Ex-soldier Birmingham-gangster bets his life on luck and illegalities, adroit wit and burning passion streaking his blood-stained fingertips as a dire quarrel commence between himself and the disturbed Dane who purloined his lover.
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SOMETHING STUPID
WHILE FRANK HAD GONE to the restroom, Tom had been quick to voice his concerns. He did not like Frank Nitto, and he said it as simply as that. Ines quizzed him on the matter; however, Thomas could not give one reason as to why he felt that way.
The only reason Tom could think of was the fact that Nitto was a gangster. That excuse would hardly be warmly welcomed by Ines, for Tom was a gangster, too, after all. He settled with repeating himself.
"I don't trust him."
Back at the restaurant, just as Frank returned, Tom left to call his driver so that the two could go home. Frank was left alone with Ines, and he took the opportunity to propose the following to Ines. He said: "Come with me to Tuscany. There you will be safe from that madman of a husband. It's a stunning vineyard stretching so far into the sunset you'll be drunk before you reach the end. Think of it as a vacation. Leave everything behind for a little while." Ines adored the way Frank looked as he spoke of this estate, seemingly having traveled there while reminiscing. His love for his roots seemed one so pure. A love unable to soil. But Ines declined. She told Frank why she could not go, and he immediately understood. He assured her that her reasons for rejection would not enmesh his promise to her and he said: "It might be who I am, but it is not the man I want to be." He told her to expect a call within the week and he appeared certain in his belief that his quest with the Spinietta accountant would bear fruit. Frank said she soon could rest comfortably again and Ines thanked him and said she was looking forward to it.
Thomas' chauffeur opened the door while Ines and Thomas got in. Before he went around to get in himself, Ines tried to bring Thomas' mind away from his mistrust in Frank Nitto.
"Tommy, I wanted to thank you for having let me stay in your home. I know it must not have been easy to convince Lizzie. I will be out of your hair—"
"Lizzie didn't have a say in the matter. And don't change the subject. Nitto is a thug and cannot be trusted. Nobody in the mafia can be trusted."
"Tom, you're a thug! And if you don't trust these people, then why are you in business with them!?"
"I don't need to trust them to do business with them. I just need to know their wants. It's about supply and demand, Ines, if they point the bone to me, they screw over themselves and they know that. How can you be so certain Nitto won't sell you out? Eh? Gangsters like him, like me, Ines—we don't go out of our way just to help people. Nobody in this world will help in exchange for some cheap promise."
Ines sat quietly for some time as she tried to figure out what she could say that would make him understand her trust in Frank. She feared there did not exist such magic words.
Instead, she settled for speaking from her heart, disregarding what little of an assurance she had managed to put together for him.
"When you left to call the driver, Frank offered to help out and take me away for a while. Just until things were settled or until I felt safe again."
