“Gino, it doesn’t look good. Since the prosecutor couldn’t prove that you committed the Tobias murder last month, they have since gathered enough evidence to convict you on both counts of tax fraud and the several other felonies they’ve levied against you - enough to give you the “bitch.”

Ha”bitch”ual offender was the last thing you needed, especially if you were a syndicate crime boss. First, the Feds would lock you up for life in a six by nine cell. Then you would become the newest target of the Tignanelli clan.

The stupid thing is that that fucking rat bastard Bobby Tobias deserved to die. First of all, he was a great big nobody who thought he had aspirations of being somebody someday – Gino wanted to make sure it wasn’t at his expense.

Secondly, Bobby embarrassed him in front of his associates. Just because Gino had to special order size 9 with a triple “g” width, that fucker had no right to make him the laughing stock of his associates by calling him waffle feet. Besides, it wasn’t like Bobby had any kind of particular skill that made him indispensable to his organization.

“You’re saying that they can’t prove murder, but they’re still going to sentence me to life?”

“That’s what I’m saying, Gino.”

“What the hell kind of a lawyer are you anyway, Banks?”

Banks stared at him, but Gino knew the spineless lawyer wouldn’t say a word. The sniveling little bastard was afraid of Gino. Hell, he was afraid of everyone.

“So, what do I do now? Run?”

“I am a lawyer. I cannot advise you to do that.” Banks picked up his pen and began to tap it on the table.

“But you said I’m going to jail. Right?”

“They have a great case.” Banks began to twirl the pen between his fingers. Gino snatched the pen out of his hands and pitched it across the room. It bounced off the wall and shattered.

“You can’t do a deal?” Gino grabbed the lawyer’s lapels and pulled him partially out of his chair and put his face within inches of Clyde Banks nose.

The lawyer’s forehead instantly beaded up with sweat. He stuttered, “A…a… month ago…yes. Now? It won’t happen. They…they know they got you.”

Gino released his prey, and Banks pulled his suit back into place. “I don’t know what to tell you, Gino.” Then with veiled message, he said, “Like I said before. I cannot legally tell you to go to another country without extradition.”

Gino stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes as he measured the words of his lawyer.

“I guess I don’t have any ties here. I could still run things from another place.”

“I can’t hear this.” Banks covered his ears.

“Okay, okay.”

“I have to go, Gino.” Banks loaded up his briefcase, and searched his pockets for his clip on glasses. He brought out a piece of paper, and snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah, this is for you. A beautiful woman gave me this note in the hallway before court.”

Banks handed an embossed envelope to Gino who raised an eyebrow. It was no surprise that a beautiful woman would send him a note, but from the looks of the stationary, she was a rich one. He detected a delicate scent and held the letter to his nose - not a cheap perfume.

“It’s Friday and the jury is being sent home. You’d better spend the weekend getting your affairs in order. After the jury starts to deliberate on Monday, you may not have anymore time.” Banks looked at his watch. “I have to meet a client. You know how to get a hold of me.”

The lawyer retreated as Gino opened the envelope. The writing was beautiful and perfectly feminine. The two small sheets were as heavy as bricks after he read them. He quickly refolded the sheets and jammed them back in the envelope as he headed for the door. He had a son!

He checked his watch, and pulled out his cell phone. Why not call Marie? Maybe his kid even looked like him!

After two rings, the voice that answered the phone was honey-like and female. It dripped heavily over the airwaves.

“Hello?”

“Yo, Marie. It’s Gino. I got your note.”

The honey turned to ice. “Gino.”

“Yeah, that’s my name, baby. So, you missed me and sent me a note in hopes we can get back together, cause, I’d like that, too. I still remember that tight pussy of yours and those long legs of yours wrapped around me. What the hell ever happened to us anyway?”

“As I recall, it was someone by the name of Darlene in your bed. But let’s not rehash the past. Look, Gino, I didn’t contact you because I wanted to start something up again. I’m desperate. Our son Danny only has six months left to live if he doesn’t get a kidney. I was hoping that you’d get tested and see if you’re a match. I know it’s a long shot that you’d give up one of your kidney’s, but I have to try.”

“Where’d you get a pussy name like Danny from?”

“Gino, didn’t you hear me? He’s going to die without a kidney.”

“A kidney?” Gino felt the blood drain from his face.

“People only need one to survive. Danny’s been on dialysis for 5 years now and is running out of time.” Silence filled the phone. Finally, Gino heard the honey start oozing again. “Gino…he looks just like you.”

The idea of connecting back up with Marie was the initial reason he contacted her, but now, Gino was intrigued with the idea that there was someone who looked like him.

“Gino, you still there?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking. I’m sure you’ve seen on the news that I’m in trouble with the law right now and my lawyer says I am going to jail. I don’t think they’ll let me donate a kidney once I’m in jail.”

Gino heard a sigh. Sighs meant desperation. Perhaps he could get a little something from this situation after all. “Listen, Marie, I got the afternoon. Could I get tested today?”

“Yes! I’ll call them up immediately.”

“Yeah, but I want something, too.”

The ice returned. “What…?”

“You know, I’d like to see the kid and all, but I don’t know him from Adam. What’s in it for me?”

“The chance to save your son?”

“Yeah, that sounds nice, but what’s in it for me to go get tested?”

“What do you want?”

Gino let loose a throaty laugh. “I want those legs of yours wrapped around me again.”

Her gasp was clear. “You…you…can’t be serious.”

“Hey, do you want me to get tested or what?”

Gino heard her beating the receiver on something. Finally, she spoke. “Fine, you get tested and I’ll sleep with you.”

“Okay, but I think the timetable is a little wrong. You call them and set up the test for three hours from now, and I’ll meet you at The Tides Motel in an hour.”

Gino loved to twist people in knots, and he could imagine Marie’s beautiful face twisting now.

“Goddammit, fine. Have it your way. The Tides in an hour.”

*****

Gino looked at Marie’s legs. An hour ago they were indeed wrapped around him. He couldn’t help but feel aroused as he relived that moment while they waited for the blood test. He attempted to put his hand on her thigh, but she stood up and walked across the room. He loved to watch her squirm. The power he felt was overwhelmingly exciting to him. He’d have to string out this blackmail a while longer. He’d probably get a couple more lays out of this over the weekend.

“Excuse me, Marie?”

“Yes, Dr. Johnson?”

“I believe we have a match.”

*****

Gino picked up the Waterford glass and looked around Marie’s posh apartment.

“You did alright, Marie. This is a nice place.”

Marie was chewing on her thumb. “Now, remember, he doesn’t know about you. Let me handle this. There will be enough time to tell him who you are after the operation.”

“Yeah, sure. So, when we going to do the nasty again?”

“Come on. What is your problem? Our son is dying and all you can think of is sex?”

“Yeah.”

Marie closed her eyes like she was in pain. Then her eyes flew open at the sound of a key in the lock.

“He’s here.” Gino turned toward the door, but stayed in place as Marie greeted her son.

When Danny took off his hat and turned around, Gino exhaled heavily. Danny was a carbon copy of him when he was younger.

“Hello, my dear. How was school?” Marie kissed him on the forehead.

“Good.” His eyes focused on Gino.

“I’d like you to meet someone very special.” Marie guided him over to Gino.

*****

Gino was amazed at how smart and good-looking the kid was. Strangely, he found himself willing to give up one of his kidneys for him.

“Isn’t he everything I told you he was?”

“More.”

Marie smiled.

“Look, Marie. I’m willing to give him a kidney, but if I’m in jail, I can’t do it. The jury starts to deliberate on Monday. If we are going to do this, I’ll have to leave the country with Danny this weekend and do it in another country.”

“You mean, you’d become a fugitive for your son?”

Gino chewed on his lip. “Yeah. I would. But I’m going to need some help.”

“What? What do you need?”

“Does your daddy still have that Lear Jet?”

“Yes.”

“Get it to fly me to Buenos Aries. They’ve got good Doctors there and no extradition.”

“I’ll arrange it by tomorrow.”

“Good…and Marie?”

“What.”

“Ever heard of the Mile High Club?”

*****

Danny was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat and the captain. Gino shook his head toward the back of the plane. Marie gave him a nasty look, but got up from her seat and walked to the back of the plane. He followed close behind her. They slipped behind the curtain that hid the luggage area. Since there wasn’t much more than Gino and Danny’s bags in the storage area, there was plenty of room to get down to business.

“Don’t worry, I’ve paid the Captain extra to keep Danny up with him. We won’t be interrupted.”

“I ain’t worried. ‘Sides, how’s the kid going to learn about sex anyway?”

“You disgust me, Gino.”

“I know. Now take off your pantyhose.”

The excitement level was so high for Gino that it only took him five minutes of grunting to get off. Marie’s demoralized look made him feel powerful while he had his fun. He was almost sorry that she was going to have to leave them at the remote Argentinean airport and go on to Belize. If he didn’t let her go to complete the ruse, the Feds would maybe find him. There was just enough time to drop Danny and him at the airport and then continue on to Belize.

They landed with a bump and Danny came out from the cockpit. When the door opened a warm, moist, breeze blew on their faces. Danny’s youthful exuberance was contagious.

“This is really cool, mom.”

Marie hugged her son.

“Soon, you’ll have a new kidney and be able to try out for the track team.”

“Why can’t you stay?”

“Danny, we’ve been over this. Mr. Bernelli can’t donate his kidney in the states this fast. Dr. Juarez is the best in Argentina and you can have it in three days. I will be back before your operation. I promise.” Marie kissed her son. Gino took Danny by the arm and led him away from the plane as it began to taxi.

“So, how did my mom find you?”

“You really are a patsy, aren’t you, Danny?”

“What do you mean, sir?”

Gino grabbed his son by the collar and pulled his face inches from his. “Come on, Danny. Wake up you idiot. Don’t you see? You look just like me.”

Danny blinked - his innocence was lost.

*****

“You need to get over it. I bonked your mom, and you are here. Isn’t that enough?”

“My mother is not a slut.”

“She did the nasty with me, get over it.”

“You are a God Damn liar.”

“You calling me a liar?”

“If the big shoe fits…” Danny paused and stared at his fee. “No let me rephrase that - if the great big shoe fits…”

“You making fun of my feet? You shouldn’t do that, Danny. I’m your father.”

“You aren’t my father. You’re just the sperm donor.”

“Get the hell out of here, Danny. You make me sick to look at you.”

“Fine…I will.” Danny slammed the door.

Gino boiled with anger. Tobias didn’t get away with making fun of me. Why should I let this kid – who had been pure hell for twenty-four hours - get away with it? How hard can it be to hire a few thugs?

It didn’t take Gino long to find some guys willing to do the job. Two men stood in an alley. Their eyes lit up as the gringo approached them in the darkness. One guy was fat and missing teeth, the other one was skinny and had a scar on his cheek.

Together they could kick his ass, so he sized up which one was the meaner of the two. It’s in the eyes – it’s always in the eyes.

“Yo.” Gino greeted them.

“Amigo…what can we do for you?” The fat man showed the gaps in his teeth.

Gino noticed how fast the taller one flanked him.

“A great deal, if you want to make some money.”

The smell of the fat man’s sweat was nothing compared to the body odor of the skinny kid. That would be his undoing. Gino could smell how close he was. He didn’t have to look.

The fat man laughed. “How much?” He rubbed his thumb and fingers together.

Closer, closer, Gino knew exactly where his prey was.

“1,000 dollars…American.”

“You have that with you?” The fat man’s eyes went past Gino, and Gino knew he had to spring into action. Like a viper, he pulled his knife from the sheath and ran the skinny kid up against the wall. The fat man didn’t move fast enough, and before anyone knew it, the skinny kid was up against the wall and Gino’s knife was at this throat.

“Take another step and I will slit your friend’s throat. Comprenda’?”

At first, the fat man didn’t move. Then he smiled. “Amigo, no problem here. Let my friend go. Tell us how we can make this 1,000 dollars Americano, eh?”

Gino pulled down his knife away from the skinny one’s throat and started to clean his nails. The skinny kid shied away behind his large friend.

“You guys ever kill anyone?”

“Maybe.”

“I got a job for you.” Gino pulled out a fan of five, hundred dollar bills.

*****

Two hours later, the two men showed up at Gino’s cabana.

“It’s done?”

“Yeah, it’s done.”

“What kind of proof have you got?”

“The fat man pulled out the boy’s ring.”

“This look familiar, amigo?”

“Well done.” Gino pulled out another fan of bills and paid the men. “You can keep the ring.”

“You need anything else, amigo, you ask us.”

“Yeah, sure.”

The two lowlifes left. Now all that was left was to act sad when Marie got there today.

Gino felt proud of himself and his plan. He could set himself up here as a crime boss, too. He wanted to celebrate his new life in the tropics, so he took a walk downtown. From across the street, he saw a cantina with a mariachi band. His mouth was dry, so he decided to cross over to it and have a cervesas. But even across the street, a great set of legs caught his attention. He followed them up to a fine ass. Then his eyes focused on the face. He gulped hard.

Marie was here already! He’d have to act as if he didn’t know where Danny was. Perhaps this will be even better! We’ll be together when we get the bad news and I’ll be off the hook!

“Marie!” Gino called out. She didn’t hear him, so he crossed the street. “Marie!”

In mid stride, he stopped. Marie sat down at a table. Beside her sat Danny - still very much alive. Those rat bastards! I’ll kill them!

A horn blasted and Gino realized his last mistake too late. The face in the windshield of the car that was about to hit him was that of the grinning fat man. He felt the grill snap his leg bones and he fell backward to the pavement. His head hit the pavement at an awkward angle – dazing him, and the tires crushed his ribcage. As the car sped off, he lay face up in the gutter. He had no feeling in his limbs. Like a discarded rag doll, his arm draped awkwardly over his neck.

As he lay bleeding on the ground, people began shouting. Marie ran to his side - cradling his head in her hands - her eyes full of concern. Gino felt warm blood spurt from his mouth and down his cheek. She smiled and pulled Danny’s ring out of her pocket to show him. She bent her lips to Gino’s ear – so close that he could feel her breath. She whispered sweetly in his ear as things were going black.

“You always said that everyone has their price. I guess mine was higher. Oh, and by the way, Danny thanks you for the kidney that we’re going to yank out of you.”