"Fedeltà" drabbles by Neville Hunt

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Beaten

Fedeltà #688

Tony had to respond to Livia’s last comment... but she didn’t seem to have given him much room for negotiation. He didn’t know what to do, so he did what he always did when confronted, he behaved like the bully he was.

“You will stay away from that family!” Tony said slowly, articulating every word for emphasis and menace. “Or you will regret it!”

“So what will you do if I don’t, Tony, beat me up again?” Tony made a hmphh noise as he always seemed to do when someone started to challenge him. “I have photographic evidence you know!”

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Like it or not

Fedeltà #687

Tony was about to challenge Livia, but she got in first.

“Don’t get huffy, Tony. Just hear what I have to say, which should provide you some kind of reassurance. There is another reason for me seeing Mary, a very practical one. I need to find an undertaker who understands the kind of funeral we Monellis expect.” Livia was deliberately including herself under the ‘Monellis’ banner... ‘family’.

“So?” asked Tony.

“So Mary Flaherty’s little brother is one such undertaker and, in the absence of any bloody help from you, I’m thinking of using him, whether you like it or not!”

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Dead funny

Fedeltà #686

Tony was ready to speak. “What can you find funny about Terry’s death then?”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing, and we weren’t laughing about Terry, or Ronan come to that, but the woman has an incredible natural wit... and I really liked her.”

“You should keep away from the Flahertys... they ain’t good for your health!” Tony warned, trying to add a touch of menace, but at the same time fearful that any moment Livia might explode again.

“Well someone wasn’t good for Flaherty’s health!” she replied, “nor Terry’s, without me having even met Mary! They’re both dead healthy but not funny!”

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Funny

Fedeltà #685

Tony kept quiet. What she’d said was true. He was deeply suspicious of anything to do with the Flahertys at the best of times, but now that Ronan was dead, even more so.

“Do you want to know why?” continued Livia. Tony nodded his head without saying anything.

“Mary Flaherty came round to see me because we had both just lost our husbands in violent circumstances... and in our husbands’ line of business, there aren’t too many shoulders to cry on you can trust. She was very sympathetic and I hope I was to her too... and she’s bloody funny!”

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Shhhh!

Fedeltà #684

Livia was on top form, at the top of her voice. Tony was desperate for her to quieten down for fear that nearby office occupants would hear everything, and in particular that a woman was getting the better of him. He tried...

”Shhhhh!” he whispered.

“Don’t you bloody shhhh me, Tony Monelli. Worried others will hear what a shit you are, are you?” But Livia did then moderate the pitch of her voice because she had more to say and it might sound indelicate... and nobody else’s business anyway.

“You’re shhhhitting yourself, Tony, because I met up with Mary Flaherty!”

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You

Fedeltà #683

“Now look here Livia...!” started Tony, remaining seated as Livia stood in front of him, hands on hips.

“No!” Livia was shouting now. “You look here! Where were you when I had to go identify Terry? Where were you when I was at home grieving with Luca... we didn’t see hide nor hair of you. And where were you when I was trying to organise a funeral for poor Terry. You’ve been no bloody help at all... and it seems you still think Terry’s somehow alive despite my positive identification. You clearly don’t believe me!”

“Of course I do...”

“LIAR!”

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Bloody scary

Fedeltà #682

Tony was in his office brooding over documents from his accountant when Livia stormed in. He was taken aback, and a little fearful, although he didn’t know why.

“What are you, Tony Mo-bloody-nelli, doing getting your monkey to question me about who I mix with? What bloody business is it of yours?”

This tiny, beautiful woman stood just five foot tall, but seemed like a mountain to Tony.

“What, what, Livia... what are you on about? I-I-I...” Unusually, Tony stuttered as he struggled for what to say.

“You, you, you... It’s always about bloody you Tony!”

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Balls of steel

Fedeltà #681

“How long before you have to report back to Tony?” Livia was in charge.

“48 hours he said, but I want to get back to him sooner.” Paolo wanted this sorted as soon as possible.

“Do you know if Tony’s in his office now?”

“He should be; he was earlier...”

“Well keep away from there until I say it’s OK. I’m going to have a word, more than a word, with Tony bloody Monelli. I’m on my way shortly. Stay well away, Paolo!”

“But someone needs to be there... to protect you!”

“Are you kidding!”

Livia Monelli - balls of steel!

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Relief

Fedeltà #680

Paolo was mighty relieved. On the one hand there was a plausible(ish) commercial reason why Livia and Flaherty’s wife should be speaking to each other, and on the other, his relationship with Livia was unharmed in the asking.

Paolo continued, “Thanks for telling me. I’ll relay that to Tony.”

“No Paolo, I will tell Tony myself and tell him good. How dare he suggest what I think he’s suggesting when he’s not even prepared to accept that Terry’s dead, let alone bury him! I can handle Tony alright, and if he gets remotely heavy with you... well he’ll regret it!”

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Undertaking

Fedeltà #679

“Ah, I see... Tony’s using his godson to spy on me. I wondered what he was doing calling my son... and now I know!”

“Sorry Livia... but you asked...”

“Don’t fret Paolo, don’t fret. It’s to your credit that you were honest with me. And I’ll give you the answer for Tony... which also happens to be the truth. I was going to call you about Mary Flaherty, because you agreed to help me with Terry’s funeral and her brother happens to be an undertaker who specialises in the kind of funeral I want for Terry.”

“Thank fuck for that!”

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Snitch

Fedeltà #678

That was definitely not the response Paolo expected. Maybe this was going to be easy, but then she added.

“What makes you ask?”

For once in his relatively short life, Paolo decided that honesty would be the best policy. He told it straight.

“Tony heard that you and Mary Flaherty were getting very pally and told me to find out what it was about.”

“Oh he did, did he? And so you just do what he says?”

“Pretty much!” replied Paolo honestly. “Tony’s close to the edge right now... dangerously so!”

“So tell me Paolo, who’s the snitch?”

“Your Luca!”

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Call waiting

Fedeltà #677

Paolo needed to phone Livia, and soon. But he hesitated. His current status with her was something he was keen to protect. She had given him the time of his life. He was so utterly smitten. But she had drawn back at the end. He hoped it was just his oversensitivity and that he was merely imagining things. But this call might be difficult. He called her number.

“Hi Paolo, I was about to call you. What was it you were going to say?”

“Do you know Mary Flaherty?” No beating about the bush.

“Wow Paolo... are you bloody psychic?”

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First things first

Fedeltà #676

Mary Flaherty and Sofia... two problems needing solutions, But which of the two had more urgency?

First things first decided Paolo. His decision was prompted by the simple fact that Tony had given him a 48 hour deadline. Paolo was really concerned about Tony’s state of mind. He didn’t think that ordinarily Tony would shoot him... the boss knew that Paolo was one of his most trusted allies... but a little slip, or fit of uncontrolled anger, and who knew?

Paolo needed to find out fast about why Mary Flaherty went round to see Livia. But how would she react?

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Sparkler

Fedeltà #675

Paolo’s task was tricky. On the one hand, given his restored romantic relationship with Livia, the last thing he wanted to do was to put that in jeopardy. Neither did he fancy stirring up the Flaherty hornets’ nest. He didn’t know Flaherty's widow but earlier he’d heard that she was a ball-buster from her son. He couldn’t help wondering if she knew something about what went on in Basildon... that ‘something’ being who else might have been involved.

Or maybe she somehow knew about that diamond. So now he had to stop Sofia flashing the sparkler around as well!

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Over the edge

Fedeltà #674

“Now piss off and find out. You’ve got two days, that’s all. I don’t wanna see you ‘til you’ve got all the answers. Don’t come back without ‘em. And don’t think I wouldn’t use this!” said Tony, jabbing his forefinger at the gun on the desk.

Paolo knew what he needed to do... get away from that nutter fast and worry about how he would find out what business Livia and Flaherty’s widow had with each other later.

Away from the office, Paolo wondered if he had pushed Tony too far earlier. Did he, Paolo, push him over the edge?

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Find out!

Fedeltà #673

“I can’t imagine why, Tony”

“Well that’s why you’re gonna find out, ain’t it?” Tony’s tone was instantly more steely, goading challenge from Paolo, who eyed the gun still lying on the desk in front of his boss. He replied.

“I’ll do my best...”

“You’ll do more than your fucking best... you’ll find out! Report back in 48 hours. You’re pretty good with a deadline aren’t you boy?” Tony’s earlier conciliatory lapse was gone. He seemed to have flipped back.

“Yep, yep... I’ll find out.” Paolo wasn’t about to negotiate with this increasingly mad man. But he’d get Tony, eventually.

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Consorting with the enemy

Fedeltà #672

“That doesn’t sound good, Tony, not good at all!” Paolo was concerned now.

“It ain’t fucking good! If I find that Livia’s consorting with the enemy, I’ll bloody kill her myself, sister-in-law or not!” Tony’s mood stepped up a gear.

“Livia wouldn’t do that Tony. Although it’s a bit odd. On the other hand, Flaherty’s missus wasn’t involved in his business by all accounts. Apparently she just tried, unsuccessfully, to keep him and her boys in check.” Paolo needed to take the heat off Livia until he found out was was going on.

“So why fucking meet her?”

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Cheering up

Fedeltà #671

“Says Luca, my nephew, the only thing I seem to have left of my brother. We do talk you know!” Tony’s mood had changed, although he still kept a little aggression there.

“So what did Luca say Tony?” Paolo was kind of worried about anything to do with Flaherty and he needed to know. Was Livia involved? And how and why?

“I asked him how he was doing... y’know coping with things. Then I asked how his mum was doing. He said she’d been miserable, but then seemed to cheer up a lot after some woman called Flaherty called round.”

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Change in Tone

Fedeltà #670

At this point, a tripswitch in Tony’s head must have flipped as he sighed, putting the gun down safely on the desk. Paolo went “phewww!”... with relief under his breath. He said nothing, waiting for Tony.

“I know, I know mate.” Tony’s tone was conciliatory. “All this stuff seems to be getting to me. And now...” This was Tony’s version of an apology. Paolo knew he wasn’t likely to get more.

“What’s happened boss? What’s this about Flaherty? He’s dead!”

“He may well be dead, but I’ve heard his widow is getting pally with Livia!”

“Says who Tony? Says who?”

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Barrel vision

Fedeltà #669

Paolo’s response didn’t have the desired effect.

“I’ll show you who’s fucking stupid, you stupid fucker.” continued Tony and he pulled out a gun from his desk. “Yes, you prat Paolo, you might have thought you’d thrown my gun away for security after you’d rubbed out Flaherty, but how fucking secure do you feel now then?”

Paolo was looking down the barrel of Tony’s gun. Tony was going berserk with him and Paolo had no idea why. Tony was really losing his mind.

“Don’t Tony!” Paolo was remarkably calm and collected. “I’m always on your side. You must know that.