MANGATA: A Sequel to Consigliere

The Most Dangerous Weapon

"Happy Thusrday."Pet Salaza smiled and pulled the covers up to her neck, sharing a brief and tired laugh with Alexander. The sheets felt grossly sticky and warm, smelling of what she supposed had to be the after-aroma of sex, though Pet wasn't sure she cared."You've been pretty quiet," Alexander intertwined his foot with Pet's and pulled her closer against his body. "Was this, like, your first time?""No," Pet laughed, tucking her head into the arch of Alexander's neck. "It's not that. I'm just...tired.""And evidently in a thinky mood."Pet smiled and pressed her foot harder against Alexander's. "I wasn't really thinking about anything, actually. I was just...being.""'Being," Alexander repeated as he closed his eyes again."That's a good word for it." Silence fell upon the couple as their breathing slowed and the tight air between them became thick and warm again. Pet opened her eyes and stroked Alexander's unshaven cheek, causing the side of his mouth to twitch with uncertainty."What are you thinking about now?" Alexander mumbled as Pet's hand moved down to his neck."That I'm nervous for the nine-hour flight to Italy."Alexander slowly sat up straighter in bed and reached over to flick on the bedside lamp. "Isn't it, like, more dangerous to be in a car than in a plane or somethin' like that?""Yeah, I know," Pet laughed again and moved her hands in circles on Alexander's chest. "But still. Planes freak me out big time. And I'd hate being on a plane for that long.""You aren't worried about the whole Martolli-gang encounter once we get their? You're just worried about the plane ride?"Pet remained quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I guess it never registered in my head that the whole purpose of this trip is for Val to assasinate a bunch of mobsters.""You worried about Val, then?""I don't know," Pet spoke honestly. "He's not really...threatening, that's the problem. He's not going to scare Martolli or his men on his own.""That's why I'm going," Alexander grinned as he flexed broadly for Pet. "Floren and I'll take 'em down in no time. But Val? He's got the killer instincts of a butterfly.""Don't be arrogant, now," Pet smiled in return and pushed away Alexander's biceps, then laughed as she joined Alexander sitting upright in the bed. "But you're definetly right about Val being vulnerable. And a little irresponsible.""Irresponsible? Nah, Val's on top of everything, all the time. Why? You ever seen him act irresponsibly?"Yeah, Pet thought as she turned her head away from Alexander and felt her heart rate increase unexpectedly. On the night of my high school graduation. However, Pet remained silent, choosing instead to pull the covers up to her shoulders and nestle her head back into the crook of Alexander's arm. "I don't know. Goodnight, Alexander.""You goin' to bed? I thought we was preparing for round two.""How about in the morning," Pet muffled into Alexander's chest as she kissed him gently. "For a thirty-five year old man, you sure have a lot of stamina.""I'm Italian, remember?"***
"Mr. Martolli, the letter has been delivered to the residence of Val's cousin, Florentine, the underboss of the Arlotti crime family. Are you sure, sir, they will be able to interpret our message?""I'm certain they will, Gregorio. Have you taken the the appropriate measures to ensure our tickets are paid for and ready?""We're booked for the sixteenth, Martolli. Everything appears to be in order.""Excellent," Sebastiano Martolli leaned back in his rolling chair and stared with a smirk into the eyes of Gregorio, Feliciano, and Virgilio. "Tell me, boys, how did you discover the details concerning the flight and dates?""We've got our connections, sir," Feliciano smirked and exchanged a glance with Gregorio. "Besides, Val and his little buddies are always down at Tomcat's yappin' about this trip. It wasn't too hard gatherin' information.""Hey, Martolli, what we gonna do when we touch down in Milan? Jump on Val the day we land?""You fuckin' crazy, Virgilio? We're laying low the first week or so. Keep an eye on him, you know. Find out where he's stayin'. Then, we're gonna get to work knocking out his men one at a time.""What about Val himself? We takin' him down last?""We'll see how it plays out when we get there, Greg," Martolli clicked and unclicked his ballpoint pen, eerily repetitive in the stillness of the roon. "For now, we got more important shit to worry about. Like not getting spotted by Val in the airport.""But...I thought we wanted Val to see us, sir," Virgilio spoke up quietly.Gregorio and Feliciano stared at their accomplice with irritation and displeasure. Martolli rubbed his hand over the smooth surface of his Colt Revolver, grinding his teeth loudly together."It's a setup, ya dumb fuck," Gregorio muttered under his breath to Virgilio. "That's the whole fuckin' point. The only reason we sent that letter is to make sure he don't call off the trip."Virgilio closed his mouth and nodded slowly.After several long moments of silence, Sebastiano Martolli slid his weapon back into the large pocket of his jacket, permitting Virgilio to relax slightly in his seat and breathe out a quite breath of relief. "I understand," Virgilio spoke at last, locking eyes with Sebastiano. "I am prepared to carry out the death of Valentino.""Then we better not get any more of your stupidity," Feliciano snarled in the direction of Virgilio. "Martolli, sir, how exactly are we gonna lure Val and the capos into leading us on?"Sebastiano Martolli glanced briefly the phone number scribbled on a post-it note in front of him. Monia Vittore."I've got a little surprise waiting for us once we touch down in Milan," Martolli smiled and looked back up at the men. "And let's just say she's my most dangerous weapon yet."