"If I hear that goddamned name one more time, I'm gonna shoot the asshole that says it!" Don Leone fumed."Giambi's doing this. Giambi took over that. What the fuck is wrong with all of you?" the crime boss yelled.
The lieutenants around the table looked down and shuffled uncomfortably in their seats.
"Vinnie, what the hell happened? You were supposed to get the protection money from the Asiatown district. You not only came back empty-handed, you came back looking like, like, like ... that!"
Vincent Pak was the underboss responsible for Leone's protection and prostitution rackets in the mainly Chinese and Vietnamese areas of the city. His face was a mass of purple bruises; one eye was swollen shut; one arm was in a sling and the opposite wrist and hand were in a plaster cast.
"Padron, Giambi's ..." he cringed as he said the name "... people took over our entire operation. They're giving the shopowners down there twice the services at half the price. They were ready for us. I couldn't believe how fast they moved ... every one of my guys hadta go to the hospital."
"Why didn't you just shoot the fuckers?"
"We didn't even have a chance. I tried to ... Carpentier took me out. He ..."
"He what?"
Pak looked down. His voice was quiet. "He broke my wrist after he grabbed the gun out of my hand. He told me that Lucio didn't have any beef with me. Or my crew. After they wiped the floor with us, his guys brought us to the hospital and got us fixed up. He said ..."
Vinnie paused.
"He said that you don't know how to treat or take care of your own people any more. He said anyone willing to come work for Lucio was welcome."
Don Leone glared at him.
"Fucking, cocky little bastard! I remember when his father and me started out working as street soldiers for Carmine Scolopo. His father was lower than dirt - and now the little prick son of his is putting on this great show ... 'I don't have any beef with you.' " He rudely mimicked his underboss.
"Well, I've got a beef with him! I'm not gonna just roll over and play dead like Don Franqui did!"
Dominic Franqui had been the eldest of the three crime lords in the city and had often acted as the elder statesman for the disagreements that invariably arose between them. In a surprise move, Franqui had decided to retire and turned over his operations to Lucio Giambi. All of his operations. He pledged his full support to the young man and offered to do anything within his considerable power to assist him. This, of course, led to a great deal of resentment and deep-seated panic on the part of Don Leone. What was before a somewhat stable triumvirate of power had now become a perilously precarious twosome.
Someone cleared his throat at the table. "You know, Emilio, this is a wake up call for us ... maybe we should listen to Vinnie..."Leone was seething. He slowly turned and looked at the speaker.
TJ Kane leaned forward. He had his elbows on the table and had steepled his hands in front of him.
"Shut up, TJ. If I wanted your opinion, I'd ask for it. I don't. Just shut the fuck up!"
The young man was the closest thing Leone had to a son. Childless, Leone had been a foster father to TJ, since his father, Thomas Kane, had spent most of his life in and out of jail. An expert burglar and safecracker, his father had done many jobs for the Leone family. Of everyone at the table, TJ knew the most about the inner workings of the crime lord's operations and the fact that he was questioning Don Leone only fueled the man's rage.
TJ was a tall, handsome man with black hair cut in a short caesar style. His slate blue eyes missed very little and the small steel crescent piercing his septum lent him an air of casual edginess. He had inherited his father's knack for burglary and he too, was an expert at locks, safes and alarm systems. Unlike his father, TJ was a "made man" in Leone's organization - he had killed several men at the behest of the don.
"Emilio, all I'm trying to say is ..."
"SHUT UP YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE SON OF A BITCH!" Leone screamed.
"I raised you when your loser father wound up in jail more often than he was out! He never gave a SHIT about you! I did! After everything I've done for you, you tell ME I should let Lucio Giambi take over everything I built? Who the FUCK do you think you are to disrespect me?"TJ face hardened. He stood up. "I don't need to take this shit from you Emilio, and I won't. I've had it with you. Dash Carpentier is right - you don't know how run the business anymore. I'm out of here."
He strode towards the door. Leone looked at him with a combination of surprise, anger and rage. The other faces around table looked on in shock.
"TJ, get back here, NOW!" he shouted.
"Go fuck yourself!" he slammed the door behind him.
* * *
Two weeks earlier ...
TJ entered the private study of Don Leone through the large French doors. It was dark, and no one saw the young man enter.
"Emilio, why all the cloak and dagger stuff? Why meet in the dead of night like this?"
The older man motioned him to sit.
"TJ, we've got major problems. I don't think I can keep my organization together any more."
He looked at the crime boss in shock.
"We're weak. And we're getting weaker every day. The fact that Dominic turned everything over to Lucio Giambi hurt us badly. At the best estimate, we'll be swallowed up in three years or less."
"I don't believe what I'm hearing."
The old mobster sighed. "Believe it. You know the number of men who've left me for Lucio. Let's face it, he's got his father's charisma, plus he's a fucking brilliant criminal. Add to that, he's got his own bunch of computer hackers, he's got the CHP in his pocket - I don't know how the HELL he managed that - and his own offshore bank - we're being outclassed and outgunned. He's got tons of money flowing into his legit businesses and his money-laundering operations are so vast, they're scary. We were depending on that shipment of cocaine, but the damn ship got interdicted by the Coast Guard. Sons of bitches knew EXACTLY where the smack was hidden. We lost over 450 million dollars on that screwup, and I know Lucio had a hand in it. It's fucking terrifying to think he can make even the Feds dance to his tune. I can see only one way out of this...""What can I do to help?"
Leone smiled at his almost-son. "I want you to leave me and work for Lucio Giambi."
"WHAT?" TJ looked at him in shock.
"We need to make it look like we had a knock-down, drag-out fight and you're sick of me. You hate me. You can't take me any more. That'll at least get your foot in the door with Dash Carpentier."
"I can't leave you Emilio, I owe you everything."
"You HAVE to do this for me TJ. Once you get close enough to Lucio - and I know you will - you'll need to kill him. I want Giambi to know he was betrayed as he dies."
TJ looked troubled. "I don't know if I can pull this off, Emilio. They know how close we are. You raised me, for God's sake."
Leone grabbed the young man's hands. "They're gonna watch you closely anyway. They expect you're gonna be conflicted. Please, TJ. Do this for me. Do this for me and I'll give you anything you want."
* * *
Bad news traveled quickly, and the supposed downfall of Don Leone's heir apparent was greeted in some quarters with drinks and celebrations. It was less than a week before TJ received a rather interesting phone call.
"Hello."
"I'd like to speak with TJ Kane, please."
"Speaking."
"TJ, this is Dash Carpentier."
Silence.
"TJ, you still there?"
"Yeah ... you calling me is a little bit of a shock."
Dash chuckled. "I'd expect it would be. Look, I just wanted to say I heard about the fight you and Don Leone had. I'm sorry about that. It must have been hard for you. We'd like to talk to you about coming to work for us."
"Who's 'we', Dash?"
"Lucio and myself. Are you interested?"
"I ... I need to think about it. Can I give you a call in a couple of days?"
"Sure ... here's my cell. Call me." He gave the young burglar the number and hung up.
And so it begins. TJ said to himself.
* * *
After a battery of tests - both physical and mental - TJ had his first one-on-one meeting with Lucio Giambi. The crime lord was on his cell phone, but quickly finished the call when the young burglar was ushered into his office. He gave TJ a wide smile.
Giambi was dressed in a black striped shirt which wrapped his muscular body and left little to the imagination. Snug, faded jeans highlighted his considerable bulge and hugged his muscular legs and ass. Dark hair framed a handsome face with dark eyes and a faint shadow on his square jaw. A small moustache highlighted sensuous lips."TJ! I wanted to be the first guy to thank you for joining my organization." The smile was absolutely magnetic. TJ was taken aback by the sheer charisma and the force of crime boss' personality. He also found himself growing aroused. The thought troubled him slightly, but he dismissed it. Nerves. That's all it is - nerves.
"Thanks, Don Giambi. I'm glad you would take me."
"It's just 'Lucio', TJ. The only 'Dons' around here are Rickles and Henley."
TJ laughed. Lucio was so completely different from Emilio Leone.
He motioned him to a chair. "Have a seat."
Lucio sat down across from him. "I realize this is going to be a hard adjustment for you. You've been working with Don Leone since you were sixteen, right?"
TJ nodded. "Earlier. My dad was in and out of jail a lot. Emilio literally raised me." Tell the truth. Let him see you still upset about it.
"Look, I'm not going to be asking you anything about his operations. I don't care about him. I care about YOU. If anyone tries to pump you for information, I want you to come to me or to Dash, okay? You don't need any more stress than you've got already."
TJ stared at him.
"You seem surprised."
"I am. I kinda thought one of the first things you'd want me to do is tell you all about Emilio's operations."
"TJ, I tell this to everyone who works for me. I don't care about what you did before. You're here now, and you're working for me. There's absolutely nothing I would not do for any one of my people. I only ask three things - work hard, be loyal , and never lie to me. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir."
Lucio smiled, but his eyes bore into the burglar. TJ could not break away from Giambi's gaze. The crime boss took his soldier's hands in his own. He turned serious.
"TJ, can you swear that to me? Can you honestly say with all your heart that you've left Emilio Leone for good? If you can't ... if you're not one-hundred percent certain, I understand. No harm. No foul."TJ swallowed hard. "Boss ... Lucio ... Emilio brought me up. But I can't stand by and see him destroy the people around him. I left because I felt this is the best way to save the people who work for us ... for him. The best lies are always mixed with the truth. Yes. Yes Lucio, I swear."
Lucio continued to stare. TJ felt as if that gaze was stripping him bare and exposing every hidden thought within him.
The crime lord smiled. The spell was broken. "I'm glad. Really glad. I think you're going to be a tremendous asset to my businesses."
He reached across and grabbed a folder off his desk. He sat down again, and opened it.
"You've passed your physical with flying colors ... but then again, looking at you, I wouldn't think otherwise..." he grinned.
"You also show a good deal of aptitude for languages. You speak any, besides English?"
"I can speak Italian, and I can speak and write Spanish. I can understand a little Vietnamese."
Lucio nodded. "Nice .... I'd like you to learn Mandarin. Sounds good?"
TJ blinked. "Sure."
Lucio continued. "I also want to rotate you through several of my operations here. See what you like. After three rotations, let's get together again and we'll discuss what you want to do. You okay with that?"
"Boss, I don't know what to say ... thanks! Thanks for taking me on."
"Hey! No problem." Giambi looked at his watch. "How about celebrating with lunch?"
TJ and Lucio left his office and headed out of the building. Discretely, two of Giambi's bodyguards detached themselves from their posts and followed the pair from an unobtrusive distance. TJ was not consciously aware of it, but the seeds of doubt had been firmly planted by Giambi. It was only a matter of time before they began to grow.
* * *
TJ's entree into the Giambi organization was intense for the young burglar. In addition to the planned rotations through several of Lucio's businesses, he was subjected to a grueling schedule of physical preparation and training. Hand-to-hand and unarmed combat. Stealth and commando lessons. Weights. Endurance training. Firearms instruction that was unlike anything he had ever had. Knife work. Fencing. Plus the language lessons. TJ took to learning Mandarin as a duck to water. At the end of the first three months, Kane had added about ten pounds of muscle to his frame and carried himself with a newly acquired lithe and deadly grace.He also noticed that Lucio fostered - no, demanded - a level of independence and creativity from his people. From soldiers on the street to lieutenants to his underbosses - every man was encouraged to take risks, to think, to explore possibilities that would benefit the organization. The only unpardonable offense in Lucio's eyes was being deliberately stupid.
Surprisingly enough, there was no fear. TJ knew that Don Leone ran his operations with an iron fist and would think nothing of executing someone who displeased him or fouled up. Soldiers in that organization were driven by terror and would not take any initiative whatsoever. That characteristic - so ingrained in Emilio's businesses - was a terrible point of weakness and was a leading cause to the deterioration of the older crime lord's power and influence.
It was during his rotation through Lucio's casino businesses that this point was hammered home. Vincent Ridge - the casino manager - had taken TJ out for drinks and dinner to celebrate his coming aboard as a pit boss. Vincent had been part of the Franqui organization and now ran most, if not all, of Lucio's legal gambling establishments. Ridge was an older, but still handsome man, with a full head of dark hair going silver at the temples.
"TJ, you know the biggest reason we won World War II?"
TJ shook his head.
"Initiative. You had guys in platoons that could take charge if anything came up. Not like the Germans. Or the Japanese. Really rigid command structure. If you killed their officers, those guys would wander around like zombies. Not so with the American troops."
He lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag and blew the smoke up towards the ceiling.
"Lucio operates the same way. Do you remember Bobby Reyes?"
"He ran Emilio's west side dock operations, right?"
Ridge nodded. "Now, he comes up to Lucio and says, 'Boss, I've been thinking about this for a while. I couldn't tell Don Leone anything since all I'd hear is 'Shut the fuck up and keep your nose out of my other businesses.' Do you know how many times I've wanted a woman to just hold me? And talk to me? No fucking around. I think we could make a nice piece of change.' So Lucio asks his folks to do some number-crunching and gives Bobby some startup money."Ridge took another drag on the cigarette.
"The business took OFF. Like a fighter jet. Completely legit. We get all the movers and shakers, plus the little guys. And cops. Lots of cops. You can't imagine the repeat business we get by providing a hand to hold and a heart to understand. A lot of the gals wind up getting married to their clients. They keep their eyes out for Lucio's interests too. Bobby's pulling in $2-3 million a month now. See? Initiative. Lucio's always looking for smart guys with good ideas."
TJ was flabbergasted. How could Emilio compete with that? How could he hope to recoup his former glory? The men he lost were truly lost to him - they would never again submit to him now that they had tasted the independence Lucio has granted them.
"You've got a good future ahead of you TJ - make the most of it."
"Vince, how do you know about all this World War II stuff? It's fascinating."
Ridge smiled. "I got my Masters degree in history. Lucio sent me back to college for it."
* * *
While TJ still reported back regularly to Emilio Leone, he was beginning to find himself increasingly hesitant about exposing Lucio's men and plans to the older mobster. He even began to find himself bending the truth, if not outright lying, to his foster father.
"So Giambi's got this Indian geek who runs his computer operations? We could whack him and fuck Lucio up good. Make it look like an accident." "Not Indian, Emilio. West Indian. It's no good. He's got bodyguards on him all the time."
"Shit. Well, let's see what else we can do."
TJ had spent a good deal of time with the darkly handsome Desi hacker. He had worked in the data acquisition area under Giaan and could not countenance anything happening to his friend. It troubled him that his loyalties were being twisted in such a manner.
The Fates, however, appeared to be favoring him when he was working late one night and heard a familar voice.
"So my young padawan, I see you have escaped from the Dark Side..."
TJ looked up as a 100-watt smile split his face. "Jeremy!"
Jeremy Connor swaggered into the room and the two men hugged. Connor had been a lieutenant in the Leone organization about five years ago, but had been one of the first ones to jump ship and work for Lucio Giambi. He had also been TJ's mentor and best friend - an older brother that TJ never had.
"You look great! I haven't seen you in years. How are you doing?"
Connor brushed a lock of soot-black hair from his face. He had always been a big man (and slightly overweight) but now sported the trim physique of all the Giambi soldieri. For some odd reason, he also looked younger than TJ recalled. A black string top highlighted his heavily muscled arms and chest. A faded black pair of jeans clung to his narrow waist and long legs. A paddle holster was tucked into his left side and the butt of a blued-steel Heckler&Koch USP peeped out of the waistband. He sported a deep bronze tan, which only served to make him appear like a Greek statue come to life.
"It looks like you're really glad to see me, Squirt ..." Jeremy grinned as he pointedly looked down at TJ's crotch.TJ was wearing a pale shell sweater and a pair of snug black slacks. A shoulder holster stretched across his chest and his Glock was tucked securely under his arm. The bulge in his pants left little to the imagination. TJ looked down himself and blushed scarlet.
Jeremy laughed. He put his arm around Kane and the two headed out of the office.
"I've been managing Lucio's middle eastern and African interests, kiddo. Just got back here for a little project and he wants you to come help me and him with it. C'mon. We've got a meeting with the boss."
* * *
The underboss and burglar took the express elevator up to Lucio's penthouse. Many of the lights were off or dimmed and the apartment felt deserted. TJ felt a tendril of fear creep up his spine - this was just too damn similar to that meeting with Don Leone so many months ago.
Jeremy touched him on the shoulder. He jumped.
"Hey TJ, what's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Kane composed himself. "Sorry. It's just a little creepy up here when it's not lit."
The underboss knocked on a door and the two entered Giambi's private study. Lucio was alone.
"Hey, TJ ... thanks for coming up. I have a job that we need to get done."
Giambi unrolled a building blueprint and secured it to his desk.
"We need to get into the Hoffman Building and get something out of a safe on the third floor."
He unrolled an electrical diagram and placed it next to the blueprint."Here's the alarm schematics. It's a Brinks X44-YU system."
TJ looked over the schematics and began tracing them with his finger. "Any enhancements?"
"Nope."
"What type of safe is it?"
"Majestic. Model 6600."
He looked up at Lucio. "Boss, you're kidding me, right?"
Giambi looked taken aback. "No ... why?"
"My dad could do this without breaking a sweat. This technology is at least 25 years old."
Lucio looked serious. "Well, that's good to hear since we have to do it tonight and we have to leave no trace that we were ever there."
* * *
"You're coming, too?" Kane asked as Lucio tightened a shoulder holster across his chest.
"I don't lead from the rear, TJ." He gave the burglar a tight smile. "If I'm asking my people to take risks, I take them along with them."
"Jeremy brought this to my attention. The item is going to be transported tomorrow morning. It's extremely important we get it before it's moved."
The three were dressed in dark clothing as they descended the elevator to the garage level. Lucio headed to a nondescript dark-colored car. The three got in and sped off.
* * *
The Hoffman building was one of those post-Depression monstrosities that was in serious need of demolition, but groups of concerned citizens always found some loophole to keep it from being bulldozed. The latest attempt was a petition to place it on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Until the petition was evaluated, there was a restraining order on imploding the building.Lucio parked the car down the street from the edifice. The vehicle was under a tree and between an expanse of broken streetlights. The three circled around the back of the building where TJ quietly picked the lock. The door opened on well-oiled hinges and they proceeded up the stairs.
When they reached the third floor landing, Lucio and Jeremy drew their guns.
"There's one guard." Lucio whispered. "He should be on the other side of the floor right now. The office we need to get into is twelve doors to our right. Let's go."
TJ left the stairwell first; Lucio and Jeremy covered him as the trio quickly padded across the floor. The only light came from the emergency exit signs. When they were about halfway to their destination, they heard footsteps approaching them. Jeremy tucked the gun into his waistband and grabbed the doorknob nearest to them. He covered it with his other hand and twisted. The other two heard a faint groan of metal as the lock broke. They piled into the quiet office and closed the door. The footsteps grew closer and Kane could see the light from the flashlight as it cast wavy patterns across the frosted glass of the office door. The footsteps faded, as did the light. After 30 seconds, the three continued to their destination.
TJ began to work on the door's lock. Within seconds, the three criminals were in the large office. Jeremy closed the door quietly behind them.
Lucio motioned with his gun. "Back room, TJ. I'll stay out here. Jeremy - he's going to need help getting the package out - go with him."
"C'mon, Squirt. Let's get this over with."
TJ approached the Brinks panel mounted on the frame next to the back door. The device was no match for his expertise. Within two minutes, the status lights blinked green and the arming switch was disabled.
Jeremy opened the door and the two approached the large floor safe. TJ withdrew a stethoscope from his pocket and quickly spun the dial.Click. He spun again. Click. And again. Thunk. He looked up at Jeremy and grinned. Kane put his hand on the latch and twisted. The door opened.
Besides a few piles of cash, there was a large metal box.
"That's what we need."
TJ attempted to move the container. He couldn't ... it was massively heavy.
"Let me grab it."
Jeremy reached in and took hold the container. Connor removed it as easily as a box of tissues. TJ closed the safe and spun the dial again. Jeremy cradled the large box as the they left the back room; as they left, the burglar re-armed the security panel. With Connor's hands full, TJ drew his gun.
"All done?" Lucio whispered.
TJ nodded.
Lucio opened the outer door a crack and peeked out. He motioned the other two to follow him.
"Jeremy, you've got to get out of here with the box. TJ and I will cover you. Let's go - we're almost home."
Despite the weight of the box in his arms, Jeremy moved like a shadow. When the reached the first corner, they heard a shout. The language was foreign to them, but the intent was unmistakable - STOP! A bullet whizzed past the crime lord's head.
"Run!" he yelled.
TJ and Jeremy ran towards the exit as Lucio covered them. Within seconds, the two were at the stairwell.
"Get to the car, I'll cover Lucio!"
Connor nodded and ran down the stairs.
TJ heard footsteps racing towards him. He aimed his gun, ready to kill Lucio as he rounded the corner. Ready to fulfill Don Leone's mission.
Lucio rounded the corner to see TJ facing him with gun drawn. The burglar's eyes were cold. Giambi skidded to a stop.
What happened next was completely unexpected. TJ grabbed the crime lord by the arm and whipped Giambi behind him. Lucio tripped and fell to his knees. The guard came running around the corner. Two muffled coughs from Kane's gun caught the man squarely in the chest. He collapsed in a dead heap.
TJ tucked the Glock back into the holster and grabbed the guard. He threw him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.
"C'mon boss! Let's get the hell out of here!"
* * *
The two men exited the building, TJ staggering slightly from the weight of the dead man across his shoulders. They reached the car - Jeremy had already had the motor running. When he saw the burden being carried by Kane, he popped the trunk. TJ dropped the body into rear compartment and then slammed the trunk shut. He got into the back seat and the car sped off.
"Why did you take the body with us?" asked Jeremy.
"We had to make sure that we were never there. A dead body would not be a good indication of that."
Giambi was on his cellphone.
"Peter? Lucio. It's done. We had a little problem. See you in a few." he clicked the phone shut.
"TJ? What's the matter? You're shaking."
The burglar was indeed shaking. What the hell is wrong with me? Why couldn't I shoot him?
"N-nothing boss. I guess I'm a little twitchy from carrying the body down three flights of stairs."Jeremy drove the car onto the waterfront. He traveled deeper into warrens of old buildings until he came to a smallish warehouse. He exited the car and knocked on the rollup door.
As the door began to roll open and he drove the car into an empty space awash with lights and personnel.
Lucio got out of the car, followed by TJ and Jeremy. A serious looking man with thinning brown hair approached the trio. TJ recognized him as Peter Gardner, the operations chief of the city's FBI bureau.
"What was the problem?"
"We had to kill the guard. He caught us on the way out."
"You didn't leave the body there, did you?"
"I was about to ... TJ thought otherwise and carried him out. We have him in the trunk. With the container."
The man visibly relaxed and grinned. "Good thinking..." he looked quizzically at the burglar."... TJ? TJ Kane? Since when are you working for Lucio Giambi? I thought you were Emilio Leone's golden boy?"
The shaking had quieted down to a few tremors. Kane hoped they weren't visible to the station chief. "I don't work for Emilio anymore. I've been with Lucio for over six months."
Gardner whistled. "Well, you learn something new every day." He turned to Lucio and shook his hand.
"Lucio, thank you for tonight. I wish there was something official I could do, but I can't. Unofficially though ..." He pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number. He waited until someone answered and held it out to the crime lord.
"Hello?" Lucio said. Giambi looked shocked. It took a lot to rattle the crime lord.
"It ... it was my pleasure, sir. I'm glad I could do something to help. If you ever need something again, please don't hesitate to call me. You're welcome, sir. Goodbye, sir."
He handed the phone back to Gardner. The station chief grinned.
Lucio took a deep breath. "Wow."
"Can I give you fellas a ride home? We're gonna need the car you drove in with."
"I think we could use a lift. I don't think I'm in any shape to drive home right now, anyway."
* * *
The three returned to Lucio's penthouse. He flipped on the lights and moved to the bar. He poured out three tall glasses of scotch. He handed one each to TJ and Jeremy, took his own and collapsed into a chair.He let out a deep breath. He grinned. "We gotta get out more often - that was fun!"
Jeremy smiled back at the mobster. He raised his glass and knocked back the drink. "You have a really sick idea of fun, boss. We nearly got ourselves killed tonight!"
TJ had been quiet on the way back to the penthouse. He seemed quite perturbed by the course of the evening's events.
"Lucio, what the hell did we steal and hand over to the Feds?"
Jeremy and Lucio looked at each other. A look passed between them. The point of no return regarding TJ and his place in Giambi's organization was decided.
Lucio sipped his drink. "Jeremy found out that 10 kilos of weapons grade plutonium-239 had been smuggled into the country and was on its way to some radical extremists. The half-life on that stuff is 24,100 goddamn years. Christ only knows what the fuckers were going to do with it. I let the Feds know about it and they asked us to make it disappear. By the way, you killing the guard was a stroke of fortune. I'm having Giaan lay a false trail all over the globe. Everyone will think he stole the goods. There's going to be so many meetings, phone calls and finger-pointing going on that Peter's guys will be able to eliminate a bunch of the Arab bastards."
"You work for the Feds?"
"Nope. I work for me. And my people. I'm a crook, TJ. I admit it. But I'm not a traitor. This is something I was asked to do for my country, and I was glad to do it. How could I stand by, do nothing and let possibly thousands of people die? How could I ever look at myself in the mirror?"
He took another sip of his drink. "The President was also quite grateful."
"Was that who was on the cellphone?"
Giambi smiled. "Yeah. It was quite a surprise. Deep down, Peter's a nice guy. A bit of a tight-ass, but a nice guy. Then again, you've got to be somewhat of a Boy Scout to get where he is."
TJ's head swam. He was confused. He couldn't bring himself to kill Lucio when he had the chance. How could he possibly do it now?
* * *
TJ asked for a few days off. Since he was currently working for Lucio's casino operations, and this time of year was a rather slow, there was no problem. The young man was beside himself. During one particularly sleepless night, he came to realize that Don Leone's plans had backfired. In his attempt to direct a traitor's bullet straight into Lucio's heart, he had in fact given Giambi a new lieutenant. There was no way he could ever kill Lucio now - despite the promises - the empty promises, he now understood - of his former lord and master.
But what was he going to do? He could not go back to Leone, nor he felt - admit the duplicity to Lucio. That was the only crime in the Giambi organization punishable by death - lying. He tried to work scenarios through his head as he was sipping a large mug of coffee when the phone rang.
"Hey Squirt, you feeling better?"
"Hey Jeremy ... yeah, I guess so. What's up?"
"Get yourself dressed up ... we're going to a party tonight at Oro."
"Oro? What's that?"
"It's Lucio's private club up in the hills. We're having a celebration for the um, 'successful delivery'. It'll cheer you up."
"I don't know if I'm in a party mood, bud. I think I'll pass."
"Uh-uh. Nope. This is a command performance. Lucio wants you there. He thinks you've been brooding too much. It's not good for you."
TJ felt a lump develop in his throat. The crime lord was an excellent judge of character and kinesthetics. He was often so accurate it was scary. Did he do something that gave him pause to question his loyalty?"
"Okay, I'll be there. What time?"
"Seven o'clock. I'll pick you up. See you later, Squirt."
* * *
Jeremy took a circuitous route up the hills surrounding the city and spiraled up a narrow road. As the underboss made the final turn onto the club's grounds, TJ gasped. Three stories high, Oro looked like a cross between a Florentine villa and a Baroque mansion. "This is the club?"Jeremy smiled. "Uh-huh. I said it was exclusive."
The two young men pulled up to the entrance, exited the car and a valet trotted over to park it. Jeremy handed him the keys; he and TJ were quickly whisked inside.
The inside was as beautiful as the exterior of the club. A pair of wrought iron staircases swept across the foyer, and while the club was filling up rapidly, the interior space retained a light and airy feeling. Kane could hear a beat of music in the background, but it was quiet and muffled. Great soundproofing he said to himself. Several of the staff - tall, handsome men, all - greeted Jeremy with a wave and smile as they hurried by. Again, TJ found himself growing hard looking at the other men. He was, however, distracted by the thoughts running through his head about Lucio uncovering his hidden agenda.
The men proceeded down a long hallway and stopped outside a set of double doors. The music was a bit louder, but still muted. A guard - tanned golden with a shorn head - was outside of the door and was acting as another security check. His wore a tuxedo top without a shirt - exposing slabs of pectoral muscle and etched abs; his trousers fit him like a second skin and his black shoes gleamed in the subdued lighting. TJ found his pulse quickening just looking at the man.Jeremy grinned at the guard. "Hey Bobby - looking good, stud! Nice six-pack!" He ran his hand down the man's chest.
The man returned the smile. "Thanks Jeremy. Who's your buddy?"
"Bobby Cromwell, this is TJ Kane. He's Lucio's new lieutenant."
Lieutenant?
"Go right in, the party's underway already." He winked at TJ. "See you later, kid!"The party was indeed underway. The room was filled with handsome men. Dark. Light. Tall. Slim. Muscular. TJ felt his heart thump in his chest. He couldn't figure out what was going on and why he was reacting the way he was. He had never been successful with the ladies; inevitably his liaisons were always a disappointment for both parties. And Don Leone had always kept him busy ... the most pleasant times had always been working with Emilio's crews; being in close proximity to hard, good-looking men. When Jeremy stroked the man's chest outside the party, the realization hit him like a sledgehammer between the eyes - Jeremy was gay. And ... so was he.
"Hey Squirt, what the matter?" Jeremy looked at him, concern written all over his chiseled face. If anything, the party seemed to have made the young burglar even more agitated and upset.
"I ... I need a drink." He made a beeline towards the bar. He got the waiter's attention.
"Double scotch over ice." The waiter nodded and turned his back to prepare the drink.
"Don't knock that back too fast. Lucio doesn't water those down."
TJ turned to face a tall, handsome, muscular man leaning against the bar. His breath caught in his throat. The other man had short black hair in a faded buzz cut and pale brown eyes. He had high cheekbones which accented the chiseled perfection of his face and a warm and inviting smile. His voice was a husky tenor. He held a gin and tonic in his hand.
The man grinned at him. "This your first time at Oro?"
Kane nodded. "It's a bit intense."
The man put out his hand. "Phil Zeeman."
TJ shook it. "TJ Kane. You work for Lucio?"
Phil grinned. "Kinda sorta. I'm a California Highway Patrolman. Our division does a lot of work with Lucio's businesses."
TJ looked shocked. Phil laughed. It was like quicksilver running down the burglar's spine. Zeeman gave him a mock-serious look and tapped his chin.
"Burglar, right?"
TJ gasped.
"You've got a great body, TJ. And I can see that you've been through Lucio's boot camp. It's something we've worked out together over the years. But you've got a really gentle touch about you. Comes with the territory, right?"
Kane murmured something.
Phil stroked his arm; TJ didn't pull away. The touch was so gentle, yet it had him ablaze with desire. "Hey, we're not here arresting anyone! Everyone at the party Lucio trusts implicitly. You wouldn't be here if he couldn't depend on you. My boss and his partner are over there ..." he pointed to a strikingly handsome blonde man and a raven-haired stud holding each other. "Most of Santa Monica Division is here tonight. The guys on second watch are missing out on all the fun."
The two continued to talk and TJ began to move closer to the patrolman. Phil's laugh was like satin running across his skin. Finally, Kane closed the distance between them and brushed Zeeman's lips with his own. His septum crescent trailed across Phil's upper lip. The patrolman gave a delighted grin.
"That feels great - it tickles!" Phil drew the burglar closer to him and began to nibble his jaw. TJ moaned.
Brown eyes met slate blue. "How about coming over to my apartment?" TJ nodded. Phil tucked his arm around Kane's waist and the two left the party.
From a distance, Jeremy smiled. He, more than anyone else, knew exactly what the burglar really needed.
* * *
TJ went to the kitchen and was filling the glass at the tap when he felt Phil's arms come around him and the policeman's lips on his neck. His hands were still trembling slightly."Whoa ..." he turned to see that dazzling smile again as the two nuzzled. Soon they were undressing.
Burglar and cop began to gently explore one other - Phil was well muscled and his cock was a good 8" and thick. Within moments, Zeeman was on top of Kane and the couple were kissing deeply, exploring each other's mouths and ears. Phil kissed TJ's eyes - no one had ever done that before - and then kissed his throat as he massaged the soldier's lower back and butt.
"I want to be inside you, handsome" he breathed. His pale brown eyes sparkled in the dim light of the bedroom as he gently stroked the other man's forehead. TJ was torn between lust and guilt - his feelings for the policeman were at a level he never experienced before. Kane could feel the policeman's massive tool grind against his crotch.
"I don't think I can take it, Phil. You're so ... big. I ... I've never done this before."
Zeeman stopped. "You're a virgin?"
TJ gulped and nodded. Unshed tears began to form in his eyes. Damnit, why am I reacting this way?
"Oh sweet Jesus ..." Phil returned to gently kissing Kane's eyes and nibbled along his jaw.
"If I promise it won't hurt, can I try?"
TJ nodded. Zeeman stroked his forehead and smiled at the soldieri.
Phil put his hands under the other man's legs and slowly raised them to his shoulders - all the while kissing down his torso, pausing to slightly bite each nipple and tonguing his navel. By the time he started kissing TJ's stomach - just above his pubic hair -- the burglar was shaking with excitement and eagerness. Zeeman reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a bottle of Gun Oil. He poured a good amount onto the thief's pucker and then poured an equally generous amount onto his massive tool.Soon, his pink glans was pushing at Kane's ass. It felt great, but the burglar was afraid, and sure enough, just as Phil forced it in, TJ felt an excruciating pain.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!" Zeeman smothered his mouth with another kiss.
He held TJ's face. "Just hold still and wait a moment, Teej - the pain will go."
Suddenly there was no pain, only an emptiness that badly needed filling -- "Jeesus!! Fuck me, Phil! Fuck me!"
With a single thrust Phil was all the way in and TJ immediately knew he had waited far too long for this first experience. Zeeman was a skilled lover, now slow, now fast, his hands moving all the time and his lips all over every part of the burglar he could reach without dislodging his steel rod from Kane's ass.They made love for a minute that seemed like an eternity and an eternity that seem like a minute. Suddenly TJ heard Phil's breathing increase and a slight panting moan -- the soldier's body responded by vibrating all over -- Kane thought he was going to faint.
Soon TJ heard heavy groans - almost screams - and he realized that they were his own. Then he felt the policeman's cock pulse strongly in his ass once, twice, three times and more -- he was transported as he experienced the sensation of hot geysers of cum shooting into his ass.
Without warning and without touching his own cock, TJ shot -- the third spasm hitting Phil's cheek and then dripping down onto his lips - Zeeman licked it away -- TJ felt like a buzz saw was splitting his spine and then his body came and came and came again.
Exhausted, but happy - truly content for the first time in his life - TJ drifted off to sleep. Phil's arm was draped around the young burglar and the two spooned together in the large bed.
* * *
Phil woke to the sun streaming into the bedroom window - TJ was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.
"Hey, sweetheart, what's the matter?" Zeeman reached over to stroke the other's man's muscular back. He sat up in bed and began to kiss the back of TJ's neck.
Kane turned to him, tears streaming down his face. "Phil, I've been living a lie. I can't do it any more. It's killing me inside!" He wrapped himself around the policeman and wept.
* * *
"So let me get this straight ... Emilio Leone staged the fight between you and him to get you working for Lucio? Then when the time was right, you were supposed to kill him?"
TJ nodded. "At least that was how it was supposed to happen. But the situation got out of hand almost from the start. I got to really know Lucio and his operations. By the time I had the chance to kill him, I couldn't. I couldn't even give Emilio inside information anymore. I lied. I lied to him to protect Lucio. And Giaan. And everyone else."
Phil looked at him. TJ continued.
"But I lied to Lucio, too Phil. I lied about being loyal to him. What am I gonna do?"
Zeeman stroked his lover's forehead. "But the lie was actually a lie in itself. You are loyal to him, aren't you?"
"Of course I am! I'd do anything for him, Phil! I'd take a bullet for him!"
"You're gonna have to tell him the truth, Teej. There's no way around it."
The burglar looked stricken. The policeman held him close. "I'll come with you."
TJ snuggled into the Zeeman's hard chest. Please God, he said to himself, please don't have Lucio make me be the one to kill him.
* * *
Zeeman called in SMD to say he'd be coming in late. After he got dressed in his uniform, he and TJ traveled over to the other's apartment for a shower and change of clothes. They then proceeded to Giambi's office. They were greeted by Shaun, Lucio's assistant. The man was an handsome cocoa-skinned black with deep brown eyes and an infectious good humor.
"Hey Phil! What brings you to this neck of the wo- TJ, what's wrong?" Shaun took one look at the soldieri and concern creased his rugged face.
"I've gotta see Lucio, Shaun. It's important."
"Okay, okay. Hold on." Shaun dialed a number and spoke quietly on the phone. After a brief conversation, he put the receiver down.
"Go ahead in."
Phil sat down. He gave him an encouraging smile and a thumbs up. TJ knocked on the door and entered.
* * *
Lucio had been in a meeting with Ariane Zutrovna, the head of his psychographics division. A brilliant but ruthless psychologist, she worked frequently with Giaan on special projects for Giambi's organization, including the CLEAT modifications. She also happened to be the daughter of one of the most notorious Russian mobsters. Anton Zutro had sent his daughter to America to learn from the best teachers on how to run his criminal empire. He had hoped for more than a political alliance with Giambi, but the crime lord was not interested in a physical liasion with the raven-haired Slavic beauty. Nevertheless, she kept her eyes (and some snickered, her claws) out and ready for any powerful young criminal to bed.TJ entered the office as Lucio and Ariane were examining the results of a long computer report.
"... ze economic downturn has hit two of our target populations quite badly. Ze bankers and financial professionals and ze lower blue-collar groups. Ve can reduce our collections by five percent without any appreciable cash flow issues, AND ve can offer zem a renegotiation of zeir debt by transferring balances to ze credit cards issued by our offshore banking conglomerate. Giaan was correct - ze money spent on your drug operations would become self-laundering under zis scenario ..."
The two looked up at the young man. Ariane stared at him the way a cat would gaze at a particularly plump and tasty-looking mouse. She glanced back at Lucio.
"Escho odin?"
He nodded. "Ya boyus. Sto devyanosto sem."
She made a face. "Zhalost."(See below for the translation)
She sighed. "You alvays get ze gorgeous ones, Lucio."
He shrugged. "What can I do, Ariane? I'm a role model." He grinned.
A sour expression flitted across her beautiful face. "So, you vant to go ahead with zis plan?"
"Sounds good. We get to keep the customers, they're grateful, and when the downturn ends, we looking at eight ...?"
"Twelve."
"... twelve percent increase in purchases. Yep. Go ahead."
Her high-heeled shoes clicked across the room as she left.
Lucio gave TJ a concerned stare."Shaun told me you needed to see me - what's up? You look like shit."
TJ fell to his knees. He started to talk.
* * *
By the time the young man finished his confession, Giambi's face was a hard, unyielding mask. He was beyond angry. TJ could see that he was furious. Furious at Kane for lying to him, and furious at Leone for his underhanded and dishonorable attack.
"Give me your gun, TJ." There was coldness in his voice that Kane had never heard before. Shaking, the burglar pulled his piece from the small of his back and handed it butt-first to the mob boss.
Lucio pulled the slide back and cocked the gun. He placed the muzzle to the young man's head.
"What would you do if you were me, TJ? What would you do if the situation were reversed?"
Kane swallowed hard. "I'd .. I'd kill the traitor and dump the body in front of the person who ordered the hit.""I'll give you a final request, TJ. You don't deserve it, but you'll get it anyway. What do you want?"
TJ looked up into the cold, angry face. Tears ran down his cheeks. "Phil came with me. He's outside. Please let me hold him one last time before you do what you gotta do."
Lucio picked up the phone and told Shaun to send the policeman in. Zeeman entered the office and took in the tableau - Lucio with a gun in his hand and TJ weeping on his knees. The patrolman looked at the mob boss.
"He wants to hold you one final time."
Phil went over to the distraught burglar and pulled him to his feet. He held and rocked him in his strong arms.
"Oh God, I'm sorry, Phil. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry we only had such a short time together ..." Hot salty tears dampened the patrolman's neck and uniform collar as sobs wracked the body of the other man. Zeeman held him until the sobs subsided. Phil's eyes, too were damp. He gave him a lingering kiss.
"I'll always love you, TJ. Just remember that."
With a final sniffle, TJ let go of his lover and turned to face Giambi.
"Okay, boss. Let's do it. Let's get it over with." He knelt down in front of the mobster.Lucio uncocked the gun and threw it onto the couch.
"Well, you're lucky I'm not Don Leone." Giambi pulled TJ up from his kneeling position and held him close.
"I knew about the plot all along. I also knew you couldn't do it. You did give me a heart attack in that office corridor, though. If you hadn't come clean to me ... well, let's say that gun of yours wouldn't have a full clip right now."
Lucio continued to stroke TJ's head and back as the soldier sobbed against him in relief.
A near inaudible "snick" and Dash entered the room from behind a false panel.
"You take too many chances, Lucio." he grumbled. He had had a .44 Magnum with silencer in his hand. He re-engaged the safety and holstered the pistol. He examined TJ's gun lying on the couch. "Oh Christ! The damn gun was loaded! What the hell were you thinking? He could have shot you!"
"I only play games I know I can win, lover. I wasn't worried."
Lucio held him by the shoulders. "TJ, you're a problem."
"What do you mean, boss?"
"If you don't kill me, Don Leone is going to kill you and just send someone else. Maybe next time, someone who wasn't ready to be turned in the first place. The old man has become completely unstable. Do you know he was the one that smuggled the plutonium into the country?"
Kane looked at him in shock. Giambi nodded.
"He's desperate. And crazy. That's a dangerous combination I can't tolerate."
Giambi held the burglar by the shoulders. "Will you help me, TJ? Will you help me end this?"
"Anything boss, anything."
"Here's what I want you to do..."
* * *
A night breeze rustled quietly through Don Leone's study, bringing with it the scent of jasmine and other flowers. The old mobster was staring out of his window and into the night. It was clear and the constellations twinkled brightly above in the blue-black velvet sky. Leone heard a noise and turned to find TJ entering the study through the French doors. The phone call to meet had come about an hour earlier.
"Well?"
"It's done, Emilio. Lucio Giambi is dead."
The old man rubbed his hands together in glee. "Good boy! Tell me the details. Tell me what that prick Giambi looked like when you -"
TJ pulled out a silenced SigSauer. A single quiet cough came out of the gun and Don Leone crumbled to the floor. The bullet hole left a scarlet blossom in the middle of his chest. A crimson pool began to spread out beneath the sprawled mobster.
Pain and betrayal crossed his features. "Why ....?" He coughed weakly. Bright red blood began to foam at the sides of his mouth.
With a sob, TJ administered the coup de grace and put another slug between the old mobster's eyes. His own eyes filled with unshed tears. The gun hung limply at his side.
"Because your crazy feud could have killed millions. I couldn't stand by and let that happen."
* * *
"And ... we have a new member at the Division. Tommy Kane. Just out of the Academy. Let's give him a hand!"
The officers stood and gave a blushing Kane claps and cheers. Several officers patted him on his broad shoulders and Joshua noticed that the new recruit thoroughly enjoyed the lingering touches.
"Thanks everyone ... thanks Josh. It's great to be here and I'm glad to be part of the team. I prefer 'TJ' to Tommy though ..." TJ gave the room a brilliant smile that traveled all the way to his slate blue eyes.
"We're a big family here. We've got a hard job to do, but we get through it together.""Last item, everyone. Assignments. Phil ... you'll be going out with TJ. Okay guys, let's roll!"
* * *
First of all, I want to thank my good buddy Dmitri for providing me with the Russian phrases in the brief conversation between Ariane and Lucio. The English translations are:
"Another one?"As I was doing the photo shoot for "The Elixir", I was trying on a few different looks for Xander Cannon. While the Caesar wig looked good, it wasn't exactly what I had in mind for the Australian geneticist. It did however, give me an idea for another character - a burglar. I had been planning (and still am) to use my Zutro mask as Tommy Kane, a safecracker. The inspiration hit me to use the new combo as Tommy's son, TJ, who would follow in his dad's illicit footsteps.
"I'm afraid so. One hundred ninety seven."
"Pity."
This of course, involved building a history for the young mobster/burglar and also - being the prequel - how he met up with Phil Zeeman. Lucio is becoming one of my favorite characters - he's so versatile in what contexts I can embed him in. Being the mobster/entrepreneur that he is, I can use him as an anchoring point for many AE tales.
The whole theme of "Divided Loyalties" was based on the first season story arc of Wiseguy, one of the best television crime dramas ever written. Here, we have an undercover federal agent who infiltrates an organized crime syndicate and grows ever closer and closer to the head of the mob, Sonny Steelgrave. At the end of the arc, Sonny kills himself rather than be taken alive, and the agent weeps over his lifeless body. When he is comforted by his control, he cries, "I wish you were dead instead of him!" - being television, the "bad guy" had to lose. I, however, prefer a different ending ... and carried out what I feel is a far more satisfying conclusion to the story.Another inspiration for this story came from the anime classic, Crying Freeman. Here, we have a man turned into a killing machine for a Chinese gang, who weeps for his murder victims but is powerless to avoid killing them.
I used the "Artist" mask again for TJ - I really enjoy this series from Greyland. I also found that a pair of semi-mirrored clear lenses are a perfect addition to the mask. They are not as imposing as a pair of shades, but nevertheless obscure the eyes just the right amount. I've found the septum jewelry is always a great addition - provided you don't go too big. That is, IF you don't have a septum piercing. You should really not go any larger than a 10ga piece when you are wearing it with a mask.
I'm still waiting for two final Greylands from my supplier - they have had some quality control problems and he won't sell what he considers inferior quality masks. Remember, these are hand poured and hand painted - so while there is variation, the latest batch was so bad, he returned his entire shipment. I should hopefully be getting my Vamp and my Greymas before Halloween, though.
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