Chasing The Impractical (Brian Quinn Story)

Goodfellas - Apollonia

"You sure that's the one?" Bri asked me as we sat in the jewerly store looking over engagement rings.

"Yeah, is that okay? Is it too much?" I cringed.

"I told you, whatever one you wanted. It's fine, I just wanted to make sure".

"Then yeah, this is the one" I giggled and looked at the rose gold, diamond and sapphire ring on my finger.

On the drive back home, we were both pretty quiet and I could a slight tension between us.

"You okay?" Q asked without taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah, really good actually" I smiled and looked down at my ring.

"Your not worried about Karzhov are you? You seemed to have some trouble sleeping last night, and I dunno, you just seem pretty quiet today".

"I can't lie, I mean, it's always in the back or my mind. The police still haven't found any trace of him, he's still out there somewhere, and with everything just being so... great at the minute, I'm scared about it all going tits up again" I admitted with a sigh.

"Well like I said, I'm not leaving your side until they caught or killed him. If he does try anything again, he's gonna have to get through me first. I promise Apps, I'll protect you this time".

I appreciated the sentiment of Q's promise, but if Karzhov did come back we'd need a fucking army to stop him. An army... soldiers, men who weren't afraid to kill, men just as dangerous as him, that's when it hit me. Pulling out my phone, I did a quick search on Google maps.

"Take the next left" I announced.

"What why?" Q scoffed.

"Just do it. I think I might know a way of stopping this problem for good" I smiled.

30 minutes later we were pulling up outside of Gino's Bar.

"What we doing here?" Q asked slightly worried.

"Just go with me on this one. And let me do the talking".

As we stepped out of the car and cautiously walked into the bar, we were instantly greeted by an Italian American man.

"This ain't no tourist bar girl. How about you and your boy go find somewhere else to drink" he hissed.

"I ain't no tourist. My name's Apollonia Mangano, and that will be the last time you call me girl. Now, is Dante still around?"

"Mangano ey? Funny joke. No fuck off" he scoffed.

Ignoring him, I stormed past the man and walled further into the bar. Everyone was staring at us now, but I knew if I played my cards right, they be sweeping the ground me walked on.

"Now my father use to demand his men speak Italian at Gino's, but it seems this place has gone down hill somewhat since my last visit, so let me say this nice and clear in English. I'm looking for Dante Berchino" I announced across the room.

"What's a pretty thing like you looking for a man like Dante?" Someone called out.

"Because I'm Apollonia Mangano, and I'm calling in my card" I smiled and pulled out a small card from my purse.

The card was St Mary's pray card, along the bottom was the words of the Mangano family back before they came to Italy. Il sangue non e acqua. Blood is thicker than water. Before my father passed away, he had taken me on some trip to new York. We were suppose to be spending some time together, but he mainly worked as I spent my days alone in the hotel. One afternoon, he had brought me to Gino's, it was the hang out for his uomo d'onore, made men. My father had told me that afternoon, 'You ever get in trouble kid, like something big you can solve yourself, you come here and call in this card'. I'd totally forgotten about it until today, which is made considering everything Bella and I had been through over the years.

"You look just like your mother at her age" a familiar Italian accent called out.

"I wasn't sure you'd still be alive" I smiled and turned around to see my the man who had once been my father most trusted friend.

"The last time I saw you child, you were sat on that stool over there, trying to do some maths homework. So, I pretty sure you were long dead too" he chuckled.

"Alcuni di noi hanno il sopravvivere, suppongo (some of us have to keep living, I guee)" i shrugged.

"I knew you child, I know you had no love for our lifestyle, so tell me, why are you here? It must be interesting if you've brought out the card, you know I cannot refuse you now".

"Trust me, you wouldn't want to refuse this, even if I didn't have the card. How about a drink and I'll tell you a story" I smiled.

Q looked deathly pale, and the other guys quickly picked up on it, taunting and bantering with their sick and cruel sense of humour. I told Dante the entire story, from after my brothers death, to Russia and then what happened nearly 4 months ago.

"And he's still out there?" Dante asked as he lite another cigarette and motioned for another round of drinks.

"Yeah, the police never found him, just like in Russia" I sighed.

Dante looked into his glass for a moment and chewed the inside of his cheek.

"That's some ring on your finger kid, this the lucky guy?" Dante asked and looked over to Q.

"Yeah" i smiled softly.

"My grandkids love your fuckin show. He treat you right Apollonia?"

"Better than right".

"Alright... I'll make some calls, see what the cops have found. I'll get all my guys on it, well sort it".

"Thanks Dante" I whispered and hopped off the bar stool and gently kissed his cheek.

"Hey Apollonia, you know your dad, he'd be fucking proud of you. You remember that. You did good kid" Dante called out as we walked over to the door.

Blowing him a quick kiss, I took hold of Brian's hands and headed back outside.

"Well fuck, that was some goodfellas shit apps" he laughed, breathing a sigh for relief.