Postponing Business
Mario Falcone
Batman (Comics)
445 words
Carmine Falcone regarded the young man in front of him for a moment before he rose. He walked over to his son and pulled him into a tight hug. The mafioso clapped his hand against Mario’s arm when they parted.
“Welcome home,” he said, his voice full of paternal warmth.
“It’s great to be back.” Mario allowed himself a brief smile. His father motioned for him to sit, and he obeyed. He glanced at the room’s door as his father poured two tumblers of whiskey. Mario took the offered drink gratefully. “So, that was the Scarecrow.”
“The one and only, grazie a Dio.”
“How does he know Nadia?”
“I pay her to represent him. When he runs into trouble with the law, it is in our best interest to see him taken care of,” Carmine explained.
“He knows that much?”
“Enough to be dangerous.”
“Why don’t you-”
“He’s too valuable. Besides, he needs our money, and no Family worth working with will finance a rat if he sells us out.” Carmine shrugged. “His ego proves difficult-as you saw. However, no honest man can deny his genius. Keep him financed, and he doesn’t cause trouble. At least not for us.”
“And Nadia?”
The older man considered this. “I assigned her the job to see how she acted under pressure. Passed with flying colors. After that, she requested to continue representing him. She’s more effective than past middlemen, so I don’t argue. Until one or the other complains, the arrangement stands.”
“You trust him?”
“I trust Nadia to ask when she needs help.” Carmine paused and looked over at his son, studying him. “While we are talking about Nadia.”
“Yeah?”
“She is an important employee who knows a great deal and would be very difficult to replace.”
“Why would you need to replace her?”
Carmine gave his son a warning glance. “I know from Salesi that your ways with women haven’t changed. That is all well and good. You are still young. However, jilted women talk. Nadia is not to be touched.”
“Not even to help her in and out of the car?” Mario teased. He grinned at his father’s glare. “Don’t worry, Pop. I promise.” He paused and glanced at his watch. “Pop…”
“What is it?”
“Is there any business you need me for right now?”
“Not tonight, I suppose,” Carmine replied. He was surprised when Mario immediately rose. One look into his son’s eyes told him everything. “Really, Mario?”
“She doesn’t know I came home, Pop.” Mario held his father’s gave. “I haven’t seen her in two years.”
Carmine sighed and gestured. “Go. We shall attend to business tomorrow. For tonight… enjoy yourself.”
Batman (Comics)
445 words
Carmine Falcone regarded the young man in front of him for a moment before he rose. He walked over to his son and pulled him into a tight hug. The mafioso clapped his hand against Mario’s arm when they parted.
“Welcome home,” he said, his voice full of paternal warmth.
“It’s great to be back.” Mario allowed himself a brief smile. His father motioned for him to sit, and he obeyed. He glanced at the room’s door as his father poured two tumblers of whiskey. Mario took the offered drink gratefully. “So, that was the Scarecrow.”
“The one and only, grazie a Dio.”
“How does he know Nadia?”
“I pay her to represent him. When he runs into trouble with the law, it is in our best interest to see him taken care of,” Carmine explained.
“He knows that much?”
“Enough to be dangerous.”
“Why don’t you-”
“He’s too valuable. Besides, he needs our money, and no Family worth working with will finance a rat if he sells us out.” Carmine shrugged. “His ego proves difficult-as you saw. However, no honest man can deny his genius. Keep him financed, and he doesn’t cause trouble. At least not for us.”
“And Nadia?”
The older man considered this. “I assigned her the job to see how she acted under pressure. Passed with flying colors. After that, she requested to continue representing him. She’s more effective than past middlemen, so I don’t argue. Until one or the other complains, the arrangement stands.”
“You trust him?”
“I trust Nadia to ask when she needs help.” Carmine paused and looked over at his son, studying him. “While we are talking about Nadia.”
“Yeah?”
“She is an important employee who knows a great deal and would be very difficult to replace.”
“Why would you need to replace her?”
Carmine gave his son a warning glance. “I know from Salesi that your ways with women haven’t changed. That is all well and good. You are still young. However, jilted women talk. Nadia is not to be touched.”
“Not even to help her in and out of the car?” Mario teased. He grinned at his father’s glare. “Don’t worry, Pop. I promise.” He paused and glanced at his watch. “Pop…”
“What is it?”
“Is there any business you need me for right now?”
“Not tonight, I suppose,” Carmine replied. He was surprised when Mario immediately rose. One look into his son’s eyes told him everything. “Really, Mario?”
“She doesn’t know I came home, Pop.” Mario held his father’s gave. “I haven’t seen her in two years.”
Carmine sighed and gestured. “Go. We shall attend to business tomorrow. For tonight… enjoy yourself.”