Lady Boss Read Free

headlines were lurid. Mob boss Vincenzio Strobbinno gunned down outside his own home. There was a picture of Vincenzio face down in a pool of his own blood.
    The jerk had it coming
, Gino thought with hardly a flicker of surprise. Young Turks. Hotheads. The assholes never waited to see if they could work things out, they just blew each other away as if that was the answer to everything. Today Vincenzio – tomorrow another one. The violence now was relentless.
    Gino was relieved he was out of it. Many years ago he would have been right in the middle, loving every minute.
    Not now. Now he was an old man. A
rich
old man. A
powerful
old man. He could afford to say nothing – merely observe.
    Gino did not look seventy-nine years old. He was amazing – easily able to pass for a man in his mid-sixties, with his energetic gait, thick mop of grey hair, and penetrating black eyes. His doctors were constantly surprised at his energy and enthusiasm for life, not to mention his remarkable physical appearance.
    â€˜What about this AIDS problem I keep hearin’ about?’ he’d recently asked his personal physician.
    â€˜You don’t have to worry about that, Gino,’ his doctor had replied with a hearty laugh.
    â€˜Yeah? Says who?’
    â€˜Well…’ The doctor had cleared his throat. ‘You’re not still… active… are you?’
    â€˜Active?’ Gino had roared with laughter. ‘Are you shittin’ me, doc? The day I can’t get it up is the day I lie down an’ die.
Capisce?’
    â€˜What’s your secret?’ the doctor had asked enviously. He was fifty-six and a tired man. He was also full of admiration for his feisty patient.
    â€˜Don’t take no crap from no one.’ Gino grinned, most of his strong white teeth still intact. ‘Hey – ’scuse me, doc – correct that. Do not suffer fools. I read that somewhere. Sounds more like it, huh?’
    Gino Santangelo had obviously led a fascinating life full of adventure. The doctor thought gloomily of his own five years in medical school, followed by over twenty years of private practice. The only adventure
he’d
experienced was when one of his patients fell in lust with him and they’d enjoyed a furtive six-week affair. Not much to get excited about.
    â€˜Your blood pressure is perfect,’ he’d assured Gino. ‘The cholesterol test turned out fine. Uh… about your sex life. Maybe you might consider investing in some condoms.’
    â€˜Condoms, doc?’ Gino began to laugh. ‘We used to call ’em rubber joy-killers. Y’know – like takin’ a swim in your boots.’
    â€˜They’re much improved today. Thin latex, a smooth feel. You can even get them in different colours if you’re so inclined.’
    â€˜No kiddin’?’ Gino had laughed again. He could just imagine Paige’s face if he slipped a black johnny over his cock.
    Oh boy, not such a bad idea – Paige loved variety. Maybe he’d try it. Maybe…
    * * *
    The airport was a mob scene as usual. Lucky was met by an efficient young man in a three-piece business suit who escorted her from her car to the private TWA lounge.
    â€˜Your flight’s running fifteen minutes late, Ms. Santangelo,’ he said apologetically, as if he were personally responsible. ‘Can I get you a drink?’
    Automatically she glanced at her watch. It was past noon. ‘I’ll have a J & B on the rocks,’ she decided.
    â€˜Coming right up, Ms. Santangelo.’
    Leaning back, she closed her eyes. Another lightning trip to L.A. she couldn’t tell Lennie about. Only this time she hoped to close the deal that would make her husband a free man again.
    This journey west was the final clincher.

Chapter 3
    Abedon Panercrimski – or as he’d been known to a world that had all but forgotten him, Abe Panther – was eighty-eight years old and looked it,