Chapter 8

A month later ... the long awaited meeting with Lizzie’s ex/Dana’s father and his second wife at Villa Cortez, Anibal’s ranch...

“So, you’re the famous Anibal, and you’re his wife... ?” I fished for her name.

“Desiree. Maiden name Salvatore. I don’t have to tell you my married name, do I? But I will. Desiree Giuliana Salvatore. Not related to the famous Sicilian outlaw, though. I’m Calabrese. Classic Calabrese hardhead,” the charming ginger who proved to be Anibal’s wife assured me.

“And you’re aware that ... Anibal ... and Lizzie... , “ I strung the words out enough to test the extent of Desiree’s knowledge and candor.

“That he fucks his ex often? Yep. Good! I wish that I got along that well with my ex, but it’s rather hard to have that kind of fun when he’s in prison. Where he belongs, I might add. Mind if I smoke? It’s one of my vices. Never could shake it, along with Chianti, amaretto, cappuccino, and even espresso. I’m a card-carrying cliche Italian-American! At least I own it!” Desiree then leaned in to add, “I’m also a round-heeled slut, but by now, Anibal and I have reached a kind of ... accord on that issue. His indiscretions and mine.”

“So, it’s a lot like me and my many lovers, including Lizzie,” I winked at Desiree in front of Anibal to test the boundaries.

“Something like that, at least in some ways. Life’s too short to be faithful to anyone, don’t you think?” Anibal grinned now.

“I love how you think, sir!” I smiled back.

“Mind introducing all of your ... pets?” Desiree asked, for lack of a better word.

“Well, first off, here’s Lindsay and her husband, Robert. They’re my first playthings, due to a poker game that really went my way. He is ... or was ... a stockbroker. Now they’re both just full-time fuckmeat that I’m trying to get into porn or something. I want to run my own adult studio, you see. I’m bisexual, as you can probably tell. I used to be a landlord, in fact. I got out of that business, retired from it. Sold the property, all that jazz.

“The next ‘pet,’ as you put it that we claimed was Dana here, your own stepdaughter. Suffice it to say that she doesn’t deliver pizzas anymore. Then there’s my assistant from the landlord days, Valija. She’s Latvian, in case you wondered. Recently separated from her husband, in fact. And this here cutie is my Ruthie, my fiancee, currently owner of Herb’s Cafe, though she hasn’t decided its fate just yet. It was her father’s diner, you see.

“Then there’s Lizzie, of course. Your very own ex-wife. And Linus, a very happily and proudly gay former waiter, I believe. He’s also one of my playthings, I would say. And then there’s Roy, Capri, Vito, Steve, Andy, and Walt. Capri is the only woman among these ... playmates or regulars of Lizzie, though Vito likes to go in drag as ‘Vita’ now and then. Yes, my friends, I’m dragging them all down with me to Hell, luring them into a life of wanton wickedness among their fellow sinners. A life of sheer decadence and depravity, right?” I chuckled at the way I presented myself.

“Do any of these ... playthings have collars, ink, etc.?” Anibal asked me now, “and would it be possible to acquire at least one or two of them for myself ... or for Desiree, or both of us?”

“Yes, though concealed for the moment out of consideration of my hosts here. Well, as it happens, there’s a way to kill at least two of those birds with the same stone. Valija’s ... estranged husband is a real prick, to put it mildly. I’d like to see him genuinely ruined in some fashion. If you can aid me in this, not only you could do what you liked with him, no questions asked, but I would survey my pets to see which ones would like to be turned over to you. Other than Arlen, I’d rather that we operate by consent, you know,” I laid out my proposal for revenge, or rather the bare summary of it.

“If someone harms a sweet lady like Valija, yes, they have it coming to them in spades. I can attest to that, Daddy,” Dana spoke up now.

“Well, as you might have gathered, I have some ... less savory connections. I won’t say what kind, but you can guess. It happens when you work as I did ... within the gray blurs of the law, as a young man. I was a professional boxer, took several dives when it occurred to me that I wasn’t going to be the Latin Rocky. I got involved in some ... less respectable stuff for a good while. I invested my prize money ... and bribe money, rather well, I might add.

“Anyway, lots of folks owe me favors. Folks who don’t mind bending or even breaking the law now and then. Along with some legs, of course. Do you have any ... guidelines or preferences as to how you want this done? Otherwise, I’m game. Clearly, Valija means something to you ... and to my daughter ... and to Lizzie. As from this moment, you and I, we are hermanos. Brothers. We are one raza, si, vato?” Anibal offered me now.