The Dame Did It by Joel Jenkins Page B

cutting off
Gino’s admonishment. “Just thought I would tell you before you
started yellin’, that Vito, his squeeze, and his boys are sitting
right over there, and looking right at us.” The burly bodyguard
pointed his index finger in the proper direction to bring Gino’s
attention to where his great “business” rival was seated.
    Vito Gambino was a tall, fearsome-looking
man with rugged looks and close-cropped black hair. He beamed
gleefully when he saw Gino’s entourage, yet his tough guy
appearance made his smiles appear intimidating rather than amiable.
His immaculate three-piece, wide-breasted suit and shiny matching
fedora hat were as expensive as those worn by Gino, and looked
brand new.
    “Gino, my goombadi !” he shouted in a
rough voice with a noticeable Italian accent. “So glad you could
make it! Come here, come here!”
    Fido made a point to step in front of Gino
to guard him as they headed towards the table at the far left of
the diner. Vito’s latest lover, an attractive young woman in a low
back green dress, sat beside him. On either side of them sat two of
Vito’s well-dressed bodyguards, with another standing a bit off to
the side of the table. The trio were clearly watching every breath
taken by Gino’s party.
    Don Provenzo confidently walked over to the
other side of the table, Gia following him with a commensurate
level of outward calm. The standing guard’s eyes appeared to lock
on her in a manner akin to that of a frog intensely scanning a fly
it was determined to snatch from the air. She smiled and winked at
him, and he slyly reciprocated.
    Gino sat directly across from Vito, his gaze
intense and expression neutral. Vito, however, kept up the smiles
and sense of joviality.
    Gia sat to the right of her father, as she
usually did. Getting comfortable, she adjusted the capelets on her
dress’ shoulder areas, allowing a moderate amount of cleavage to
show. She didn’t consider herself a floozy by any means, but she
well understood the advantage and power that female sex appeal had
in a world ostensibly dominated by men. They only think they’re in control , and it’s to our advantage to let them
keep thinking that , was a personal motto she often shared with
female acquaintances.
    “What exactly are you looking at, big boy?”
she asked Vito’s guard who was now obviously staring at her
cleavage.
    “I was just admiring the pretty flowers on
your dress,” he replied, referring to the embroidered roses on her
capelets.
    She let out a brief snort, and said, “Mmhmm,
I’ll bet you are.” She couldn’t help smiling just a little when she
noticed the fiery glare that Ira beamed to the opposing guard.
    Fido and Pinaro took their usual places
standing on each side of where Gino and Gia were sitting, while Ira
did the same by sitting at Gino’s left. It was the job of the first
two to keep an eye on Vito’s guards and the general environment;
Ira’s job was to keep an eye on Vito himself.
    Clearly intending to break the tension on
many levels, and to avoid Gino focusing attention on the exchange
between his guard and Gia, Vito festively hit the table with his
powerful hand.
    “So, dinner is about to be served, people!”
said the Don of Buffalo’s Gambino Family with relish. “Cow burgers
and potato sticks on the house!” He then subjected his guests to
his unsettling laugh.
    “That oughta do wonders for my expanding
figure,” the slightly plump Gia noted quietly.
    “Nah, you got more to love this way, doll,”
Vito’s guard opined with a wry smirk.
    “Why, thank you, kind sir,” Gia said with a
smirk of her own, while both Gino and Ira developed an inflamed
countenance.
    “One more word like that, you filthy little
puissant,” Gino told the guard, “and I will personally remove your
prized part and shove it so far up your behind that you’ll be
peeing out of your mouth.”
    The guard gritted his teeth, but knew better
than to say anything in return, especially after