We arrived at the dimly lit bistro and saw our mother and little sister at the curved booth by the kitchen. Sophie and my mother were chatting and laughing about something.
It was good to see my mother smile again.
"It was disgraceful! Like how can one person ruin a whole meal like that!" Sophie said as I tuned into their conversation.
"Irene! Good to see you dear" Sophie said as she went around and gave me a huge hug
"Good to see you, how's it been?" I ask
"It's been a little slow, I was just telling your mom that this small group of tourists came in on Friday night was a hassle. So needy and kept asking poor Vinny so many questions I thought his head was going to come off" she said as I laughed a bit.
I looked around the place and saw a few families enjoying their meals, and a few couples too. I saw that the triplets were not around.
'They must be in the back' I thought but that was quickly forgotten as one of the triplets, Tony served our table with some breadsticks and stuffed shells.
We made eye contact as i gave him a curt nod.
"Tony, didn't know you worked on the floor. Someone call in?" I ask as he scoffed
"I wish. No, we had a few quit on us to move to Europe. I stepped up to help Ma and Pa on some busier days" he explained
"Ah, well how have you been?" I asked as I watched my sister get served a stuffed shell from my mom.
"Good, my brothers and I have been working hard to establish ourselves. But we can talk more about that, how are you doin'?" he asked as I looked away from him.
"Honestly? Difficult. So many loose ends to tie up. I am working on it though. We can speak more about it after dinner" I say as he nods and gets called away to go run more food.
"Irene, I hear you're taking over for your father at the theatre. Is that musical still going to show? I have been waiting to see it for months~" Sophie raves
"Yes, I am working with the cast a little to adjust to me being the director now. But the show will be re-opening next week after the police are finally done with the place" I explain as she grins
"Well, plan to see us there!" she says as I nod
"I'll save some tickets for ya just let me know how many," I said as I swore she was about to bounce out of her shoes
"Will do. Now I gotta run off. Enjoy your dinner!" Sophie says, bolting off
The dinner was short, as Isabella had to get back home to bed. Now our real work could begin.
Tony guided me through the kitchen, and through the back door. There sat a small shed. I looked at Tony oddly, and so did Gian.
"Don't judge a book by its cover," he says as he opens the door to reveal a set of stairs.
After descending down the soft sounds of Italian music could be heard.
When we got to the bottom there was one more door. Tony knocked a patterned beat as the door was opened by a rough-looking gentlemen.
The place was actually a speakeasy. These types of places have been rising in the crime world. Another place to make money under the table.
'Should have guessed' I thought.
The brothers always had a knack for moving valuable, and lucrative items. In this day in age, liquor was quite hard to smuggle around, especially after the new law took effect 2 years ago.
It looked like the band was rehearsing before the place opened. I looked around and noticed Tony disappeared. Before I could dwell on it a voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Irene! Gian!" A voice called out.
It was Teddy. He was my favorite of the triplets. Always had a heart of gold, but if you crossed him things got ugly.
"Teddy, good to see you!" I greeted as we hugged for a brief moment and we kissed cheeks. He did the same to Gian.
"Come sit, we open in 2 hours. Care for a drink?" He asks going behind the bar.
"Suprise me," I say as he nods and looks at my brother
"Old Fashioned," Gian requested
Teddy started to make Gian's drink first.
"So, I hear you wanted to talk to my brothers and I. May I ask what this meeting will entail?" He asks as he grabs a bottle of whiskey off the shelf.
Irene smirks at the man.
"Maybe, depends what are ya gonna make me?" Irene flirted
Teddy finished Gian's drink, set it in front of him, and threw in the peel of an orange twist.
I watched as he grabbed gin, lemons, cherries, and a dark bottle with a purple label I didn't recognize.
"For you spitfire, I got a drink I think you'll like," He winks at me
I hadn't heard that nickname in a while. Teddy has always called me a spitfire. Growing up I was not the most well-behaved daughter on the block. After school, the neighborhood boys annoyed me to no end. They pranked me, picked on me, you name it.
One day I just snapped!
A boy named Charles thought it'd be a good idea to pull at my ponytail so hard I swore my hair was going to fall out. The next thing I remember was turning around and swinging my fist. I broke his nose, My hand hurt but it was worth it.
As I held my sore hand to my chest, Teddy ran up to me with some ice in a small towel, and told me,
"You sure are a spitfire, remind me to not make you mad," He laughed
I smiled at the memory. Just as I snapped out of my memories I watched Teddy pour the purple drink into a coupe glass and place a luxardo cherry on a cocktail skewer across the top of the glass.
"Voila! This beauty is called the Aviation. Tell me what you think," He says giving me the drink
I took a sip and it was sweet, sour, and absolutely delicious!
"This is fantastic!" I tell taking another sip as Teddy smiles.
"Good to hear, ah there you are! I was wondering when you'd be joining" Teddy said as my brother and I look over to see Tony in a proper suit, and the last triplet, Terry.
Terry was the 'oldest' triplet. He was the leader of the three and had quite a knack for running the business. In the short few years they have made a name for themselves.
"Terry! It has been too long," Gian says as Terry finally cracks a smile
"Gian, look at you. A grown-ass man. Finally catching up?" Terry teased as they laughed
"Lookin' sharp yourself," Gian said as I could see Terry's ego just boost at the comment
"Well if you two are done, we got some business to take care of." Teddy states as they laugh and move to a table.
Teddy pulled out my chair as I sat down. I gave him my thanks.
"So, Irene, you have a proposition I hear," Terry said
"Yes, as you are well aware, my father was murdered." I paused as they bowed their heads
And said in unison
"May he rest in peace,"
"Thank you. But I need more allies. It is a tradition that a new Pavone boss makes allies with another gang in the area to establish good faith. With our history, I figured that you three are the best people I can trust to help me," I say as they nod
"This is true, but what help are we talkin' about here?" Tony asks as Gian raises his hand
"We are asking for not only some of you're men but your eyes and ears in the parts of the city we can't touch. As a smaller gang, you can help get some intel on some leads about our father's possible murder," Gian explains as I could see the brothers straighten their backs.
"You have a lead on his murder?" Teddy asks
"Yes, we found the break in our defense and he has been dealt with. However, this means that the bastard is still out there. Who know he could be after my family next. Hell, they could be after….Irene" Gian says as we both took in the fact that I could be the main target.
"Yes, as the new head of the family, I am most likely the next target. We can make a contract to ensure our bases are covered but if you have any concerns please-" I was interrupted by Terry holding his hand up
"No contract. We will do this our way. Our families are already close, and it seems like the logical next step to help improve our own business." Terry says
"Plus who else better to help you than friends?" Teddy said locking eyes with me
"So we got a deal, fellas?" I asked as they looked at each other and agreed
"Deal," Terry says sticking out his hand.
I will stick mine out, and we will finish the deal.