Eye 4N Eye Wife For A Wife

When I plan a story in my head, it sometimes looks amiss once it's underway. I usually walk away and pick up something else for a bit or have a drift around other stories looking for a spark. When I was writing

Losing Your Head Over Love

I hit a bump and needed to find a way around it. I read

Gone in Minutes Chapter 3

by

Vandemonium1

which led me to creating a couple of characters called 'Mafi' & 'Osa' which let me pave the way to finishing Losing Your Head Over Love. But Vandemonium1 had created those Gone in Minutes stories as mere introductions for others to complete. This one intrigued me, and my imagination started to build a story up to bring it to a close.

I've written it in a way where you could get away on skipping the first part, but you're missing out if you do. Go click the link above and have a read of the first part of Chapter 03. This follow up takes a darker turn, so bear that in mind. I have run this past Vandemonium1 as it relates to his work who has had a look through it with CreativityTakesCourage and returned it with some suggested edits. I didn't expect that and am exceedingly grateful. Tim1135 and Frankfiredawg06 chipped in too for editing and some nudging along the way. Of course, a final tamper here and there before posting - those errors be mine!

****************

Gone in Mere Minutes 3 - Part II Eye 4N Eye, Wife for a Wife

I sat on the bench, watching as the kids are hanging on for dear life as another kid spun the roundabout as fast as he could push it. Their carefree laughter in complete contrast to my abject misery. Why? What brought on this sudden change in my life?

Just earlier today, I'd confirmed my worst suspicion. My wife was fooling around on me, confirmed when I'd found her having sex with a donkey. Not like those shows rumored to go down the other side of the border, but a human donkey who happened to be the son-in-law of the local mob boss. They didn't see me as I recorded their rutting earlier. I'd sent two messages. One to a number, I had no idea who actually received it. All I knew was that my message would not go unchecked. The other, to this local mob boss, Andrew Falconi. Sitting deep in thought, I'd not clocked the couple in their fifties slow down, then sit either side of me. I recognized them, Mr. & Mrs. Falconi's pictures appeared in the local press often enough. No idea how they found me but, I think it's time to make a move.

"Kids, time to go!"

They moaned, but were giggling, over emphasizing their giddiness as they lurched their way back to the park bench once the roundabout stopped. Mrs. Falconi turned, despite looking at me, it was as if she was looking through me, as she started speaking.

"My, what a happy pair of young rascals. Don't you agree, Andrew?"

Mr. Falconi just looked straight ahead as he answered her.

"Yeah, they sure are. I think they deserve a treat before they go home, don't you? I tell you what. Maria, why don't you go and buy them whatever ice cream they want from the van over there? What do you say to that, Mr...?"

The children were positively squealing at the notion they were on the precipice of having any ice cream they wanted as they pleaded and clambered all over my lap. I knew who he was, and I was fairly confident he knew who I was. I turned to look at him.

Not taking my eyes from him, I spoke.

"George Marino, Mr...?"

He smiled, like a crocodile.

"Falconi, Andrew Falconi, and this is my wife, Maria."

Turning to look at me again, this time she smiled, then spoke.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Marino. We have recently had our first grandchild; I hope they grow up as joyous as your two plainly are. Your house must be full of love."

You had to give it to them. They sounded like your couple of average grandparents who just happened to be out for a stroll in the park. I knew different, after all, they did have a Sicilian connection. I gave a half snort, along with a fake smile as I replied somewhat sarcastically.

"Sure, it was, until earlier today."

Speaking directly to my kids, Mrs. Falconi decided to test me.

"Come on kids, let's go find the biggest ice cream we can. You don't need your daddy for that, do you."

As she stood, the kids shifted to the next level of boisterousness. Staring into my eyes, she held out a hand for them each to take. They looked at me slightly unsure, waiting for my approval for this unusual set of circumstances.

"Trust me, Mr. Marino, we'll take great care of your kids for you, won't we Andrew?"

Her steely gaze never shifted from me when he answered.

"She's the best mother in the world, and it won't be long before the grandkid is old enough to fully appreciate her too. They're perfectly safe."

Oblivious to the threat, they took her hand as they skipped away. They had barely gone five paces before Andrew Falconi gave an instruction.

"OK, Mr. Marino, you sent me a cryptic message earlier today asking to '

take a walk

', let's do that. Once around the boating lake should be enough."

As we started walking, I asked him a simple question.

"How did you know where to find me?"

"You stupid dipshit. I'm Andrew Falconi. It's my business to know everything, especially if it could become a problem. We keep track of people that may be a problem, you weren't until today, when your number came up. We tied it to Tommy's latest slut's husband, which is you. To be honest, he was getting bored with her, I sometimes pick up some of less well used ones, your wife's borderline for me, maybe a little too used for my liking. But hey, when you get to my age, you either have to work harder to catch 'em or have some stud like Tommy snare 'em in the first place.

"As to your question, we know where your kids go to school, somebody followed you when you picked them up, then told me where I'd find you so, here we are."

We walked for several seconds in silence. It was now clear this wasn't something to just hang on his son-in-law, he was party to this. Knowing what was going on between Tommy & my wife meant he had no morals. The fact he was thinking of have a piece of Rachel as well, made my blood boil. How the fuck can he look his own wife and daughter in the eye? I would not yield when the time came, it was too late now. He spoke to me, somewhat nonchalantly, as we kept walking.

"I've gotta hand it to you, Mr. Marino, you've got some balls to call me out like this. To be honest, it's never happened, and I can assure you, it'll never happen again after today. Little people like you don't challenge people like me, my family. So, before this all gets put to bed quickly, and I mean very quickly, say your piece."

I stopped walking and started to unzip my jacket.

"I'm just going to show you, I have nothing here, no tool that can hurt you. That's not strictly true, it's just a letter I want you to look at. Once you've read it, it's up to you how we proceed."

The look was filled with anger. Had I not been so brazen, he would have put me down there and then like a stray dog. He looked further down the path, raising his hand and signaled to back down. I'd already seen the muscle there to protect him. Carefully pulling my jacket back, I gave him ample time to see I wasn't carrying. He nodded, indicating I could continue.

Cautiously, I removed an envelope from my pocket. It was old, fragile and the paper had yellowed along the creases. Removing the single piece of paper inside, I unfolded the delicate document. Personally, I had only ever looked at it a handful of times, as it was that precious. Looking directly into his eyes, I handed it to him, challenging him, it was clear it had piqued his interest and I had to stand fast. The slightest signs of weakness, and it would be all over. He read it, then stood immobile for a few minutes before handing it back to me.

Walking over to the nearest bench, he sat down there, staring out over the lake as I carefully folded the letter and placed it back in the old yellow tinged envelope, and into my pocket. It hadn't done bad for something over sixty years old. Sitting next to him on the bench, the whole show was now his.

Despite trying to project the same power as earlier, it was now too late. He knew the table of power had turned. Still looking out across the lake he started speaking.

"I always thought it was a myth. A family owed one thing, something so big that it could not be turned down when the request was made, no matter what they asked for."

He continued to stare out, glassy eyed across the lake for several long seconds. He let out a sigh as his shoulders slumped slightly.

"You've already called this in, haven't you?"

I nodded, He was from the mold that always made sure he could see you, even if you thought he couldn't.

"What's the price you've demanded to fulfil the contract."

I let him stew for several seconds before answering. It was originally just going to be my wife, with Tommy and his wife present. But, Falconi's admission he was well aware that Tommy was fucking my wife and hinted at participating, now meant he would share some pain too. Earlier in the afternoon, I'd received a phone call after the other message I'd sent had been read. The goal of clarifying I was the rightful holder of the contract and outlining the what, why and the price. The detail would be sorted tomorrow.

"It's a small price to pay. I'm going to fuck your daughter, in front of you, your wife, my wife and your son-in-law."

It wasn't what he was expecting, his shoulders slumped further, as he shook his head slowly. There was a croak to his voice as he replied.

"What about money? Name your price, I can rustle up some really hot talent for you to fuc..."

I just cut across him, with no emotion.

"No money, no favors, no gifts will buy your way out. Your family has disrespected mine and I was taught that an injustice requires an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In this case, a wife for a wife."

He said no more as we walked around the lake, it was clear he was looking for an angle to squash this flat. He was no fool, this was watertight and he had grasped that the minute he read beyond the first few lines on that piece of paper. He could make me disappear in an instant but, the contract had to be honored and there would be those that took a dim view on any action against me before the contract was fulfilled.

Nearing the starting point, Maria was now pushing the children on a couple of swings. Her smile should have been infectious, she clearly enjoyed having young children around her. Once we were near enough, the smile fell from her face the moment she could clearly see her husband's perturbed expression. Her hands fell to her sides as the kids became completely irrelevant to her.

Drawing nearer, the swings slowed and stopped, the kids ran over to wrap themselves around me. Maria Falconi stepped towards her husband. He raised his hand in a subtle gesture to tell her to stop. I spoke to the kids.

"What do you say to Mrs. Falconi?"

"Thank you for the ice cream, Mrs. Falconi, you're a really nice lady!"

She smiled at them, or at least attempted to, now knowing that something was horribly wrong. Andrew Falconi spoke.

"When are you contemplating concluding this transaction?"

"Tomorrow, eight o'clock. The representatives from the conglomerate are due in tomorrow afternoon. Once they have checked in, discussed the remaining details with me and eaten, they should be ready. All you need to do, is send the address where the transaction will be finalized, which is to be their house. Then leave it to me. You know the stakes at play, you know what happens if you try and opt out."

Putting my hand out, the kids took one each as we walked away, in fact they were still somewhat giddy with excitement so they skipped along beside me. Inside, my heart was beating at a thousand miles an hour. My pop had told me, when the time came to cash in the contract, it was vital to stand tall, regardless of whoever you have to deal with. I'd impressed even myself with my display in front of a man almost the whole county feared. It gave me hope I could pull it all off tomorrow.

As we walked past Mr. Muscles he had realized that something was seriously wrong, if anything, slivers of fear peeked from the tough exterior he was trying to maintain. He was going to need to sweat it out for over twenty-four hours, and I really hoped that Falconi had very tight leashes on all of his dogs. If not, they were all heading for the slaughterhouse.

۞۞۞۞

I decided to skip Hungry Jacks, if the volume of ice cream they were wearing equaled the amount they'd eaten, I'd just be wasting good money. No, let's go home earlier than I planned.

When we arrived home, Rachel acted like... Rachel of late. Showered and a lack of eye contact had been the treadmill of our lives for numerous Wednesdays and Fridays over several months, culminating in me realizing a couple weeks back there was something truly rotten in my marriage. Today, I found out why.

Although she didn't know it yet, I'd hit the stop button and the treadmill was grinding to a halt. The Falconi's price had been set and they would pay. But, what about Rachel? Those arriving tomorrow could make her disappear, no questions asked, and no information as to what may happen to let guilt take a foothold within my soul. As tempting as it sounded, I did not want the children to grow up not knowing their mom, or her not being some part of their life, but that was almost guaranteed to be a bit part now. I had to think on this before tomorrow. They were my kids, I hadn't fucked things up, therefore it wasn't me that had to pay.

"Mom, mom! The lady got us the biggest ice creams you would ever see!"

They ripped through the house, heading for the TV.

The look cast my way was one of surprise before quickly morphing into anger.

"What are you playing at! I went to the school to pick them up and Audrey said you'd already collected 'em. Why didn't you call me or even answer your phone goddamit... and who the fuck are you letting buy my kids ice cream, especially just before dinner!"

The cogs in her brain were spinning slightly slower than her mouth which her hands came up to cover as an obvious, but incorrect, scenario filled her head. Now it was fear.

"Please God no, please tell me, you're not having an affair, are you? They're my kids, I'll make sure you don't ever see them, you aren't taking them from me!"

Typical Rachel. It's alright for her to fuck around, and yet the notion I'm even talking to a woman brings out the very worst in her. Let's settle things down.

"Calm down, if the kids hear you, they'll get upset. No, I'm not having an affair."

She was bewildered.

"So, who bought them the ice cream?"

Looking straight at her, I calmly replied

"Andrew Falconi's wife, Maria."

Her hands remained over her mouth, the sheer terror plainly visible in her eyes as she started to slowly shake her head in some form of denial. Unsteady on her feet, she moved slowly backwards until she hit the kitchen unit. The terror remained as her skin turned a deathly white, dropping to the floor, sitting in a fetal position still shaking her head as she continually repeated

"no, no, no, he promised, he promised."

This wasn't what I expected, and I was intrigued. Pulling her up, I pushed her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. There is no way the kids need to be subject to seeing her like this. I called out to them, telling them their mom wasn't well and I was putting her to bed. A chorus of "OK" told me they weren't bothered. I had hoped I would never set foot in this bedroom again. Despite looking like it did when I left this morning, it was now tainted with the knowledge my wife had slutted herself out in it twice a week for a while. Unfortunately, it was the only place I could put her. Trying to push her down onto the bed, her whole body stiffened.

"No! No! No! Please for the love of God, don't let go of me. They are going to take you into the desert and kill you! I've seen the video, they are going to make me..."

She sobbed into my jacket, unable to continue as every muscle and fiber in her body wanted to cling onto me. There was obviously more going on here than I realized. Once she calmed sufficiently, I fetched a glass of water. Some deep breaths, and she was soon just about back in control of herself. Pulling the chair over from the vanity set, I sat a few feet away facing her. She had a lot of explaining to do before we went any further.

"Start at the beginning. I need you to tell me everything OK? Do not leave one thing out because mine, yours and the children's lives could depend on it. What do you know about Andrew Falconi?"

She took several deep breaths, clearly on the verge of getting ready to hyperventilate. I sat, moving my hands indicating she needed to settle down. After a couple of minutes, she managed to start.

"It started a while back. I pulled into the gas station on West Street, when he came over."

I interrupted her.

"

Who

came over, Rachel?"

"Tommy, Andrew Falconi's son-in-law."

"What happened?"

I could tell, she felt stuck between a rock and a hard place as to telling me the truth. My eyes held a steady gaze, she knew she had to be honest.

"He was filling up at the pump next to mine. He wolf-whistled, I turned to give him a piece of my mind... but, I didn't. There was a man that was younger than me, and... and... he wa..."

She stopped, looking at me, her eyes pleading for me to grant her clemency and allow her to stop right there. No, my soul was galvanized. No matter what was going to be said, I wasn't going to yield. She looked away momentarily, when her head turned back, she looked down at my shoes before continuing.

"He was

nice on the eyes,

started chatting to me as I filled the car with gas... in fact he wasn't chatting, he was clearly flirting with me and I felt good, so I flirted back, just a little. But you need to understand, I made no promises, it was just real simple flirting, just like the kind of silly horsing we do with friends.

"As I went to get in the car, I felt a sting on my ass, he had come over and spanked me! I raised a hand to slap his face, telling him he had no right. He grabbed my wrist, holding it mid-air. all he said was '

I love a woman with a bit of fight in her

'. I said '

Fuck you!

' and he said

'Anytime you want

.' I slammed the door of the car and spun off the forecourt, drove home angry that I had been so stupid to flirt with him, and angry that he felt he had the right to touch me!"

This came as a bit of a shock. If this was

Point A

then how the hell did it get to

Point Z

that I had painfully witnessed in this very bedroom several hours earlier today. I took her glass for a refill, and popped a cap on a beer for myself. Once seated again I told her to continue. She sat and looked at me, then the floor, then back to me. And said nothing.

"It's no good playing the dumb mule now, Rachel, remember what I said. I need to know the truth to protect us."

With a look of defeat, she continued.

"I came home pissed at what had happened, I was so annoyed I didn't realize, he had followed me home. The doorbell went, I wasn't really thinking, I didn't use the chain like you told me to. I tried to slam it shut, but he was too strong, he pushed himself past me. I was hitting him, but he just laughed. He waved to the pickup that had dropped him off, it honked its horn and drove off. It hit me who he, and the driver was. I recognized Andrew Falconi first, then Tommy. He and his wife had been in the local papers a few months back, they had just had their first child, a baby girl.