Have you been getting much sleep?" 

"Hardly. I got a splitting headache. My head's going to explode. You ever have one of those days?" 

"I've had a few. You're too tense. There's this full service spa I go to out in Wayne that would do wonders for you." 

Enzo frowned. "Full service spa? I'm not a fucking fag, okay." 

"You don't have to be a homosexual to go to a spa," Sophie said. "There are plenty of men who go there and they enjoy it immensely." 

"And they're not gay?" 

Sophie crossed her arms. "No. And I know this first hand, in case you're wondering." 

"What you do at these spas is your own business. You date a lot of these guys?" 

Sophie grinned. "I'll plead the fifth." 

"Do you have any friggin' Advil?" he asked. 

"Sure. In my desk. I'll bring you some." 

"Great." 

"So what's bugging you?" Sophie asked. 

"That prick, cock-sucker O'Leary," he replied, referring to Philadelphia councilman Stephen O'Leary. "That land deal on Delaware Ave. is fizzling, and he isn't coming through." 

"Why don't we attack this another way? We can squeeze them on the Convention Center. If the council won't go along with this deal, we'll give them labor problems they can't afford." 

Enzo had a controlling influence on the city labor unions. Unlike other parts of the country, labor unions were still prominent in Philadelphia. No work could be done in the city's Convention Center without going through the unions. Since Enzo could manipulate these unions, he could prevent them from working at the Convention Center. With several large and lucrative conventions coming up, lack of participation from the unions could force the city to cancel them. 

Enzo sighed. "There's some merit there, but it could cause law enforcement to squeeze us. I'll have to look into it." 

Sophie left the room, then returned with the Advil and a glass of water.