Drac
1686 Words
Sara gave Clara five thousand dollars.
They left the big office and went out. Immediately they got into the car, Santana pointed a gun at Andrea.
“I swear the next time you try anything that will thwart my source of income, I will kill you. How can you do that for the sake of woman who does not even love you?”
“She did love me?”
“You are sick! I brought you here and what you did would have affected me. I don’t care about your past love life. A real man does not sulk over a woman who leaves him on her own. If you think she ever loved you, you are sick and delusional. Love is what we see between Capo and Madam. She has been with him since he had nothing. We were told that they met on the ship and she abandoned her old boyfriend. I never knew it was you. If the story is true, then it would be an insult to your personality to ever think of her or blame him. Did he use a gun on her? She chose him over you and maybe she saw a spark in him that you lack. He is the Capo but does not only treat her as a queen but fills her with humor. Now see what you got. I need two grands from that money.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You just got thirty five thousand dollars now and forget that your wife’s is my friend. This is money e are talking about. You needed fifteen hundred dollars and you got thirty five thousand. Your wife got ten thousand dollars. I got three so make it five by giving me two thousand.”
Andrea gave it to him.
Santana lit a cigarette and started the car engine.
Andrea touched Clara’s hand but she reclined.
“What?”
“You take me as an option. You are still in love with her.”
“That is ridiculous! She is pregnant with his second child. They are married.”
“And you wanted to kill my child because of her!?
“Come on, that was just a face saving move. The last time we met, I called him all sort of names. I asked him to get a new shoe, and said he was wretched.” He grabbed her hand. “I am human and only exhibited that part of me but you know I will choose you over her one thousand times.”
She blushed.
“I can’t believe we have so much money, my love.”
“It feels like a dream. The witch will be shocked after I pay the debts and pay an advance of six months. That will save us from seeing her face.”
“Will you go for the job?”
“No.”
“Seriously?” Santana asked. “Having the job is better than all of the money you have now. Working for Capo is lucrative.”
“I want to be my own Capo.” Andrea said. “I can’t be ordered around. With the money I have now, I guess I am into business.”
“Hmmm..working for Capo is not just about the money you make. You need a godfather to survive in this violent city of gangsters controlled by the Outfit and Irish- American gangsters.” Santana said.
“I can take care of myself.” Andrea said.
“Don’t be stubborn my love. You need to start from somewhere.”
“I have capital now.”
“Did you know what he went through to get to where he is?” Santana asked.
‘I was about to ask that because that guy was a broke street Sicilian urchin wearing shoes which made his toe smile at us just three years ago.” Andrea asked.
“He took down more than five feared gangs. He killed Veeny and his gang and took over Elwood. Rumors have it that he was behind Saint Valentine ’s Day m******e of Hum and his gang. He silenced the Hawk mob. He is a planner and executioners. He endeared himself to the people. When Veeny rules Elwood, he was harsh on his gang members and business partners. Capo took over and made them made more money. He is far from greedy and protects his guys. He protects Elwood and helps the needy. He got the corrupt police officers under his control. He has one of the biggest brewery in Chicago and none of us knows its location. His method of distribution is complicated and that makes it hard for the police to get to him. He has the biggest pawn shop in Roolvet Province. A lot happen under that pawn business. He is the biggest provider of employment now. He just went into shipping and making migration easier and more organized. All of these within three years. No one knows how he got his capital but a pawn shop owner said he was robbed by Hum after he sold a diamond ring. Capo never forget or forgive such things. He became rich on Saint Valentine’s day miraculously after the death of Hum. Three months after, The Hawk mob attacked his warehouse and moved away liquors worth five hundred thousand dollars.
Two months later, a ship carrying stolen African artworks worth six million dollars was attacked by pirates and all the members were killed. The same day, the gang leaders were killed too. Capo expanded his pawn shop he next week and some Europeans were seen patronizing him. It is believed that he sold the rare artworks to them in clandestine. He made over seven million dollars. He is a force to reckon with so the stupidity you expressed was a play with fire.”
Andrea said nothing. He remembered the first time he saw Van. Who would have guessed that that the clownish looking bloke was this ambitious and dangerous?
It took just three weeks to prove them right. Andrea began his bootlegging business and it was moving smoothly before Drac appeared in his shop which he used a charade to sell liquor.
“I am Drac.” He said. “Drac is the short form of Dracula.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you out of my zone.”
“I don’t get it. I am just a grocery seller.”
“Tell that to the birds.” Drac said. “I was supposed to supply twenty bottles at a house party and I got a late supply from my dealer. I went to the party and I saw them drinking. An Italian supplied them. I traced you. You cannot sell here. You fuc*ing Italians do not belong here. Who the hell are you? Did Al-Capone plant you here? Huh? We know who organized the Saint Valentine’s m******e …”
“I have never met Al Capone.”
“Who do you work for? Johnny Torrio?”
“I don’t have any fuc*ing boss. Not al-Capone, not Torrio, not Van plus Torrio handed over to Capone and traveled to Italy
“Van? Is he a bootlegger?”
“You know him?”
“I know he is a business man who does legitimate business of pawn and gives out money to the poor.”
“If you don’t have him in your list of foes, then you are sleeping.”
“What do you know about him?”
“I know there were two massacres on Saint Valentine ’s Day. He carried out the other.”
“s**t! The Hum m******e?:
“Yes and he rules Elwood, Dinton Park, Clive Ship Harbors.”
“Do you know him?”
“I used to know him but we fell apart.”
“Why?”
“He married my girlfriend.”
“This is Capton Drive and he does not rule here so that is not my fuc*ing business. This place is owned by The north side mob and not the Chicago Outfit run by your fuc*ing Italians. You should move out of here and you know what, Al- Capone has it coming.”
“I told you that I am not with any gang. I just run a small business to take care of my family.”
“Hmmm…I guess you love Clara and Nicolas so much.”
“What?”
“I have a passion for knowing my enemies and those they love. If you love them, then keep out of business here.”
Drac went out leaving Andrea speechless. He had to protect his family. What should he do? He had intentionally mentioned Van’s name to the north Side mob so they could deal with him. Van was a cagey smart bastard who operated in incognito. He was taking the footsteps of Johnny Torrio but in a more cunny way.
He decided to leave bootlegging to save his family but he realized that the grocery business was not profitable for him. He was not the type to do such a business so he got an offer to supply twenty cartons of beer.
He had hoped to make the supply and stop but the news got to Drac. Andrea had gone to make the supply and collected the money only to be attacked by Drac and two of his gang members.
They shot at him but he escaped and ran down the street. He ran into a hotel where he got into a telephone booth.
“Santana, I am being chased by Drac right now. In case I die, tell Clara and Nicolas it was for them.”
“Where are you at?” Santana.
“Roxy Hotel.”
“I told you to go under Capo! You can run it all by yourself. Good bye Andy.”
Immediately he ended the call, he saw Drac coming. Could he survive this day?
******
- Writer
