Star Crossed Criminals

Prologue: The End is the Beginning

"What do you want, Lorenzo?" Ava growled out as she busted through his office door.

She was angry, still fuming after she received word that her husband's life had been threatened while he was away for business in Canada. It should be expected, they worked in a dangerous...and illegal business after all. However, how he described it to her was that is was staged more like an execution, one specifically tied to the Italian mob. Her fists tightened, knuckles glowing white as she glared down the mob boss in front of her.

"Why Miss...Moretti," He said her last name quite begrudgingly, eyes catching sight of the golden ring on her left hand, "I have no clue what you are talking about."

"Don't act all balled up, you bastard," She snapped, hands slapping down on his desk as she seethed, "You know what I am here about."

Most wouldn't dare to lash out in such a manner in front of the Boss of Crime but Ava honestly didn't care who he was. She would strangle him right now, to hell with the consequences. No one. No one came after HER man.

"Ah, I believe it is coming to me now...this little outburst is about the bounty I placed on your dear husband's head isn't it?" Lorenzo asked, a cool smugness to his voice, "Its only safe to assume that received a similar phone call not to long ago."

"Take it off," She snapped, "We gave into your greedy demands! Vince paid his debt to you! You promised that we would be free of this mob shit!"

"That is true...I did make a promise. However, I have set my sights on something...more," The crime boss said, adjusting papers on his desk as though Ava wasn't about ready to jump him, "The question now is what are you willing to give me to ensure that your husband's head remains intact without a price to be paid?"

"Anything," Ava answered without hesitation, "The booze, the Speak, all our money... Anything!"

Lorenzo's perked up, eyes glinting with something dark that only made Ava want run and wash herself clean as they raked across her body.

"Anything..." He stated slowly, lips curling into a cruel, dark smile.

'Anything."

The Mob Boss suddenly stood up from his desk, walking around to where the young flapper stood. She stood her ground, not wanting to show just how nervous she was now that he was advancing towards her. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, but all she did was turn to face him.

" I've heard that you sing at your Speak from time to time...heard you sing like a canary according to my men," Lorenzo said, seeming to have changed the topic but she knew better.

His hand reached up, reaching for her cheek and he continued, "I wouldn't mind getting a private showing of your...talents from time to time as well. Have some of that sweet loving you spoil that ungrateful bootlegger with."

Ava suddenly took hold of his hand in a talon like grasp and snapped, "His name is Vince. Vince Moretti...and I am his wife."

"What happens behind closed doors won't hurt him...in fact it might just save him," He said, pushing against her grasp, "So, do we have a deal...Mrs. Moretti."

Ava swallowed thickly...she could just kill him now. He was distracted with her assets that he wouldn't even noticed if she slipped out her pistol and shot him. However, then the rest of the mob would be after them both...they would be on the run for the rest of their lives. That was no life at all.

If this is what would save his life...then so be it.

"We have a deal."

Lorenzo suddenly tried to grab hold of her, and she finally did pull out the pistol, holding it right under his chin. She pointed his head in the direction of the telephone on his desk and brought the hand she was still holding to lay on top of it.