Page 7 of Ambitious Bastard

Geno – the man that touched Bianca on the dance floor in Salvo's nightclub and got punched in the face and thrown out. He was a soldier working for one of Frank Zucco's capos.

"What did he do?" Salvo asked, clenching his fists.

"Well, I was having fun chatting it up with Nicole and Fran at our table, and Geno walked into the restaurant with some other guy and spotted me. He came right up and put his hands on our table, leaned over to me, and asked if I was still a virgin and if so, he would love to be the one to pop my cherry.”

When Bianca began to cry, Salvo pulled her into his arms. He was so furious that he clenched his jaw and couldn't speak.

"It was embarrassing. I couldn't say anything because my jaw dropped to my half-eaten plate of manicotti." She sniffled and held onto Salvo tightly. "Fran is the bold one in my group of friends, and she told him to choke on a fucking spoon and get away from our table."

He held her tight and comforted her as she cried. "Shh, don't cry, BB. That sick son of a bitch. I'm going to kill–"

"Please don't do anything, Salvo!" Bianca begged. "If you hurt him, then they will come after you. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

"What the man did was inexcusable, tasteless, and disrespectful. If your father knew what Geno said to you, the dirtbag would be sunk to the bottom of the Hudson River by now. I'll just teach him a lesson and break a few bones while I'm at it."

CHAPTER 5

Geno Nicoletti was a capo in Frank Zucco’s regime. His favorite spot he enjoyed on Friday nights was the Pleasure Point Gentlemen's Club in the Bronx. Geno had a hard-on for one of the new girls that stripped there, named Violet. So he sat at the bar, trying to convince Violet to meet him after the club closed. But, of course, she didn't want anything to do with the sleazeball with hands that were way too touchy. Violet rolled her eyes, and when she told Geno to go home and jerk off, then walk away, Salvo grabbed the back of his neck and slammed his face down onto the bar, then yanked Geno off his stool and began to bash his face with a 38 revolver until he was on his knees.

Salvo leaned down, gripped the front of Geno's bloodied shirt, and snarled, "If you ever touch Bianca Capello, talk to her, or even look at her, I'll kill you."

Tony stood close by, telling the patrons standing around to not interfere. And no one dared. Then as Salvo raked his hands through his dark hair and walked out of the nightclub, Tony threw a small wad of bills on the bar and followed him.

Two days later, Enrico Andolini summoned Salvo to meet in the private office at his home. Frank Zucco sat in a chair smoking a cigarette and smiled at Salvo when he arrived. Enrico sat behind his desk, and Henry Costa stood only a few feet away, his mouth a straight line as he watched Frank's every move. Enrico offered Salvo to sit in the other chair beside Frank, but Salvo declined and stood with his back to the door.

He grabbed his crotch as a show of disrespect, wanting to slap the sardonic smile off Frank's face.

Enrico shook his head, frustrated with Salvo's attitude. Frank had come to him an hour before and told Enrico that his bastard nephew was hot-tempered, a loose cannon, and should be reprimanded. Salvo had assaulted one of his capos, Geno Nicoletti, breaking his jaw, in front of people at a gentleman's club in the Bronx. Geno had surgery on his jaw and was put back together with screws and pins while he recovered in the hospital.

Frank demanded retribution and wanted Enrico to punish Salvo for what he had done. However, for Salvo to pull a stunt like this on another capo, even if that capo worked for a different Boss, was not like him. Salvo was cunning and clever regarding business, and that's when Enrico realized why the incident happened. The fondness for a female made a man do stupid and irrational things.

Enrico was a sensible man, and to him, mixing personal matters and emotions with business decisions would be a man's downfall. But Enrico was proud of his nephew, so of course, would take his side over Frank Zucco, an arrogant bully who liked to show off wearing expensive Italian-made tailored suits, his flashy cars, and pretty women he had to pay to entertain him.

"Salvo, this is not like you, so there must be a good reason," Enrico said.

"Geno is lucky I got to him, and he's still alive! Thatstupidostronzomade a grave mistake, disrespecting Roman Capello's daughter, Bianca."

Enrico arched an eyebrow and looked at Frank, "Is that so?"

"I cannot control every little thing my capos say or do," Frank said, opening his hands and shrugging. "Geno is a good capo and brings in a lot of money for my business. I'll tell him to make a formal apology to Bianca Capello."

"And you will take care of your capo's medical expenses because what Salvo did was justified." Enrico berated.

Enrico detested Frank Zucco for years, but he put aside his personal opinions of the man because making war with him or Rocco Mancini would be deadly. But Roman was his loyal Consigliere, and anyone with the Capello and Andolini last names was considered family for generations.

Both Enrico and Frank stood and shook hands from across the desk. As Frank left the office, he winked at Salvo and patted his cheek like a child. "You're sly, Salvo, but still just a bastard."

Salvo was quick as he snarled and clamped his teeth into Frank’s palm. Frank screamed in pain as Salvo bit down hard, breaking the skin, then let go.

Frank cursed in Italian and English as he gripped his bloody hand while Henry helped walk him out of the office.

Enrico closed the office door, gave Salvo a handkerchief, and grumbled, "Malvivente."

"I'm going to kill him someday," Salvo said, then wiped the blood from his lips.

Enrico placed his hands on Salvo's shoulders and squeezed. "I understand why you beat Geno Nicoletti. You did it for Bianca Capello, but it was not how I would have done it. Frank Zucco taunted you and wanted you to lose control, but we are civilized men. You have Andolini blood in your veins, nephew. I will always support you and take your side. We are not scum like those men. We will keep this between us. Bianca's brother, Lucian, will become Matteo's Consigliere someday. I want you to be Matteo's underboss when it's time for me to step down."

"Thank you, Uncle Nico. I'm truly honored." Salvo said as they hugged each other.

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