CHAPTER 1
Five days earlier ...
THEY MET WHERE they always did — in the clubhouse of the Wooded Hills Country Club, which was owned by Titan. Four men sat at the big oak table where they would do their business. Steve stood attentively at the foot of the table in the haze of cigar smoke and cheap aftershave. He looked around at the men who had called him there today, anxious to prove himself to the leaders of Titan. They needed to discuss what to do about Michael's brother, Rhino.
Moe Giovan, also known as the Mole, sat at the table. Steve kept getting distracted by the mole the size of a dime on his right temple. William Cozzoni — Willy — sat to the left of Moe, his trademark cigar sticking out of his mouth. Next to Willy, sat Sammy Salluci, and next to Sammy, was Paul Delemonni. Paul was the cool-headed one of the four and looked to Steve as if this meeting should not be taking place. He squirmed in his seat and tugged at the collar of his shirt. Judging by the perspiration on his forehead, he didn't seem to have much control right at that moment.
They all sat there, smoking and not saying a word. Willy finally broke the silence, "Probably wondering what you're doing here, huh kid?"
Knowing better than to answer, Steve waited them out.
Sammy spoke up, "We have a problem we think you can handle."
There was a pause. "Are you willing to do this for us?" That question came from Moe. Steve waited for Paul to speak, but Paul remained silent. Steve answered, "I'm in. I'll do whatever you ask. Just tell me what you want."
The tension grew in the room. "Are you sure you want this responsibility?" Sammy pressed. "You have no idea what we are going to ask."
"I can handle whatever needs to be done." This was Steve's chance. "I have been ready to step up and prove myself for so long. I'm ready to take charge and show you guys what I'm worth," Steve spoke boldly, even forcefully, hoping the men would see he could be trusted with the responsibility.
"We want you to take care of someone." Sometimes when Moe spoke, the words came out faster than his mouth could move, which made him hard to understand. "This individual is very close to the group and very close to you."
Each member looked at each other, then at Steve.
"Once we tell you what we want from you, there will be no turning back," Moe continued in the fast talking manner he was known for. "If you refuse, do it now. Once we tell you, for the protection of the group, we cannot let you leave this room alive should you refuse," Moe repeated.
Steve straightened his shoulders and stuck his chest out so the men of Titan could see he meant what he was about to say, "I have been a foot soldier too long. It's time I stepped out and made a name for myself. Mr. Giovan, I know of all the connections you have in the city, and because of those connections, you have the right people in the right places. Ask around. You'll find out I'm not one to back down. I'm in. Tell me what you want."
A smile came across Moe's face, "See, boys? I told you Steve was our man and that he could handle it." Moe sat directly across from Steve and stared him down. He took a long drag on his cigar and then blew the smoke right in Steve's face. "We want you to kill ..."
At the word kill, Steve's mind started racing. He could hear everything and nothing at all. Moe's mouth moved, but he didn't hear any words come out. He closed his eyes to focus on what was being said to him. They didn't do that anymore. He could not remember the last time they offed someone, took someone out, or eliminated somebody. All nice ways of saying kill.
When he cleared his thoughts, he heard Moe ask, "Did you hear me, kid?"
"I'm sorry," said Steve. "What is it you want me to do?"
"We want you to kill Rhino." This came from Sammy.
Steve's skin turned cold, yet he started sweating.
Willy asked, "You gonna be alright? Want some water?"
Why would they want to get rid of Rhino? He could not believe they were asking him to do it. His stomach started churning. He was in it now. If he refused, they would kill him. He'd have to act like it would be no problem. "If that's what needs to be done, I'm your man. Do you mind if I ask why, though?" He desperately tried to keep the quiver out of his voice.
They were asking him to kill the man who saved his life — the man who was like a father to him. Rhino had taught him everything, the ins and outs, the scams, and the ways to survive an attack, to get out of a ticket, and to be a ladies' man. He owed all that to Rhino. And now, they want him killed?
"So, can you tell me why?" Steve repeated.
"It won't change how we feel about it," Sammy said.
"He has been squealing like a pig," Willy interrupted. "For years, we've been doing things a certain way, and it worked. Now, we got someone telling others about our business dealings. Nobody else needs to know anything!" By this time, Willy was out of breath and turning red.
Sammy put his hand on Willy's shoulder, "Slow down, big guy. Take it easy. We all want to see this come to an end, but don't get so riled up about it. That's not healthy." That concern from Sammy struck Steve as out of the ordinary. Sammy had the reputation of being a cold-blooded and heartless individual.
Paul took control of the meeting, "It began about a week ago. Rhino started going around to some of the businesses we've dealt with in the past apologizing for what he'd done or what we'd done. He was even going to family members of the guys we'd taken out."
Paul took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow, "Rhino was seen several times during the week coming and going from the police station downtown. Rhino's turned on Titan, turned into a snitch."
What? No. Steve must have heard wrong. Not Rhino. Not a snitch. Paul showed him photos taken of Rhino meeting with different people who had been dealt with in a bad way by the group. There were several photos taken of him going in and out of the police station, never in handcuffs. Steve could see why Michael gave Paul the power that he had. Paul was very deliberate and precise in his presentation of the evidence and yet very calm. Steve also thought that to be unsettling. Paul was so calm while the rest of the men around the table where adamant of Rhino's wrong doing.
Steve looked at all the pictures, talked to the men, and tried to justify to himself what he saw. But in the end, he knew what had to be done to protect Titan, and he'd volunteered to do it. What a fool! How was he going to pull this off? How was he going to live with himself after killing the only person who had ever been a like father to him? Then it hit him. How was he going to explain this to Michael?
"Doesn't the vote need to be unanimous?" he asked.
"We know the rules, Steven," Paul said, "and there are some —"
"We are all in agreement here," Moe looked right at Paul. "All we need to do is to get Michael to come on board. That will be your job, too." Moe worked a toothpick around in his mouth while he spoke.
"And how do you think I could do that?" Steve replied.
"Explain the situation to Michael," Sammy chimed in. "Tell him the rest of the board is for it and that Rhino broke a major rule. He'll have to go for it."
"We feel you are the only one who could make Michael believe that his brother broke a major rule, Steven," Moe continued, "and that he needs to die." That was twice now they called him...
