Fic: Tears Of The Saints I: A Jewel Of Great Price (6/14)
Title: Tears Of The Saints I: A Jewel Of Great Price (6/14)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Mel/Johnny (Johnny does not appear in this chapter), Angelo Ricotti, Paul Maglioli
Series Notes: Tears Of The Saints will deal with the Outfit/Syndicate (aka the Mob) and how they cross paths with the Dillinger Gang and the Bureau of Investigation. It helps to have first-hand knowledge of Italian culture and Catholicism. ;)
Fandom: Public Enemies
Genres: AU, Drama
Rating (this chapter): R
Warnings: Threat of mutilation
Spoilers: None
General Summary: When the Syndicate needs the special talents of John Dillinger, they take out insurance that he will do the job they want by kidnapping someone near and dear to his heart: Melvin Purvis.
Chapter Summary: Mel discovers that he's in deeper trouble than he first suspected.
Date Of Completion: January 31, 2010
Date Of Posting: March 9, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 800
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The entire series can be found here.
VI
BREAD AND WATER
"One of the worst things about being a hostage?
The boredom."
Aaron Breck
American Millionaire
Philanthropist
1922 C.E.
Mel’s frustration was growing. Except for trips to the bathroom while closely guarded, he was stuck chained to this bed.
The man with the mashed nose, Ricotti, would have been more than happy to hit Mel again if he protested too much at his kidnapping, so he kept silent.
The other man scared him. Maglioli was tall and stoop-shouldered, with a hideous scar above and below his eye and running jaggedly down his cheek. He liked to play with a stiletto, eying Mel with a malevolence that chilled his bones.
He tried to keep his frustration from boiling over. Why had he been kidnapped? His captors refused to tell him anything.
It couldn’t be for ransom. Even though he came from a wealthy family, it didn’t make sense to kidnap him in Chicago and demand money from his family in South Carolina.
So, that left the Bureau. Did they really think that they could pressure Hoover by kidnapping him? The Director would do all he could to get him back, but he would never knuckle under to gangster demands, no matter how fond Hoover was of his prize agent.
Mel leaned back against the headboard with frustration. He had a pitcher of water on the nightstand but precious little food.
The door opened and Ricotti came in, shoving a plate with two pieces of bread at Mel.
“Is this it?”
“You expected a ten-course meal? You’ve got gall, Purvis. Think you’re so much better than us, doncha?”
Mel winced as he moved. The leg iron was rubbing his skin raw. His suggestion to put it on his other ankle had been ignored.
Well, at least the bed was comfortable. He’d gotten a good night’s sleep, figuring he was safe from getting bumped off at least for one night. He had no illusions about getting out of this alive. He might get lucky and be released, like the Karpis/Barker Gang had let Hamm and Bremer go, but all too often the kidnap victim ended up with a bullet in the head.
“You’re a stuck-up prig, Purvis.”
“Why? Because I might like something to eat and drink besides bread and water?” If the situation wasn’t so dangerous, he’d have laughed. He wondered if these Whiz Kids appreciated the irony of the menu. Somehow he doubted it. There had to be brains behind the operation.
“You’re pretty mouthy for a prancer.”
“Prancer?”
“Yeah, prancer ‘n’ dancer, mincing your way around.” Ricotti’s lip curled. “Guys like you make me sick. It’s unnatural. No real man would bang another man. »
Mel went cold. How the hell did this Neanderthal know? He and John had been so careful!
“Ain’t ya got any self-respect? Fuck, baby-sittin’ a pansy ain’t my idea of an assignment worth my time.”
Ricotti looked like he wanted to spit, but he turned and left the room instead.
Mel’s mind raced. If his kidnappers knew about him and John, did that mean his kidnapping wasn’t connected to the Bureau at all, but to his lover?
He felt sick at the thought. There might be honor among thieves, but not all the time. A rival gang with this knowledge could…and would…use it against Johnny.
He tugged hard on his chain, pain shooting up his leg.
He forced himself to calm down. He had to think of a way out of this, to save his own skin and to ease the pressure off Johnny, if what he suspected was true.
& & & & & &
Here was his chance.
Ricotti escorted Mel to the bathroom, gun in his back. Luckily the thug thought he wasn’t much of a threat and hadn’t restrained his hands.
Mel pretended to stumble, Ricotti reaching out to grab him. He attacked, knocking the gun aside and delivering a knee to the groin. Ricotti bellowed in pain as Mel took off.
He passed a sitting room and found the kitchen, grabbing the back door handle and yanking it open.
A heavy body crashed into him from behind and he yelled, struggling as his pursuer put him in a bear hug and lifted him off the floor.
Mel fought but was inexorably dragged back to the bedroom. He was flung on the bed and looked up, surprised to see Malgioli instead of Ricotti looming over him. The man’s ugly face was contorted into a sneer.
“You made a big mistake, pretty boy.” He grabbed Mel’s wrist. “I think it’s time to send another message in a box, and instead of a ring, the finger that goes with it.”
He took out his stiletto and pulled Mel’s hand toward him and the shining blade.
Shocked, Mel began to struggle.
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Mel/Johnny (Johnny does not appear in this chapter), Angelo Ricotti, Paul Maglioli
Series Notes: Tears Of The Saints will deal with the Outfit/Syndicate (aka the Mob) and how they cross paths with the Dillinger Gang and the Bureau of Investigation. It helps to have first-hand knowledge of Italian culture and Catholicism. ;)
Fandom: Public Enemies
Genres: AU, Drama
Rating (this chapter): R
Warnings: Threat of mutilation
Spoilers: None
General Summary: When the Syndicate needs the special talents of John Dillinger, they take out insurance that he will do the job they want by kidnapping someone near and dear to his heart: Melvin Purvis.
Chapter Summary: Mel discovers that he's in deeper trouble than he first suspected.
Date Of Completion: January 31, 2010
Date Of Posting: March 9, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 800
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The entire series can be found here.
VI
BREAD AND WATER
"One of the worst things about being a hostage?
The boredom."
Aaron Breck
American Millionaire
Philanthropist
1922 C.E.
Mel’s frustration was growing. Except for trips to the bathroom while closely guarded, he was stuck chained to this bed.
The man with the mashed nose, Ricotti, would have been more than happy to hit Mel again if he protested too much at his kidnapping, so he kept silent.
The other man scared him. Maglioli was tall and stoop-shouldered, with a hideous scar above and below his eye and running jaggedly down his cheek. He liked to play with a stiletto, eying Mel with a malevolence that chilled his bones.
He tried to keep his frustration from boiling over. Why had he been kidnapped? His captors refused to tell him anything.
It couldn’t be for ransom. Even though he came from a wealthy family, it didn’t make sense to kidnap him in Chicago and demand money from his family in South Carolina.
So, that left the Bureau. Did they really think that they could pressure Hoover by kidnapping him? The Director would do all he could to get him back, but he would never knuckle under to gangster demands, no matter how fond Hoover was of his prize agent.
Mel leaned back against the headboard with frustration. He had a pitcher of water on the nightstand but precious little food.
The door opened and Ricotti came in, shoving a plate with two pieces of bread at Mel.
“Is this it?”
“You expected a ten-course meal? You’ve got gall, Purvis. Think you’re so much better than us, doncha?”
Mel winced as he moved. The leg iron was rubbing his skin raw. His suggestion to put it on his other ankle had been ignored.
Well, at least the bed was comfortable. He’d gotten a good night’s sleep, figuring he was safe from getting bumped off at least for one night. He had no illusions about getting out of this alive. He might get lucky and be released, like the Karpis/Barker Gang had let Hamm and Bremer go, but all too often the kidnap victim ended up with a bullet in the head.
“You’re a stuck-up prig, Purvis.”
“Why? Because I might like something to eat and drink besides bread and water?” If the situation wasn’t so dangerous, he’d have laughed. He wondered if these Whiz Kids appreciated the irony of the menu. Somehow he doubted it. There had to be brains behind the operation.
“You’re pretty mouthy for a prancer.”
“Prancer?”
“Yeah, prancer ‘n’ dancer, mincing your way around.” Ricotti’s lip curled. “Guys like you make me sick. It’s unnatural. No real man would bang another man. »
Mel went cold. How the hell did this Neanderthal know? He and John had been so careful!
“Ain’t ya got any self-respect? Fuck, baby-sittin’ a pansy ain’t my idea of an assignment worth my time.”
Ricotti looked like he wanted to spit, but he turned and left the room instead.
Mel’s mind raced. If his kidnappers knew about him and John, did that mean his kidnapping wasn’t connected to the Bureau at all, but to his lover?
He felt sick at the thought. There might be honor among thieves, but not all the time. A rival gang with this knowledge could…and would…use it against Johnny.
He tugged hard on his chain, pain shooting up his leg.
He forced himself to calm down. He had to think of a way out of this, to save his own skin and to ease the pressure off Johnny, if what he suspected was true.
& & & & & &
Here was his chance.
Ricotti escorted Mel to the bathroom, gun in his back. Luckily the thug thought he wasn’t much of a threat and hadn’t restrained his hands.
Mel pretended to stumble, Ricotti reaching out to grab him. He attacked, knocking the gun aside and delivering a knee to the groin. Ricotti bellowed in pain as Mel took off.
He passed a sitting room and found the kitchen, grabbing the back door handle and yanking it open.
A heavy body crashed into him from behind and he yelled, struggling as his pursuer put him in a bear hug and lifted him off the floor.
Mel fought but was inexorably dragged back to the bedroom. He was flung on the bed and looked up, surprised to see Malgioli instead of Ricotti looming over him. The man’s ugly face was contorted into a sneer.
“You made a big mistake, pretty boy.” He grabbed Mel’s wrist. “I think it’s time to send another message in a box, and instead of a ring, the finger that goes with it.”
He took out his stiletto and pulled Mel’s hand toward him and the shining blade.
Shocked, Mel began to struggle.