Page 7 of Gianni DeLuca

I sat forward, nerves tingling. “The bastard has the nerve to step foot in my party when he’s cutting in on my territory. How do you know it’s him?”

His smile grew wider. “It’s a her, and I have my sources.”

“Fucking serious? Wisdom is a woman?”

“Yeah...apparently no one except those closest has ever seen Wisdom. She’s a manager at a bank. Maybe that’s how they clean their money besides the Club.”

“How did you find that information?”

Roberto placed his hands in his pockets. “Come on, Boss, I have my ways.” He perched on the edge of my desk and typed some numbers on the computer. “You can see her on the cameras.”

I turned the monitor toward me and surveyed the busy casino. Tons of guests mingled between gambling at the various tables and slot machines. Glittery gold and silver balloons and streamers abound. The opening had been a success if this crowd was any indication. “Where is she?”

Roberto carefully perused the screen. “She’s the beautiful nig...woman in that corner.” He quickly corrected himself. I’d hated that word all my life, and no one could ever use that word in my presence after Laffy died. I beat one of my men to a pulp for using it once.

Grunting my disapproval at his slip, I searched the casino. “There are several black women present. What color is she wearing?”

Roberto tapped the corner of the monitor. “Right there, boss.”

Moving closer to get a better view, I pushed his hand away. My heart beat faster at the familiar tilt of her head. "Shit."

“You know her?”

Instead of answering, I deflected with a question of my own. “Did she come alone?”

He pointed to a tall, well-dressed, exotic-looking black man with blue eyes not far from where she flirted with the lucky bartender. “He walked in with her, but we believe there are at least four other men.” Roberto pointed. “There...over there...and two are standing together at that Roulette table.”

I looked up at him. “Who’s ‘we’?”

“Me.” Mamma closed the door as she strolled into my office. She looked beautiful and youthful in her strapless black dress and her black and gray hair that fell in soft, deep waves. Years had been kind despite her grief. Purpose seemed to have given her verve.

“Mamma...you’re supposed to be stepping down. You should only be concerned with running the restaurant.”

“Have you found my replacement?” she asked, already knowing my answer. “You need a consigliere.”

“And I told you that you and Roberto are the only people I trust after all these years. I’m not following tradition down here. We’re the only family in New Orleans. Enzo is too far away to have a say in our everyday work. Our main competition is the Desire Crew, who follow their own code.”

Mamma raised her hands in frustration. “We shouldn’t have any competition. You’re too soft on the Desire, Gianni.”

Roberto nodded. “And everyone knows it, especially Wisdom and her crew. We have to shut them down.”

“We already killed one of their men when they tried to sell in Treme. We kill any more corner boys unprovoked we’re asking for a war.”

Mamma spoke, “We can handle it.”

I continued to look at the screen, watching my beautiful past smile at a male guest who had just approached her. “No one’s arguing our strength. With any war, there are casualties, and I don’t want any more widows on my watch.”

Mamma reminded, “Gianni, it is a necessary evil to remain at the top.”

I finally dragged my eyes off the monitor and leaned back in my chair. “I’m fully aware of what’s necessary. If I do anything now without provocation, I’m an unnecessary bully. My logic is quite simple. New Orleans is Sin City. People want booze and broads. And those who don’t want drugs and fast money. Our job is to fulfill their wants. They live with the consequences. I only kill in self-defense or to stop someone else’s greed.”

Roberto slid from the desk. “The Desire Crew is greedy like a motherfucker, especially since Blue was killed and Wisdom has taken over.”

Mamma stared at the screen. “Why did you curse when you saw her?”

“Didn’t expect Wisdom, if that’s who she is, to look like that.” I improvised.

She chuckled. “Her name is Diamond Domonique. Our inside guy told us she’s been secretly heading up the Desire Crew for a year. For a minute, I thought you would say you were surprised that Wisdom is a woman.” She reached to caress my cheek adoringly. “I’ve taught you better than that. You wouldn’t have gone this far without me. What did I say about women?”

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