Free Wiseguys In Love by C. Clark Criscuolo Page B

doesn’t do it?”
    Tony slowly leaned down over her, and she suddenly felt herself sinking lower and lower in her folding chair, feeling as if she was very small as his oversized face got close to hers.
    â€œâ€™Cause I’m gonna kill him on the spot if he don’t.”
    Lisa sat in the kind of silent confusion you feel when you hear something so outrageously out of the realm of what you consider possible that your brain temporarily gets derailed. She looked at Mrs. Morelli, who stared at her calmly as she squashed out her cigarette in the ashtray. She couldn’t see the other man. She looked back at Tony. It was as if his eyes were dead.
    â€œUm,” she squeaked. “What makes you think he’ll keep his word?”
    â€œâ€™Cause we’re going back to his office, and he gonna put through the paperwork and sign a check over for all the trouble he caused.” Tony’s breath was hot against her cheek and smelled faintly of chocolate.
    â€œHe could just … cancel the check and tear up the paper on Monday,” she said with a flutter.
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œHe’s gonna have a accident right after he signs.”
    Her neck craned back as he straightened up, and she felt a little dizzy. She stared straight ahead at his belt buckle and then stared over at Mrs. Morelli and the other man. Her mind raced through what was being said. Of course, over the years she’d joked around about killing her boss, just the way everybody did who had a boss like hers, but there was something about the way these people were talking …
    She stood up.
    â€œI know just how you feel,” she said, pointing a finger at Mrs. Morelli. She picked up her bag. “And he really deserves it, too. Well, my car’s illegally parked and I have to be in Connecticut tonight for a barbecue and—”
    Tony blocked the front door and the other man stood, his arms crossed, staring at her.
    They were not laughing.
    â€œWhere is this appointment book you was talking about?” Mrs. Morelli snapped. Her voice was harsh.
    â€œLook, you can’t be serious. I mean, you can’t kill a man because he fired you.”
    She felt Tony’s large hands rest heavily on her shoulders. She wiggled free and looked up at him and then over at Mrs. Morelli.
    â€œHe deserves it. You said so yourself. ’Cause he’s bad for people.”
    â€œYes, but … you could take him to court, get a lawyer—”
    â€œI’ll be dead before they give it back to me. Where’s the book?” she demanded, motioning to Tony.
    She felt his huge hands wrap easily around her upper arms, like manacles.
    â€œHey, wait one darned minute.” She struggled.
    â€œTell us where the book is,” the other man ordered, stepping in front of her.
    She stared into his eyes and he looked away quickly, as if he was embarrassed. Tony tightened his grip on her until all the blood seemed to get cut off from her lower arms.
    â€œWhere is it?” the other man demanded, carefully avoiding her look.
    â€œIt’s in his lower desk drawer, but it’s locked!” she yelled at them.
    Tony loosened his grip. They were all silent.
    â€œWhat do we do now, Aunt Rosa?” Tony asked in a deep voice after a moment.
    â€œWhat are you? Stunadze? Take her to the office. She got the keys for all them drawers,” Rosa snapped.
    â€œOkay, Aunt Rosa,” Tony said as the other man opened the apartment door.
    Lisa found herself being lifted off the floor like a rag doll and swung toward the door. Suddenly, Tony turned back to Mrs. Morelli, and Lisa felt her feet swinging out.
    â€œDon’ you worry, Aunt Rosa. I’m gonna take care of you. I love you. I’ll be back wid what he owes … and the rat bastard’s ears so you can send ’em to his mutha.”
    Lisa looked in horror at Mrs. Morelli, then at the other man, who