Tony's hand twitched.
'Goddammit, I left the mask.'
He'd forgotten it in the restroom.
'Rookie mistake, you idiot.'
His heart beat suddenly went cold.
Quiet radio static filled the air as Alessandro's men began to move.
He ducked out of Alessandro's sight.
He could see the little shit's head moving through the throng of people..
Getting nearer towards him.
'Swarming. They're gonna swarm soon. Shit.'
Think.
Move.
Fast.
Tony's eyes scanned his surroundings.
Then he stood, turned—then gave one last look to Angel.
'I'll see you later, babe,' he thought.
Heart was clenching.
He didn't want to leave.
He snatched a red dress jacket left draped on the back of a chair.
A little tight, smelled shit, but it would do.
Then a gray fedora on the table.
And a discarded light brown coat on a nearby table.
A mismatched color.
But it would serve its purpose.
He put them on like they were made for him.
Like it was his to begin with.
He walked calmly.
His movement was measured.
Confident even.
Slowly.
Right through the doors.
He nodded politely to the host standing outside.
Slightly taking off the fedora hat then putting it back on.
"Signore," he murmured in Italian.
The host bowed slightly, distracted.
Then—
"Antonio!"
Alessandro's voice.
Too loud.
Too sharp.
Annoying.
Tony didn't look back.
He walked faster.
Then he broke into a full sprint the moment he reached the hallway.
Behind him—
Footsteps.
Shouts.
The crackle of radios calling back up.
"Goddammit, you piece of shit Alessandrino."
He ran like hell.
He twisted and turned on the confusing hallways of the hotel Valgrande.
Looking for the fire escape door.
Where he can hide.
'It's gonna be hard to come back later, I better hide and wait. Or should I just climb outside the building?'
Nope.
It's not gonna work.
For one, he doesn't have that strong rope that they used in movies.
And second, he's not Tom Cruise.
'Heh.'
But he felt like him right now.
A mission impossible.
Then he saw it—the door to the emergency stairwell.
He was about to head there when—
PFT PFT
'Fuck! A silencer!'
'Crazy bastards!'
PFT
They dare use their guns in a hotel!
Fucking mafia!
Fucking Alessandro!
'Should I use this chance to go to the security room?'
He was actually planning to get there once he checked all the CCTV angles inside the grand room.
'But I got distracted instead. Shit.'
Angel.
'You better make this worth it.'
Then he smiled despite his situation.
'Fuck. I'll ravage you later.'
In the corner of his eyes he saw an empty elevator.
He ducked, turned right and rolled and slid inside before it closed.
It closed before any of the goddamn mafia saw him.
But they would know.
'Of course they would know.. Fuck!' he panted.
They would be waiting for him.
He was sure of it.
He pressed the emergency stop.
Then he looked up.
'Shit it's gonna be hard.'
He was not a fan of climbing slick metals of elevator shafts.
Taking off his fedora hat and the coat and the ugly dress jacket.
He started climbing and cursing.
**
Tony burst through the emergency exit door, and slipped into the lighted corridor.
He came back to the grand room hallways.
'It's highly unlikely that they would come back here to search, since this is where I ran away from.'
He climbed two floors after he climbed out of the elevator shaft, leaving the not moving elevator.
Panting and slick with sweat, and hundreds of curses later, he found the emergency stairwell on that floor.
Waited for anyone that would come up to check the fire exits.
But none came.
Then after a while, he went down two floors using the fire escape route.
Coming back to where he had been.
The walls were painted blue.
'I dont think they're that smart.'
The music from the ballroom can be heard in the distance.
'They were Alessandro's men, so they would share the same mindset.'
His eyes spotted the bullets from earlier, far from where he was.
'Tch.'
He kicked the carpeted floor.
He looked around.
Saw a door on a dim corner.
'Perfect,' he thought.
It overlooked the grand room entrance.
He strolled towards it—casual, just in case.
He put his ear on the door.
Once he was sure that there were no movements inside, he turned the doorknob.
It was locked.
He looked around once more then took out the bobby pin from the coat he 'borrowed' earlier.
'It must be a ladies coat.'
He can smell a faint whiff of perfume that was left behind on his white dress shirt.
Then he worked on the lock.
It opened with a click.
Then he went inside.
The room was dark.
Cold.
'A storage room.'
He sweeps a look around the small room.
The music from the ballroom was muffled.
Then he exhaled.
A relief.
Then he pulled a burner phone under the leg of his suit pants.
It was secured there
One of four.
Pre-numbered and clean.
He dialed.
Three rings.
Then the sharp, clipped voice of Beth came through.
"So, how was the party?"
Tony went straight to business.
"I need a favor."
A pause.
"Talk."
Tony walked back and forth.
His shoes echoing the cold concrete of the room.
"Did you receive my package?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered in the same tone.
"Good. Anything scheduled for tonight?" Tony massages his temples.
Then a rustling of papers on Beth's line.
"Three."
Tony stopped walking.
"You've sent men all over the drop points I presume?" still massaging his temples.
"Yes," clipped.
"Stir up those three points for me sweetheart," he said, adding an endearment.
"What's going on Santa De Leones?" Beth asked, curiosity was evident in her voice.
"Well, I need some people to be distracted by something," he said truthfully.
"Is this something personal or related to the mission?" her voice had a hint of doubt.
"It's related. My goddamn cousin had his men chase me out of the party. But I'm coming back."
Tony paused.
"I have to come back."
Beth murmured something to someone while Tony waited.
"Well, did you get something out of that party, yet?" she asked.
Tony tried to think back inside the grand room.
But all he could remember was Angel.
'Shit. This wasn't really the time. Think think..!'
Then after a minute, Tony answered.
"Well, I have seen all the underbosses. And some important people. Hell, I think I even saw Americans there. Might be some business partners."
He stopped massaging his temples.
"Can you name them?" Beth asked.
Excitement on her voice.
"I was about to take the CCTV recordings. They have nice visuals," Tony lied.
Then a pause.
"How about your family's relationship with the Luchese?" Beth asked carefully.
Tony sneered.
"I think they are friendly enough. But the old lion of Santa De Leones isn't here."
"Tsk." Beth made a noise of dismay.
"Do I need to catch them kissing each other?" Tony asked.
"That's gross Santa De Leones," her voice raised a bit.
"Just call me Tony for god's sake," he raised his voice too.
A deep breath on the other line.
"Are you getting out there now?" Beth made sure to ask.
"Not yet." Tony answered in a clipped tone.
"Okay. Fine. I'm stirring some hornets' nests. You better give me good intel," she caved.
"I won't be promising anything. But I'll try to get you a gift," Tony breathed a sigh of relief.
"It better be Dior," she said, seriously.
Then, Tony hung up.
No thank yous.
Just business.
He waited five minutes.
Then he opened the door just enough to look outside.
There, he sees Alessandro on the phone with someone and his men rushing out of the grand room.
"Good riddance." he scoffed.
Once they were out of his sight, he closed the door and breathed.
'Next..'
Another call.
This one, he tapped in from memory.
Alvaro's number.
The phone rings five times.
Then a groggy voice answered.
"Hello?"
"It's me." Tony answered quietly.
Silence.
Then a series of sounds, like he dropped the phone.
"Brother!" Alvaro's voice sounds excited.
"I need a favor," but Tony decided to cut him off.
A beat.
"Oh, I thought…" Alvaro's voice had gone low. Then, "What favor?"
"Is the old lion in?" Tony asked.
"Yes," his brother answered.
"How about your father?" Tony did not say 'our father'.
Silence.
"You mean our father?" Alvaro said.
"Details," Tony mumbled.
"I think he's also in," Alvaro decided not to start a fight over details.
"Care to get them in Hotel Valgrande? Are they not invited to the Luches's dinner party?" Tony was spitting words.
"The what?" his brother sounded surprised.
"Luchese dinner party," Tony raises his brow.
"Why would they?" Alvaro asked with disbelief.
"The Don of Luchese was back. Didn't they know?" Tony's brow furrowed.
"No.." Alvaro paused. "Uncle Bernardo said, it's just a casual dinner party."
"Where is your uncle?" he asked, feeling that feeling again.
Like something was amiss.
Then a beat.
"Honestly, I don't think he went there," Alvaro answered.
Then he added:
"He said he had some business dinner, and sent Alessandro to the Luchese,"
Tony's mind was working.
Wondering a bit of what's up.
'Is that why Alessandro chased me out of there? Did he not want me to know?' he wondered a bit.
"I see," Tony's eyes were narrowing.
"What's all this about brother? Will you come back to the family?" Alvaro asked, voice hopeful.
Tony did not answer at first.
Like something blocked at his throat.
Then finally—
"No, cry baby."
Alvaro sniffled on the line.
The pet name hits him.
Suddenly remembering how his brother always used to call him that.
Before Antonia's death.
Before Antonio started rebelling.
"Is all I have to do is to take them to hotel Valgrande?" Alvaro asked quietly.
Letting go of feelings.
"Yes," Tony answered, feeling a bit guilty for what he's asking his brother to do.
Then he continued:
"Move faster. Can you make it in two hours?"
"Yeah! I'll drive! You know how much of a daredevil I am right?" Alvaro said, forcing himself to sound joyful.
Tony smiled and didn't say anything.
"What excuse would I say? What if they decided not to go to the party they weren't even invited to?" Alvaro suddenly asked, a bit worried.
Tony can't think of a reason.
"Make some shit up. Anything."
"Okay. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Tony tried to cover all of the rising emotions with a blanket.
Forcing himself to look the other way.
But it was quite hard.
'I need a distraction too, myself.'
**