CHAPTER 80

TOMMY WAS TENSE, HE DIDN'T FEEL experienced enough for that amalgam of such different situations. He also noticed great tension in Tony's behavior, which worried him even more. If the boss was like that, it meant that things weren't good.

Problematic... problematic! — He repeated in his mind over and over again.

The flow of the crowd that was pressing in was so great that it almost prevented him from staying close to Tony. Euphoric and impatient, people were simply looking for the best place to stand and participate in the important event.

The men they were going to meet were taking a long time, so long that he thought they would never come again. Tony was already threatening to leave in irritation, when he finally saw one of them. Even though they were in the middle of such a crowd, Tom and the others could see the arrival of each of the Russians who were entangled among the people, spreading like a virus in the middle of the solid body that the crowd had become.

What surprised everyone the most was the arrival of an American, known as Rodman, who approached Tony with a nasty look in his eyes. Rodman was also called "the crazy one". They said it was because of his habit of killing his enemies in hideous ways, usually using knives. He would leave his victims torn apart in open areas in the sun for days, until they died. His behavior was violent and if there was any spark of character in him, he would probably still scream for money inside. He was a mercenary.

He started with the Russians as an informant, helping to bring down a Chechen group for which he had done some work. Whoever paid the best got what they wanted, and the Russians paid him the best. After some successes, they decided to call him to work for the group and, in the end, he really became one of them. He pleased them so much in the projects he undertook that now, after the death of their regional leader, Vladimir Kernovsk, he ended up leading their work in New York State.

The slender and gaunt American, wearing gray jeans, a leather jacket over a white knit shirt and his hair combed up, seemed not to care about an outfit that would denote his power in the criminal circle.

— I wonder what this means — Rodman scoffed, as he met Tony face to face. "A meeting arranged in the middle of a crowd...

Tony stared at him silently.

— You intrigue me, Tony — the madman continued, who seemed to be trying to annoy him.

— I see this as a cowardly strategy, you know, a lack of balls to face someone head on, but that's not what I hear about you, that's not what I know about your type.

— Having said that, he gave a brief, evil smile from the corner of his mouth.

— It makes me think you're missing something else... let's say... well, this is a way out for someone who has no options...

Tony didn't like his arrogant manner; he would certainly kill him if it weren't for the situation they both found themselves in. Due to the circumstances, he tried to remain calm and show fear about what had happened to his rivals, trying to dispel suspicions about what he had done. Perhaps he would convince him that he had not been responsible for what had happened. He replied:

— Just caution. I couldn't afford to take risks after what happened on the pier, after all, I could be next.

After that, he used a joking tone towards his enemy:

— Besides, I wouldn't like to be alone with you, you're not my type.

The psychopath frowned and raised his eyebrows in a threatening expression. He stood face to face with him and said, in a deep, cold voice:

— Being alone with me could be a bit painful for you...

People around seemed to notice the strange conversation the two had started and seemed to be bothered, looking for other places to be. However, given the pressure the crowd was putting on those in that environment, they couldn't choose places so easily. Rodman straightened his posture and spoke again, this time in a less macabre tone:

— But today I confess that I am satisfied! — he said, placing his hands on his shoulders, as if greeting him in gratitude.

Rodman gave a big smile worthy of a mentally unbalanced person, while staring at him with his disturbing gaze.

— What they did on the pier, in the end, I couldn't say that it harmed me, on the contrary, it only accelerated my promotion to Vladimir's place. He was an idiot, he had no control over anyone anymore, it was really time to stop... And you know very well, we are like Tommyna packs...

— The strongest fight for leadership of the group. — Rodman smiled:

— Sometimes, a lion from outside can appear and defeat the one who took over the females, and sometimes that is just a matter of time. At some point, Vladimir and I would face each other. Whoever did that on the pier just hastened the inevitable, saved me some work, I would say...

— And why are you looking for me? — Tony asked.

Rodman approached Tony again, bringing his mouth close to his ear, whispered to him, again in that macabre tone:

— My companions are unhappy with the way everything happened. A cowardly act like this cannot go unavenged, and I hope this person knows that we have scores to settle... I will not let whoever did that to our men who were there that night off easy.

— Are you accusing me? — Tony replied, moving away from Rodman's whispers. — Be careful what you say, before I cut out your tongue and make you swallow it and your words! You are not talking to just anyone, you are messing with a Capretti!

— As the Viking spirit would say: good names do not mean good men! — Rodman smiled like a lunatic.

Tony freed himself from Rodman's hands on his shoulders with two slaps from the inside out. Enraged, he pointed a finger at his opponent's thin chest, immediately noticing two men who were on alert a few meters away.

— You're very wrong if you think I'm like the old people, who only eat cannelloni, keep money rolled up in their pockets and drive long cars! You don't know me, you son of a bitch! What makes you sure I did that?

— Interests... And I'd say I trust my intuition a lot. Don't play dumb, we both know what motivated that meeting. Don't pretend you didn't know it was about you! I'm no idiot! And I congratulate you, Capretti, you lived up to your reputation, once again you were ahead of them all!

— In our lifestyle, that means surviving, doesn't it?

— I agree... — Rodman smiled his unmistakable smile again. — and one question can give many answers at once...

Rodman put his hand near his waist, making it seem like he was looking for his gun, looking at him intimidatingly, but Tony wasn't afraid of him, he knew his madness wasn't so great that he would do something there.

— A gesture can also say a lot. — Tony said, his eyes fixed on Rodman's hand. — You wouldn't be crazy enough to do something here.

— Ah... You don't know what you're saying... — Rodman replied. — It's not for nothing that they call me what they call me... But I just came to give you a warning, I won't forget Vladimir's death. Remember this, Anthony Capretti: don't walk in the shadows, don't turn corners and don't be alone... My blade is thirsty, I can hardly imagine where to start...

— If you had any balls in your balls you would have done this already and wouldn't be here giving me warnings! — Tony retorted atrociously — I don't have time for conversations like this! You dared to come and threaten me, but I'll tell you what our reality is: The smartest one wins, the one who shoots the fastest survives, and that's how we see who the best are.

Tony almost growled, expelling the pathological hatred he carried inside him. The people around them seemed to understand what was going on even more, something was going to happen there if the two of them didn't end their argument soon.

— Don't waste time with words, Rodman, if you want to do something, do it!

Tony was getting ready to shout even more of his angry outburst, but he was interrupted by the loud music in the place.