*
A chain story in short chapters
by co-authors AsylumSeeker, SxRx and WhiteWave48
*
Ch. 02 - The Mob Connection
Anthony 'Tony' aka 'The Closer' Matassini was a man of his time, but with a solid respect for the past. He might wear a new style now and then, but only if it had a classic look anyway and his tailor found it 'good, good'. If he got the frown, and a 'tsk, tsk', he knew it wasn't going to fly.
Today, he felt splendid in his newer wool blend suit that Thomas had done for him for the coming summer season. Lightweight and cool, it fit him well. His hefty 185 lb. on his 5'11" frame was mostly muscle, and his form showed favorably beneath the suit as he glanced in the full length mirror. His bedroom was in the upper front of his modest Bayshore Drive home with a window that looked out upon the front lawns and out to Tampa Bay.
Like his father before him, the successful don knew that flaunting his achievements only brought two things and both of them bad - jealous would-be rivals and ambitious district attorneys - so his house was set far enough back from the famous shore line to be easily missed among the finely trimmed oaks and shrubs. The decorative landscaping helped hide the solid wall that surrounded the prime residential land. The electronic gate was solar powered, but quite effective in operation and security; special ordered from a small company out of Tallahassee.
Also, like his father before him, Tony knew the secret to success was giving people what they craved and desired most. He had long ago learned that it was human nature to always want something for nothing. Gambling, prostitution, drugs - even his new 'bride' business - were all attempts by men to gain what they had not earned; to get the big money without having to work for it, get high without any cares and get a beautiful woman without having to win her heart.
He also knew there was a price for everything in the end, and that was where Tony was the master. Seeing every deal was 'closed', all dues paid, every promise kept. His grandfather had always told him, 'Greed, envy and lust' were the mainstays of their family business.
Tony finished dressing and left the bedroom, crossing the large alcove and whipping down the back stairs to the kitchen where his wife Lorraine was helping put the finishing touches on his breakfast - soft scrambled eggs with grilled tomatoes and her special sauce, fresh cut sausage and bacon, fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh mango and kiwi slices, and real coffee.
The coffee beans came from an importer who was in the 'family', and were always picked to perfection. Carefully stored in the freezer and fresh ground each morning, they were brewed in an expensive machine that Tony had special ordered from Rome.
He gave Lorraine a smile and embraced her. They kissed passionately and he kneaded her ass cheeks discreetly. She giggled into the kiss which was his purpose to begin with. A laughing kiss was sensually satisfying.
At the table were his two nephews 'Tank' and 'Chipper'. Tank was just that and well, Chipper was clearly a chip off the old block - his father and Tony's older brother, Leo. Both half rose in deference to him and greeted him respectfully as 'Uncle Tony'.
Seated at the front were his youngest daughters, Connie and Bonnie, identical twins. They both rose, as if in planned unison, grinning at the father they adored and each taking a cheek to kiss and a shoulder to embrace.
"Morning Daddy," they chimed together.
"Good morning girls," he replied, and kissed each with an embrace that may have lingered longer than needed for someone who merely paid attention.
Fussing over everything was his mother, Sophia, whose beauty was timeless. She was full figured, nearly statuesque and had aged well, thanks to her Sicilian genes.
"Sit, sit, Anthony," she insisted.
He perched on the end of the table to lean across and peck her on the forehead, and she accepted his supplication as though it were from the pope. She gazed at her beloved son and smiled.
"Tony," was all she said, her eyes aglow, as he sat at the prominent head of the table.
Everyone had waited for him before touching their food.