Alexandra Marchetti made herself comfortable in an oversized leather chair in her fathers office and waited for Alfonzo to pour her a glass of wine. Frank Marchetti sat at his desk and lit a Cuban cigar. The tender fragrance of tobacco filled the room and Alexandra smiled. The smell of a good cigar triggered strong feelings of warm admiration toward her father. The nature of the feelings had changed over the years but still remained strong, perhaps even growing stronger as she learned his true identity. Other daughters might have been revulsed. She was not. She had embraced him, his work and the family traditions with all her heart and was thoroughly pleased that despite his initial trepidations, he had brought her into the business all the way. As each day passed, they were less father and daughter and more and more business partners. He was still the Chairman of the Board but she had almost instantaneously become his No. 1 confidant. She had business savvy, street smarts and remarkable criminal instincts, all necessary ingredients for someone who had ambitions to ascend to the highest levels of the Cosa Nostra.
At first Marchetti thought that would be improbable for a woman but now he realized that only a fool would underestimate his daughters ambition and brains. Rocco, Marchese, Scarpelli, Ralph the Butcher, they had nothing on his daughter when it came to the business. Alexandra Marchetti pulled out a long white cigarette and accepted a light from her father.
"My dear" he said in his gravelly voice. "You are smoking too much".
"But Poppa" she protested." I never understood until now the tension and pressure that goes with this job".
Marchetti puffed on his cigar and smiled faintly. "Yes, it is an awesome responsibility" he said. "But there is still time for you to get out. Say the word and I can have you on a plane to Switzerland in an hour, away from all of this".
"Nonsense" Alexandra Marchetti said.
"Poppa I am here for you. Always".
Marchetti smiled and nodded. "I heard the House of Palms had a little trouble last night" he said.
"Yes" Alexandra smiled.
"It was in the papers".
"Seems like our two friends were quite thorough" he said.
"Yes, they are quite good, wherever did you find them?
"It is a long story" Marchetti said.
"I understand there were casualties".
"Apparently so, they were quite ruthless".
"It is the way of the business" Marchetti said.
"If you are weak, your enemies will destroy you".
"True" Alexandra said.
"Which brings us to Johnny Rocco".
"Yes it does" Marchetti said.
"What are we going to do?
"What I have always done when necessary, when somebody decides they think they can run things better than I".
"Your going to hit him?". Marchetti nodded. "And Marchese?
"Yes, both must go. They stick their neck out too far".
"Good" Alexandra said.
"With both those motherfuckers out of the way, we should be able to tighten our
control of the drug trade".
"I know" Marchetti said.
"Can you handle it?
"What do you think?
Marchetti looked at his daughter long and hard, staring deep into her eyes. He saw no fear, no hesitation, no apprehension. She was as fearless as they come. Inside he felt his pride glowing. "I have no doubts" he said at last.
"Good" Alexandra said. "Because I have a plan for Mr. Rocco".
The Cadillac glided down The Strip to the edge of town and in the darkness of the right front seat, Angelique held her Beretta F2 in her right hand and screwed the silencer on with his left hand. She wore black leather wrist gloves, black jeans and a white tank top. Her boots were calf-high. She was dressed to kill. She lit a Salem 100 and watched as the neon palaces passed by. Tension mixed with excitement deep inside her stomach.
The tip of her cigarette glowed in the darkness as she took a deep drag and let out a steady stream of smoke. The Salem calmed her and she let her body relax within the folds of the leather upholstery.
"Are you all right sweetie" Catwoman said, her gloved hands guiding the Cadillac down the boulevard.
"Of course" Angelique smiled. "Always".
"I expected no less" Catwoman cooed.
"We’re out of control, you know that don’t you? Angelique said.
"We’re doing exactly what we want, you know it and I know it" Catwoman said softly.
"We’re in control, that’s the point". The voice was Alexandra
Marchetti’s as she emerged from the darkness of the back seat and rested her head on
the back of the front seat. "We’re in control Angel" she said.
"Control is what its all about".
"She’s right" Catwoman said, looking at Angelique quickly before returning her attention to the road.
"We do nothing that men haven’t been doing for thousands of years". Alexandra Marchetti said. "We are just simply taking our rightful place in the struggle for power, doing it as ruthlessly and efficiently as my father did, and his father before him and many others before them".
"We’re criminals" Angelique said.
"Governments make rules" Alexandra said. "But there have always been men who make their own rules, who are strong enough to seize power and hold it and command respect. My father is such a man. He lives by his own rules and woe to anybody who defies him".
"Like Johnny Rocco" Angelique said and the three women broke into nervous laughter.
"Precisely" Alexandra said." He could have lived a long and profitable life. But he stuck his head out too far and now he will pay".
"Pay dearly" Catwoman said.
"Exactly" Alexandra said.
"There is no reason to feel remorse. Just because we are women doesn’t mean we
cant command the same power and respect the certain men do like my father. And I intend to
do exactly that".
"By killing Johnny Rocco" Angelique said.
Alexandra Marchetti lit a cigarette and smiled. "Yes" Alexandra said.
"With Rocco out of the way, I will control all drug trafficking in the Western United
States. And the money will be exquisite". Angelique reached insider her jeans pocket
and pulled out a small vial.
"I assume this is some of your merchandise" she said with a smile.
"Where did you get that? Alexandra asked.
"In the restaurant heist" Angelique smiled.
"Two young ladies with a fondness for cocaine".
"Let me see that" Alexandra said. Angelique handed it over. Alexandra unscrewed the top. A small coke spoon hung from a chain latched to the vial. Alexandra dipped the spoon into the white powder and scooped up a small pile. She brought it up to her nose, pressed a finger against a nostril and sniffed hard. The cocaine surged into her membranes. She scooped up another pile, pressed it against the other nostril and snorted hard. "Jesus....shit" she said.
Angelique held out her right hand and Alexandra understood. She tapped out a smile dose onto the black leather glove and Angelique snorted it up her nose. With her leg finger, she wiped the residue off her glove and rubbed it into her gums. As the Cadillac pulled up to a stop light, Alexandra tapped out another small dose onto the back of Angelique’s glove. She proffered the glove to Catwoman, who immediately snorted it while the light remained red. Angelique again wiped the residue off her glove with her left index finger and let Catwoman suck on it. The cocaine quickly disappeared.
"That was nice" Catwoman said, feeling the cocaine boil her blood.
Angelique felt it course through her veins and she felt her pulse quicken. The Cadillac proceed down the street. Their destination was a small strip mall in a suburban part of Las Vegas. Most of the shops were close but a light streamed out of Jacob’s Social Club, a small lounge in the middle of the mall. "That’s it" Alexandra hissed as the Cadillac slowly entered the parking lot and parked at the far end of the mall, 100 feet down from Jacob’s. Two goons stood in front of the establishment. "Those are Rocco’s bodyguards" Alexandra said quietly." They need to die first".
Catwoman stared at them intently, two young Mafioso with slick dark hair in dark business suits. Their shoes gleamed in the darkness and gold chains dangled from their necks. Catwoman produced her Beretta F2, zipped the front of her leather jacket and stepped out of the Cadillac. Angelique did the same. Alexandra Marchetti got out of the car but waited back in the shadows. Catwoman and Angelique walked slowly down the sidewalk, carefully eyeing the two goons standing in front of the Social Club. They seemed not the least suspicious at seeing two women approach.
Angelique felt her heart race, the cocaine mixing with the adrenaline to produce a vibrant thrill that was difficult to quell. With each job, each hit, each heist, the high just seemed to soar that much higher and last that much longer, intoxicating and invigorating, satisfying a sinister lust deep inside that could no longer be controlled.
Catwoman s blood ran cold, impervious to the feeling of power that had engulfed her. Totally ruthless domination. She would accept nothing less. Nobody could touch her, stop her, resist her. She was the worlds greatest criminal and inside her that criminal force was in full control and she stalked her prey. The two goons looked up as they two sinister wraiths approached. One started to speak. Angelique dropped him with a bullet to the head. The other stood frozen, his eyes bulging, his mouth wide open. Catwoman fired one shot that ripped through the bridge of his nose. The goon flopped to the sidewalk and didn’t move, blood seeping onto the gray concrete.
The smell of cordite wafted in the hot desert night. Catwoman motioned and Alexandra came forth from the shadows. Quickly she came, a smile on her face as she stepped over the two sprawled corpses.
"Well done" she said, reaching for the door to the Social Club.
"Wait" Catwoman hissed.
"Follow us!!.
Alexandra opened, instinctively knowing that Catwoman was in charge. Alexandra had ordered the hit and even planned it, but at the actual scene of the crime, Catwoman was in charge. They found them at the bar. Rocco, Marchese, two soldiers and Pablo Escobar, courier for the Colombian cocaine connection. They were startled to see the three woman walk in. They were even more startled to see all three holding guns.
"Wazz this" Marchese said. He said no more. Alexandra aimed and squeezed the trigger. The bullet ripped into his heart, he crashed into the bar and the plunged to the floor. The two soldiers fumbled for their weapons but Catwoman and Angelique fired two shots each before they could get the guns out. Their brains exploded into mush as they joined their dead boss on the floor. Alexandra walked up to Rocco, who was standing hypnotized as the Mafia princess pressed his gun into his forehead.
"Alex....Alex...c’mon" Rocco stuttered. "What’s the beef?
"Rocco, you fucking street scum, did you really think you were going to get away with it? Alexandra said.
"Way with what hun? Hey, this is a business deal here, your dad knows that....I’m just conducting business".
"Bullshit cocksucker. Business my ass...you thought you’d take over didn’t you?
"Hun..".
"Don’t fucking lie to me" Alexandra said calmly, pressing the gun harder into Rocco’s head".
"Alex, please, c’mon, your dad and I have been partners for a long time....".
"And you were going to fucking hit him were you..".
"No way...I swear".
Alexandra looked at him cold and hard. Sweat was pouring off his face. His body twitched and trembled. Alexandra fingered the trigger and smiled. "You wanted to fuck. Now you’re getting fucked".
"Alex..".
Alexandra squeezed the trigger. Rocco’s head jerked back violently, then forward and he crashed to the floor. Alexandra stared at him for a minute, then looked at Escobar. "Pablo......let me make this clear".
"Si senorita".
"You deal with me and me alone. You and your cartel...Understand".
Pablo nodded, his Latin American face turned ashen as stared at the bodies in the floor. "Ill be in touch" she said. She looked at Catwoman and Angelique. "Ready?".
Catwoman smiled. So did Angelique. The three walked out the door and got back into the Cadillac. In the front two seats sat two of the most vicious criminals extant. In the back sat a woman who was rising to become the most powerful mobster in America.
They were only getting started.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------