《Out to Get Me》


 Awoken

    ¡°¨¨ vivo!¡±


    But now it¡¯s alive and it¡¯s out there.


    1


    ¡°Does this hurt?¡± uttered Dr. Ricci, as the doctors poked, shined, and pricked every part of my being.


    ¡°No, just my head. How many times do I have to tell you? It¡¯s just my head.¡±


    ¡°Well Mr. Santore, you are lucky to be alive. By some grace, you are back and doing mostly well. You will be a bit hazy but we will continue to monitor your tests. Keep us updated on any memories you get back, okay?¡±


    Grace. If it was truly grace I wouldn¡¯t be here. I hate it here. The doctors. Hospitals. Pills and tests. They only search to cure never to heal and fully remedy what has been lost. What a scam. Yet we depend on it.


    ¡°Am I free to go?¡±


    ¡°Yes, once a guardian or friend comes to sign those discharge papers you can go. See you in two weeks,¡± ushered the nurse before leaving the clipboard in hand.


    Whilst grabbing his things, a sharp pain pounded the back of Francesco¡¯s head a voice emanating within. ¡°You need to leave. Now!¡±


    ¡°Come on! Frankie, it¡¯s a trap, we were set up. Caruso ratted us out, and now all of the Marino family and the police think it¡¯s you. You need to leave. Now!¡±


    BANG.


    Before Francesco could react, the doors burst open with a thundering boom as a tsunami of gunfire plagued the building. Best friend, Lorenzo got shot in the shoulder, as Frank slid behind a table retaliating in ammo as the bullets spewed from all directions. He gestured for him to come over but Dante Marino saundered in, putting the nail in the coffin, pulling the trigger, and giving Lorenzo a farewell into the afterlife.


    Frank was cornered and as he loaded his weapon deciding to go out triumphantly, he got shot in the left rib falling over. He knew his time was up and all he could think was that Caruso had led them to this point. Wrong he trusted the wrong person and he will be dead because of it. Life over.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand Francesco, what made you want to cross my family?


    No, really?


    I would have given you anything, my sister¡¯s hand in marriage, I mean, you were the godfather in my son¡¯s baptism.


    I¡¯m hurt.


    I loved you like a brother, but now. Now you are lower than the rats. Less than the fish. You are dirt. I should have known it from the moment my father picked you up from that trash heap you originated. And now you will go back to where you belong.


    Bang.


    ¡°Are you alright Mr. Santore, you can stay an extra day if you need to, no man with your injuries would leave so early anyway,¡± urged the nurse.


    My injuries, Frank thought.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Nine bullet wounds, three fractured ribs, two very close calls to the chest, and the rest of his pains in various places.


    How did I make it? Someone up there must love me.


    ¡°No I am alright, thank you.¡± Francesco took his bag and walked out into the hall.


    ¡°Mr. Santore, I need to have a word with you.¡± Spoke a man in a navy suit, smelling of the authorities.


    ¡°You got the wrong guy.¡± Responded Francesco not losing all sense amidst waking up.


    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± Frank turned in the opposite direction listening out for the footsteps of the man behind him.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking.¡± Uttered the man before throwing a jab at the back of Frank¡¯s head.


    Dodging to the left Santore dipped and threw his bag under a lounge chair, extending his leg to sweep the Man in suit.


    ¡°It¡¯s rude to start fights in hospitals,¡± edged Frankie continuously weaving the forthcoming attacks from this perpetrator.


    The man lunged at him and threw them both over the check-in desk, papers flying in the cataclysm of their altercation. Nurses and patients ran in opposite directions, one calling for security.


    He picked up a chair and threw it at the guy, but he ducked into a doorway using both his hands to kick Frankie in the chest. Knocking the wind out of him.


    As the local authorities arrived, the suited man disappeared from view leaving a mess of a lobby and Francesco Santore to take the blame once again.


    ¡°Kill me now.¡± Sighed Frank stood up, gesturing at a little kid to give him his bag.


    - -


    ¡°Sir, come with me.¡± ordered a cop down a long-winded hall.


    ¡°I thought you guys took fingerprints and mugshots when criminals get caught, where am I being dragged to?¡±


    ¡°Quiet, you can ask your questions once the agents arrive.¡±


    ¡°Agents? Look lady, I¡¯m no rodent. Not gonna get me to squeak.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what they all say. Just sit and wait.¡±


    The officer left him in an empty room donned with only a chair and a metal table. Since waking up at the hospital Frank never got any of the questions he had solved.


    Who ratted on me? Saying what? Why did Marino think he sold them out? What happened to Lorenzo¡¯s body? Why is he here? Who is that man in the suit, what did he want?


    ¡°Yeah, just kill me.¡± He muttered head pounding with unease at all the problems he must solve.


    ¡°Not yet, Mr. Santore,¡± walked in an agent. ¡°We have questions and you have answers, then we can discuss how to dispose of you.¡±


    - -


    ¡°Does he remember any of this? I mean a man doesn¡¯t just come back from the dead without answers. Does he?¡± Asked agent Giani.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t know anything, and wasn¡¯t very cooperative either,¡± responds agent Enzo.


    ¡°I guess this one got messed up in production. This is why you don¡¯t resurrect people who have obtained that many injuries. It fogs up the system.¡± mutters Dio the scientist behind the experiments.


    ¡°He is still a person, why are we talking about him as if he¡¯s some lab rat?¡± interjects agent Enzo.


    ¡°Agent, if you can¡¯t see that this is a creation of our doing. Our Frankenstein, then you aren¡¯t welcome here. There is no time for sentiments. I only agreed to work with the C.I.A. because of the funding. You only oversee my operations. Interrupt me with baseless thoughts again, and I will ask for someone else. There is no room for mistakes in this business. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Enzo walks out the door frustrated with the lack of morals present.


    Giani steps out the door puzzled, ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Turns Enzo. ¡° Do you not see that it is wrong to raise someone from the dead to infiltrate a crime family, and they don¡¯t even know what is going on?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I see it''s wrong, but what better people to use than their own? I¡¯m tired of losing our men. Remember Liam? He¡¯s gone and now this is our mission. Get your head in the game. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Deal. But it doesn¡¯t mean I have to like Dio, he¡¯s a prick.¡±


    Yeah, one with a god complex.


    What a combo.

 Remembrance

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". - George Santayana


    Knock. Knock.


    ¡°What¡¯s the password?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Tony. We ain''t got a password. Let me in before I let myself in.¡± Francesco laughed as the door opened to the basement of a bar, revealing a world of chaos beneath.


    As Tony led him through the casino tables and women, Frankie greeted and shook the hands of familiar faces. Looking forward he saw a Marino in the corner of his eye.


    ¡°Sylvio. How are you?¡± He asked, kissing the older gentleman on the cheek. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you since my last hospital visit.


    ¡°Francesco, how have you been?¡± He inquired, pouring them both a drink. ¡°I know Dante would not be pleased to see you. But you have never bid me ill will.¡±


    ¡°I need help. Can you do that for me?¡±


    ¡°Frankie, you know the rules. The underboss can¡¯t undermine orders. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you are a Capo and a friend, you know where you would be.¡±


    Dead. He didn¡¯t have to say it. The longer I go without answers the more I feel it looming over me. Like a curse enveloping my choices.


    ¡°C¡¯mon cousin, you don¡¯t think I know the rules. I know that. And I also know that you don¡¯t think I did it. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be so civil now.¡±


    Sylvio laughed walking towards a door, pausing before opening it. ¡°I know that. But D thinks otherwise. Convince the man yourself.¡±


    Sylvio walked off, then turned. ¡°If he lets you live, the next round is on me, Deal?¡±


    ¡°Deal, thank you, Syl.¡±


    In front of Frank was the impossible. Convince the man who sent a hit out on you that you were worthy of seeing another day.


    ¡°Dante.¡±


    ¡°You got some nerve, Francesco. You know I should put a bullet in you for stepping foot in here, amongst the other things you did.¡±


    ¡°Hear me out. And if you don¡¯t like my story then shoot me dead. Right now.¡±


    Three men stood up, guns drawn on Frankie, desperately waiting for the command, tasting a promotion if the man in front of them died at their hands.


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to negotiate with me. On my sister¡¯s grave, I should kill you. You betray the family and then plea for your life. You¡¯re not worthy to kiss my shoes. Let alone beg for another day.¡±


    ¡°Really Dante. If that were true why didn¡¯t you finish the job back at the warehouse? Or in the hospital when I was in a coma. And you know if Isabella were here right now she would believe me. I mean come on.¡±


    Frankie inched closer to Dante¡¯s desk. Putting down a ring.


    ¡°This is your father¡¯s ring. A ring he granted me to give to your sister, bless her heart. To show that he believed in my loyalty.


    Hell, Lorenzo is dead. You believe he also was in on ratting. Dante use your head. It¡¯s me.¡±


    Dante waved the three men off, and took a seat, pointing to the one in front of him.


    Frank sat down, waiting for his verdict.


    ¡°You act too much. Way to oversell it.¡± Dante laughed, before clapping his hands.


    ¡°Jeez man, I was a little scared you was gonna have those gavones shoot me on your nice carpet.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not worth staining my floor, you wish.¡±


    ¡°Alright alright, but what is going on?¡±


    ¡°I wake up in a coma and Renzo is dead. What gives Dante, I thought our plan was going to work.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, when I told you to be at the warehouse I didn¡¯t expect Lorenzo to be there. He started shooting and somebody else, maybe a cop shot him. Rest in peace.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    - -


    ¡°That¡¯s the dumbest thing I have heard. And you break that record pretty often Renzo.¡± Frankie sat in his chair, listening to his best friend go on and on about a foolproof plan. Yeah, a plan proving he was a fool if he went along with it.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have to do a thing. If we get Dante to come to suspect you of ratting, then the real rat will show their face thinking they won.¡±


    ¡°And who do you suspect that would be, for all I know this could be a set-up where we all die. Cops would write it off as something we deserved. Not even first page worthy in the papers.¡±


    ¡°Way to bring the mood down,¡± Caruso declared walking in, duffle bag in hand.


    ¡°I say it like I see it. Call it foreshadowing.¡±


    ¡°See what reading books get you. You think you know everything¡­¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± chimed Francesco, ¡° anyway, I won¡¯t be coming on this one. I got to visit her that day.¡±


    ¡°Right, tell her I said hi.¡± piped Lorenzo, ¡°Me too tell her we miss her,¡± spoke Caruso. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to give her the best flowers, on me.¡±


    He stood up, kissed Frankie¡¯s cheek in respect, and handed him a few bills.


    ¡°You know I can¡¯t take that Ruso. I appreciate the thought.¡± Francesco placed the bills on the table and walked out the door to his car.


    He got to his destination, flowers in hand, and spoke to the lady at a desk.


    ¡°Hey Frankie, go on back, she¡¯s been waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Right, thanks, Rosa.¡± He walked towards the back door and stopped in front of a grave.


    Isabella Alice Santore.


    Dusting off some leaves from the headstone, he knelt and placed the flowers down.


    ¡°Bella; Lorenzo and Caruso say hi. Your father is okay. Getting older of course. Dante is still the same, that jokester.


    And me? I miss you more and more every day.


    He raised his hat, like he always did, even back when they were together, before getting up and giving an envelope to Rosa.


    ¡°Here¡¯s next month''s payment and some more for your little one¡¯s little league game. Get him some new shoes or something. How even is Leo? Still hitting home runs?¡±


    ¡°You know it! Thank you, Frankie.¡± Rosa gave him a big hug and walked him to the door.


    As he pulled away from his beloved, his phone began to ring.


    ¡°Frankie, Caruso said we need to be there at the warehouse. To discuss that thing we did last week.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming. Make sure we are all there, I mean it Lorenzo, everyone.¡±


    Click. Looks like Caruso took the bait. I have to call Dante.


    ¡°Yeah Dante, he grabbed the line.¡± ¡°Good, I don¡¯t know how you knew he would but better we find out now and not when there''s a knife in my back.¡±


    ¡°See you soon.¡±


    --


    Click.


    See Dante I told you they were a team. If you want to get to Frank you have to get Lorenzo to vouch for it. I mean it¡¯s been that way since we were kids. Frankie only messed up when Lorenzo was involved. The schmuck.


    Caruso paced the floor. ¡°So how do we get the police to get off our backs? They need someone, and you want to give them Francesco?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the best choice. I mean he visits that grave every week. Might as well reunite the couple.


    Plus he isn¡¯t a rat. If he does make it somehow, he would never think it was me, maybe you, but what are the odds he catches on to our plan?¡±


    Dante lit his cigar, leaning back in his chair.


    ¡°The feds back off the Marino Family, we get security on our territory, and they think they have a mole in the system. Frankie is the best guy for the job. The man is as stubborn as they come.¡±


    ¡°And Lorenzo? What do we do with him?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle Renzo. Just worry about yourself, don¡¯t get caught in the flames, when the match gets thrown.¡±


    As Caruso walks out, Dante dials an unsaved number. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Marino, don¡¯t feel guilty. We contacted your father and he decided this was for the best as well. It¡¯s not like Mr. Santore was family, right.¡±


    ¡°Right. He¡¯s not.¡± Dante hung up the phone, avoiding the frame he had of his sister on his desk. ¡°Forgive me, Bella. He is coming to see you soon, he whispered trying to convince himself this was in everyone¡¯s interest.¡±


    He called another man over the phone.


    ¡°When everything is done. Take Caruso on a long walk for me.¡±


    The man in the navy suit on the other line responded.


    ¡°Consider it done.¡±