Load

0

Crom watched the news bulletin at the bar in Jackson Heights with intent interest. He sipped his pint and smiled.

Our top story: Will New York City and the surrounding boroughs be caught in the middle of a new deadly interracial gang war?One week after the death of his son, alleged crime boss Vito Marella and his wife Valerie were killed in a horrific drive-by shooting attack on their home earlier this evening along with ten others. Fifteen more were hospitalized at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with only one being reported to be in stable condition while others are reported to be critical at this time. Police officials found a white handkerchief and a string of white, black and orange beads at the scene. According to N.Y.P.D. Gang Intelligence officials declined to comment but an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that the items belonged to a gang based in Chinatown. The official even went so far as to say that it was the work of a possible Satanic cult. We have Michelle Lang with the latest.”

“A mixture of the occult and gang warfare ruled the day on this quiet neighborhood of Bayside, Queens Maureen where police sources say that hand grenades and AK-47’s were used in the worst drive-by shooting in New York history. The twist in this case was unusual items that were identified as Satanic paraphernalia were dropped at the scene. I spoke with Police Commissioner Miguel Olivera, who immediately responded to the scene upon hearing the 111th Precinct’s blotter.”

“Why are you so interested in what the zip-heads do to the wops anyway?” Squid, sitting next to him at the bar asked.

“Shut the fuck up.” Crom replied as he rubbed his bald head. “These motherfuckers have more balls than you’d ever know.”

“They’re zips, dude.”

“This racial shit is of the old Aeon. Don’t mean shit. Beyond means beyond race too dickwad. I’ve been talking to you about this for a month now.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Why are you so interested in this though?”

“Stay awhile and you’ll find out. If you’ve got what it takes.”

“What?!?” Squid almost spit out his beer. “You know that I’m the first one when there’s a fight, weapons or not.”

“What I’m talking to you about is the big time, my friend. Not this doing the dirty work for some elderly asshole whose still stuck on World War 2.”

“What? You talking about Geoff? He’s who we follow.” Squid said incredulously.

“Exactly. Follow. I’m tired of following. Hold on. I really have to get this.” Crom retrieved a cellphone from his jacket.

Squid looked at Crom as he spoke on the phone.

“Yeah, I saw it. It’s fuckin’ beautiful. I never doubted it for a second. To the new Aeon. Okay, I’ll be over in a bit. Later.”

“When the fuck did you get a cell phone, dude?” Squid asked as Crom hung up.

1

The elevated train roared by above as Toby smoked his cigarette on the corner of 82nd St. and Roosevelt Ave. Two Mexicans walked by warily as they observed Toby’s six foot plus frame, black flight jacket and burgundy Dr. Martens boots.

Toby ignored them and continued to smoke. He glanced across the street and smiled at Crom and Squid.

“Dude, it’s fuckin’ cold out here! I must’ve been here for twenty minutes.’ Toby playfully punched Crom.

“Stop being a fag. Gimme one of those.” Crom said.

Toby pulled a pack of Marlboro Reds and handed it to Crom. Crom smiled and took a cigarette. Then he tossed the pack to Squid.

“You fuckin’ ass holes need to get jobs. I’m tired of supporting your habits.” Toby said.

“I’m working on that, my good buddy. If things go right, I’ll drive up to your doorstep in a truck full of cigarettes.”

“You’re still not telling me where we’re going.” Squid said.

Toby and Crom looked at each other.

“Just keep your mouth shut. When this is over, you’ll know what the deal is.”

The three turned to the right on 86th St. Crom knocked on the side door of a laundromat three times, paused, then five, paused, and then twice.

A large Latino man in his twenties dressed in a jogging suit, baseball cap and beige construction boots opened the door. The three stepped in. Crom raised his hands as if to allow himself to be frisked.

The young Latino smiled at them.

“Go ahead, man. You’re good.” the young man said as he picked up what looked to be a two way radio.

Crom smiled and nodded at the man and motioned for Toby and Squid to follow him and they walked down a long, dark winding hallway.

“Dude, what are we doing at a putaria?” Squid asked.

“Didn’t he tell you to shut your mouth until we’re done?” Toby looked back at Squid angrily.

“Okay, okay.”

A pale yet attractive Latina woman in leggings and high heels heard their approach and opened the large heavy door at the end of the hallway. She smiled at Toby.

“Go ahead. We’ll wait for you.” Crom smiled.

The woman handed Toby a can of beer. She grabbed Toby’s hand and they walked through what looked to be a living room where customers and the girls dressed in short shorts or miniskirts and high heeled shoes sat around on beat up couches. Toby and the girl went into a room in anadjoining hallway in the rear of the living room.

Another lady, also attractive yet less provocatively in jeans and a sweatshirt motioned for Crom to follow her.

“Dude.” Crom looked at Squid. “Just have a seat. If Toby comes out before me, just have him sit next to you.”

2

Squid looked around the living room nervously. He watched as a pretty redhead in a tight black miniskirt made eye contact with a middle aged man sitting on the couch across from her. She winked and blew him kisses. The man then walked to a man seated at a desk and gave him money. The redhead grabbed the man’s hand and they walked towards a room that was next to where Toby and the other girl went into.

Crom walked into the living room three minutes later with two cans of beer, smiling.

“I thought that Toby was a three minute guy. It’s been a whole five minutes. I’m so proud of him. They grow up so fast.” he handed a can to Squid.

Squid began to drink and laughed. “He’s gonna kick both of our asses one day.”

“Yeah. I think so too. I’m gonna buy him a whole carton of cigarettes when he’s done.”

Just then, Toby stepped out of the back room. He turned and waved sheepishly at the girl, coming out behind him. She laughed.

Crom and Squid finished their beers and got up to leave. Toby followed.

3

As the three stepped outside and made a left back to Roosevelt Ave., Crom took the new cell phone out of his flight jacket pocket and dialed.

“Yeah. We’re good. Okay. Later.”

Crom hung up and put the phone back in his pocket.

A blue Honda Accord pulled up next to them. A young Asian man seated in the passenger seat dressed in a black sweatshirt nodded at Crom. The driver was an attractive tweny-something Latina wearing a leather jacket.

“Wait right here. Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”

Crom got into the backseat of the car and shook hands with the Asian man and kissed the driver on the cheek.

Squid looked confused but changed his mind about asking anymore questions as Toby shot him a glance that read, “Go ahead and ask something, motherfucker.”

Toby lit a cigarette and smiled. He handed the pack to Squid.

“Only one, you faggot.”

Squid smiled and took a cigarette.

4

Five minutes later, the blue Honda pulled up. Crom said goodbye and the car drove off. Crom smiled at Toby and Squid.

“We good?” Toby asked.

“More than good. Ten grand.”

“Holy shit! I think I’m gonna pass out.”

“Okay, now can I ask what the fuck is going on?”

Crom looked at Squid seriously.

“Know the Asians who shot up Dom Marella’s house? The shit I was watching at the bar?”

“Um, yeah?”

“They’re our new employers. We’re their collecting agents and our territory is Roosevelt Ave. from the 80th to 90th. The whole Jackson Heights strip, baby. Just us three. It’s usually an eighty/twenty split with the bosses and us but my new friend Johnny said that the bosses are going to give us one hundred percent as goodwill gesture on the house that we just hit.”

Squid’s eyes lit up. “Holy shit! How much was that?”\

“Ten grand.” Crom smiled.

“You’re gonna play nice and know that the New Aeon is here?” Toby asked Squid.

“Hell yeah.”

“Good.” Crom smiled. “Because we’re all Family now. Now the next step.”

“What’s that?” asked Squid.

“Telling Geoff that we quit. We’re making money now. We’re a conglomerate.”