Between Two New York Skies

Madonna

FAIR WARNING

    This chapter contains scenes that speak of violence and gore. Read at your own risk.

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"So what is our agenda for this meeting?" Gambino asked from his seat, extinguishing a cigarette on an ashtray posed in front of him that already held several other cigarette butts.

     Nick stood up from his seat brushing off invisible lint from his jacket, "I called you here gentlemen to let you all know that a very precious shipment for me did not arrive earlier today." He began crossing his fingers together sending them a querying look.

     "And what does that have to do with us?" Bonanno replied coolly, cutting into his porchetta adorned with leafy greens, and forking some into his mouth. Siobhan's mouth salivated, remembering that she had not had any dinner yet.

     She wanted to ask Nick if she could get something to nibble on, but seeing the suppressed calmness Nick was displaying, she decided that it was not the proper time to think about any scrumptious Italian dishes.

     "I would like to ask, if all your shipments have arrived on time, or have they all been delayed at some point?" Nick asked eyeing Caprice who was mindlessly drafting in puffs of cigarette smoke.

     "In this kind of business Salvatore, we make sure that all our shipments arrive on time." Colombo remarked.

     "Are you imposing that we stole your shipment Niccolo?" Gambino asked coldly, glaring at Nick in annoyance, like what he had just said was the most preposterous thing.

     "No," Nick replied quickly, "All I wanted to know is if your shipments are all arriving on time. I need to know something."

     "Well, they are." Bonanno replied with a tone of finality.

     "If that's all you have to say, we better get going. This meeting is adjourned." Colombo declared grunting, rising from his seat slowly like his bones could not support his heavy frame.

     "That's not all I have to say." Nick insisted hastily, standing up from his seat. Colombo caught his eye and grumpily retreated back to his seat, "If you all are familiar with a man I once knew, Piero, please inform me if you happen to know his whereabouts."

     "And what will we get in return?" Bonanno asked.

     "Order." Nick replied, "Piero's been tryin' to cause some ruckus, and knowing him if we don't stop him soon, he'll be tryna running New York all by himself." 

     "Who's this Piero fella again? Isn't he a part of your family?" Colombo stated glancing up at Nick with an imperious expression.

     "Used to." Nick muttered with a clenched jaw.

     "Well, if he's your family, you deal with him, kid." Bonanno remarked, rising up from his seat and flapping his jacket haughtily.

     At the mention of "kid," Nick's hands that were resting on the table curled into fists, and an apparent vein was now popping from his neck as he tried to control himself from bursting out.

     "Next time, make sure you got a serious matter for calling us all here Salvatore. We ain't got all the damn time in this world." Colombo exclaimed finally rising up to his seat.

     Nick remained wordless, but Siobhan could see how humiliated he felt. She wanted to reach out to him, but a man's pride and dignity cannot be easily replaced and knowing that she decided to let him hold his own, at least until all the men have left.