The Mafia's: Bodyguards Redemption

Eight: The Underground

The Underground

Eight: Antonio

Walking into the club. Glancing around the sweaty bodies as my eyes land on the one at the counter. He looks me dead in the eye and nods my way. Returning the nod, I make my way to the back where the stairs lead to the basement. I have always hated coming here. It is loud and overwhelming having this many people bumping and griding into you as you walk by. Not my cup of tea. Give me a nice quiet place with some Jazz or Opera music that won’t kill your eardrums. That used to be the places where you could find us. Now just to stay in the shadows we meet in places like this.

The guy at the bar is one of the many lookouts. If any police show up that are not one of our paid guys. He will hit a panic button clearing the basement out within seconds. As soon as I make it down the stairs and get inside the dimly lit room. I breath a sigh of relief. This is another fully operational bar, but it is one of ours. Meaning soft music that sooths the soul. It is still packed but with people connected with the Mafia.

Pulling my hat down over my brow. I walk to the bar and order a shot of whiskey on the rocks. Standing at the end in the dark corner waiting for my drink I watch the room. No one has paid any mind to me since I entered, which is good as most of the people here are wanted for one thing or another. We tend to keep to ourselves except for the ones we are here for. This is the place where mobsters come to collect information from our contacts. There are not cameras on the inside of the lower level, only on the top levels to know who comes and goes.

Knowing all of this I still have to be careful. If any of the Rossi’s men are here, they will recognize me in an instant. Taking a sip of my drink I glance at the time. Fifteen minutes to go until the meeting time. Setting my glasses down on the bar I make my way around the room. Head down but my senses wide open as I keep an eye on what is going on from under the brim of my hat.

Reaching the hallway that leads to the many private rooms in the back. I stop once more as I glance around the room. That is when I notice a couple of my fellow Bodyguards. Both of them seem to be drunk and playing cards. I keep an eye on them and the woman that are with them. Making sure that they don’t glance my way, I slip down the hallway to the room at the end. I knock on the door with a couple of taps from the back of my knuckles.

A woman around my age maybe a little older opens the door and moves aside. I walk into the empty room that only has a round table with her purse sitting on top of it. “I take it you’re my meal ticket for tonight.” I turn to look at her. The woman has a rough voice that doesn’t match her slim and pretty body. I nod my head as she walks back to the table sitting down in her chair. I watch as she opens her purse, my hand resting on my knife just in case I see a flash of metal.

She looks at me and chuckles. “Easy there, big boy. Just getting a smoke.” She tells me as she puts one in her mouth bringing a lighter to the end. I watch as she inhales deeply before looking at me. “Now there could be only one reason why I was called to be here. What do you need to know about Alessio Rossi?”

I calmly walk over to the table and take the seat facing the door. Taking a small pad of paper out of my pocket and my pencil. Writing down her name, Ilaria Rossi. Sliding the paper over to her I watch as she picks it up. Then all the blood drains from her face as she glances at me. I watch for a moment as she nervously glances around the room. I lightly lay my hand on top of hers as her crazy eyes land on me letting out a nervous breath.

“What do you want to know about her?” The woman asks as she crushes out her smoke into the ashtray. In a low voice I say. “Why is he after her?” I see her flinch at my rough voice as she lets out another breath. I watch as she pulls my hand from hers and stands. Walking over to the door she locks it before turning back to me. I sit back and wait for her as it looks like she is getting her thoughts in order.

Looking at me once more she huffs out a breath. “You know that Alessio is a sadist. Well, his father wanted him to settle down and get married if he wanted to take over the family. So, he found himself a sweet unsuspecting Italian girl and married her fast. For three months he had her locked in his house. Then one day she walked in on him and witnessed him killing the mayor’s son.”

She sits back down in her chair as I just watch her light another cigarette, taking a deep drag. “She ran. Was put into witness protection.” She glances at me once more. “She’s a walking corpse. Not only that but they know that you have her.” I frown at her as she smiles at me. “Yes, I know who you are so I’m warning you. I owe your brother; this is my debt paid in full.”