Alex
My father was Mafia. He groomed me to be Mafia while Frank played a cop. I know when people have connections and when they don’t. I can smell it on them. It’s in the way they walk and the way they talk. I was groomed to live the life. I had my suspicions about Adele from the minute she showed up. Frank always can find the good in people. He was a cop, so perhaps he sees the innocence in everyone he meets. Alexis is more like him than she is me. She is sweet and innocent. She would probably drop dead from shock if she knew our family was Mafia. I don’t blame her for being taken in by Adele. I do blame Frank because he should have known better. The minute I laid my eyes on her, I knew she was hiding something. It was something big and I felt the walls she built around herself. She wanted to keep people out so they wouldn’t figure out her secrets. I had no idea what that secret could be until today.
When that guy walked in to bring her keys, I knew my assumptions were correct. He had mob written all over him. I have never seen him before, so he’s obviously not connected to us. The look on Adele’s face when he walked in was priceless. She didn’t want me to see him either, but unfortunately for her, I did. I wanted to pull out my gun and demand answers from her. I needed to get the fuck away from her before I did just that. I won’t go far since I can’t trust her enough to leave her alone. What in the hell does this lying bitch want? I am so mad that she not only played Frank, but she fucked with Alexis too. Alexis isn’t involved with this shit and Adele used her to get in.
“What exactly do you want me to do?” She is asking as she stands near the bar.
I close my eyes to rein in my temper before I really do pull out my gun and shoot her. I should talk to Frank before I do anything because he will notice if she goes missing.
“How about you start with the dishes,” I ask and I look away and towards the gun that we keep behind the bar.
“The dishes? Don’t you have someone to do the dishes or maybe a dishwasher?” she asks and I am about to snap.
“I would like you to wash the glasses. Just so you know, we do have someone that normally does that. However, we were short staffed last night and rather than have someone do the job for two people because your ass didn’t have to fulfill your duties, I let everyone leave this shit for today.” I snap at her.
“I’m sorry. Am I allowed to put them in the dishwasher?” she quietly asks.
“Yes. Just so you know, I hate the water streaks that come from it, so I would prefer you hand dry them,” I tell her as I head to the alley. I need to get the fuck away from her. I keep replaying that guy bringing in her keys. I wonder who he is and what family does he belong to? When Lola first showed up she had ties to New York, but we work together since she and Frank got married. Has another family moved into Chicago? Can I even address this with Frank or will he just believe that she isn’t involved? I pace the alley enough to calm down and head back inside to where Adele has started hand drying the glasses. I stand next to her and start grabbing glasses to put them away and she raises an eyebrow to look at me. She is suspicious and I want to let her know that she should be because I am very suspicious of her too.
“Who was that guy?” I ask and she tilts her head to look at me.
“What guy are you talking about?” she asks. Does this bitch really want to play games with me? She has no idea how badly I want to kill her.
“The guy that had your keys. I am assuming he brought you in?”
“Why do you want to know?” She stops wiping and looks up at me as I grab the next glass and put it away.
“I want to know because he looks like bad news. I don’t want you bringing any of your shit into my club.”
“You can tell he is bad news from the ten seconds it took him to bring my keys? I wish I had those super powers,” she smirks and I feel my temper rising.
I practically drop the glass and after inspecting it for cracks, I then turn towards her.
“Listen, you little bitch. I have been very nice to you since for some reason Frank likes you. That guy is not allowed anywhere near Deluca’s. You will have serious problems if I have to mention this again.”
Adele’s eyes widen and she opens her mouth to say something. As she does the back door once again opens and Frank walks in. He looks between me and Adele and moves to the bar.
“Is there a problem here? Frank asks and both Adele and I shake our head. He looks back at Adele and tilts his head. I turn to look at her and I notice that her eyes have gotten watery. I roll my eyes knowing this bitch is about to start crying and putting on a major ‘pity me show’ for Frank and I will be the villain.
“Adele, is everything ok?” Frank asks again but this time his voice is softer.
“I am fine. Alex was just being Alex and laying down his law,” she says and I look at her and close my eyes. I know this will be a fight in a few minutes.
“I am glad you’re both here. I have to leave town for a few weeks,” Frank says and I move to the other side of the bar to stand next to him.
“Where are you going? Is everything ok?” I ask.
“Everything is fine. Lola and I are just taking the kids to New York for a few weeks so they can see their grandparents,” Frank responds and we both turn back to look at Adele who suddenly looks pale and faint.
“Can I see you in my office for a few minutes?” Frank asks me and I realize it’s time for that fight. I nod my head and he looks back at Adele letting her know he’ll talk to her before he leaves. I roll my eyes as I head upstairs.
I am waiting for Frank in the office when he finally arrives after talking to Adele.
“What the fuck was going on, Alex?” He practically yells as he closes the door.
“Nothing,” I answer as I cross my legs.
“Alex, she was practically in tears and I thought she was going to faint when I mentioned leaving town!”
“I can’t help it if she really likes you, Frank. I wonder what Lola would think about that?” I look up at Frank and he is seething.
“I am going to ask you this one more time, Alex. What the fuck was going on?”
“Okay,” I chuckle and stand. “What is going on is that Princess Adele has connections. This guy dropped her off and I know the fucking mob when I see it and he’s it.”
Frank shakes his head and turns away from me walking back to his desk.
“She isn’t connected, Alex. You’ll just have to trust me. I need to go to New York and when I return she had still better be here. If she isn’t, we are going to have major problems when I return.”
I tilt my head and can’t believe the shit I am hearing. “Whatever you want Frank,” I say.
“I think I am going to ask Oliver to check in while I am gone. I know he does his sex club shit and stays in that area, but I don’t trust you…” Frank starts but I cut him off.
“Wait. You’re going to leave her a fucking babysitter, Frank? I will not fire her while you’re gone. Will that make you happy?” I tell him as I shake my head.
“Tell me you won’t do anything to make her quit either, Alex,” Frank continues and I shake my head.
“Adele will be here when you return,” I tell him although I am not happy about it.
Frank and I leave his office and he moves straight to Adele. I stand at the top of the stairs watching them. I am sure he’s assuring her that I will be nice and won't bother her when he is away. He’s telling her some shit like that because as he talks his eyes keep moving to me on the stairs. She has a secret and I think Frank knows what it is. I honestly believe those secrets are mob-related and involve that guy who was here earlier. I don’t understand why Frank would protect her. He now has just as much dirt under his nails than the rest of us do. Why would he protect her? Maybe I need to go further than Frank? Maybe I need to talk to Alexis to find out about Adele.
When Adele finally breaks away from Frank, I head down the stairs. He meets me once I am at the bottom and says that she’ll be working the normal closing shift while he is away. Before he leaves, he reminds me that Adele is to still be working at Deluca’s when he returns. I nod in agreement.