Courtney Adkisson

Beyond the Legends Series

Dante

July 1922

I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, I prefer cigars at the end of the day, they at least have more class, taste…but you stood out a bit when you finally did have the luxury.

And right now, that horrid smell was encasing the casino like a glass box. But…smoking a cigar did get people to avoid me. Which…right now was very much needed.

It was early evening, and the heat had already shifted and took off into summer. It could’ve been worse but since we worked so close to the shore, it didn’t matter too much. Unless you were inside like I was, and unfortunately for me, it was brutal. I would very much prefer the coastal, salty air than the lingering burning smell of someone’s cheap cigarette.

It was enough at the moment, I started feeling the sweat begin to build. Shit…I needed to look good tonight. I found myself adjusting my three piece pinstripe suit. I don’t wear this thing often, but when I do, it’s an occasion.

The casino lighting wasn’t exactly romantic, but it was familiar. The neon signs always found a way to flood the rooms, enticing the suckers to spend their life savings through a few games of cards. I knew from the start at a young age this place was rigged. My boss, Vincent Agosti, a smart venomous man owned the place after all. One of those people that hides camouflage and then strikes like any other viper. If anyone did win, it was played well enough to keep people coming. But not enough for them not to make a pretty penny on the side.

I sat for a moment, my eyes scanning the locals, noticing not everyone was as well dressed as I was. As much as we tried to keep a suit and tie dresscode, I could tell the poor suckers who were here after a day from their blue collar job.

I turned on the bar stool, noticing the relatively clean mirror behind the bar. My skin was starting to tan from the summer, my dark hair I tried to neatly slick back as it matched the energy of my suit. God I look like my father.

I felt my hands begin to fidget and rest into my jacket pocket, hands wrapping protectively around a small jewelry box.

My mind was racing as I slowly pulled it out. The tiny thing was a piece of work to get. Expensive, and I did too many nasty jobs to get the cash for this without Agosti knowing.

But…I’d do anything for her. Hell, she was my ticket out of this place. Out of this life.

Tired of the dingy red carpet, the drunken idiots who demanded another chance just to see Agosti in our secret place. The fact that they thought they had a chance was asinine. They had no power here. Only him and his team had power.

I was mindlessly fiddling with the box when my eyes spotted young couple, possibly in their early twenties holding hands at a nearby fountain. Then, an older couple playing games and laughing at the nearby tables. Simple. Such a simple life that I desperately wanted. Maybe it was foolish to think I of all people would have something so simple. People don’t realize how good they have it. Not to live like a bastard like me.

But maybe tonight will change all that?

A deep sigh exhaled from my chest, but then the box slipped from my hands. I cursed as the small thing rolled down that dingy red casino carpet. Then it stopped to my relief. But…it landed in front of a young boy no older than eight years old. He picked it up looking at it smiling. Oh Lord help me. I had to get his attention before he ran to his parents.

“Hey!” I whispered, whistling at him.

To my relief, the boy looked up from the box. Be gentle…don’t be scary. I flashed a quick smile. The boy looked over at his parents who seemed to be busy chatting with some friends a few feet away. I saw hesitation in his eyes and I don’t blame him.

I gave a soft smile, pointing directly at the box. Please…

After a few moments, he seemed to have taken the hint and grinned at me. Before I knew it, he was trotting towards me. He lifts the box above his head.

“You looking for this?” he asked. I smile, taking the small thing from him.

“Thanks kid,” I reply, reaching into my other pocket. “You’re a lifesaver.”

I pull out a 50-dollar bill from my pocket and hold it out to him which his eyes go wide. I motion for him to take it. He looks over his shoulder and swallows hard before grabbing it and grinning.

“Between us yeah?” I asked, putting my finger on my nose playfully. He grinned, putting it in his pocket when I noticed the parents finally coming up to him.

“I’m so sorry,” I presumed his mother whispered harshly. “I know he’s not supposed to be on this side of the casino.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” I greeted, giving her a reassuring smile.

“Come on Richie,” she whispered urgently. “We’ll be late for dinner.”

She glanced at me with uncertainty but as soon as they were far enough away, the boy turned, waving frantically at me with a big stupid grin on his face.

“Be good kid…” I whispered. I placed the box in my pocket and looked down at my cuffs.

Blood. There was blood on my sleeve. Despite getting my wrist wrapped up and covered in gauze the damn thing still leaked onto my clothes. I tried to hide it under my sport coat best I could. Clearly it wasn’t enough.

I cursed as I grabbed a spare napkin dipping it in my scotch. It’s not perfect, but it’s got to work right? I felt myself aggressively scrubbing but then realized it was worthless. I rolled my eyes as I worked on hiding my cuffs in my jacket.

The bartender came over from his corner of helping some very chatty tourists.

“Need any help?” he asked. I finally hid my sleeve enough, glancing at the mirror behind him. Good. Everything else looked good…I think.

“Need a miracle if you got it,” I commented in which he scoffed in amusement as I downed the last of the scotch.

“Big game tonight?”

“DANTE!” a soft feminine voice screeched in excitement. I nearly choked on my drink, immediately patting my pocket sure the jewelry box was secure and hidden pocket from that voice.

My heart was thumping out of my chest. Out of all the jobs I’ve done…how is this the most terrifying?

I forced myself to turn around but this woman collided into me, her arms wrapping around my waist so quickly as she giggled with joy.

“I was so worried you wouldn’t show!” she announced, grabbing my hand into hers. “I’m so happy.”

Emily. Such a bombshell of a girl to walk into my life. Strawberry blonde hair that was pulled up in a ponytail that bounced so gracefully with very natural looking make up that highlighted her blue eyes. She looked so innocent and sweet in her modest bright yellow sundress and cute sandals that she almost skipped over to me in. Lord she was my summer.

And I was so determined not to miss out this time.

“I almost did,” I stated, clearing my throat. It was true. Hence the blood on my cuffs. Really wish Vincent left me alone. But he has eyes everywhere.

“You’d never hear the end from me,” Emily chided as she playfully “punched” my arm.

“Oh really?” I retorted with a smirk forming on my face. I loved her for that. She made me feel…normal. Can’t remember the last time I haven’t felt like a fish out of water. She grinned at me.

“You know it,” she replied, grinning. Then there was movement, as I smiled, looking over her shoulder as my eyes naturally scouted the area. They stopped at the sight of a dark silhouette highlighted by the neon lights. Threatening. Something in my bones told me that he was glaring at me, watching me. “Dante?”

I immediately looked at Emily who’s face was filled with worry. Something in my face must’ve caught her off guard. Usually I’m much better about it, but…clearly I can’t hide it from her. My instincts told me to move. I offered my arm to her.

“Why don’t we find someplace more private?” I suggested. I motioned my eyes to the man behind her where she glanced. She did so subtly not to target any attention towards us. I watched her pretty lips mouth “oh” as she nods quickly, grabbing my arm with her delicate hands.

“Nightlight ruins everything doesn’t it?” I joked as I led her further into the casino.

As we moved further away from the stranger, I wrapped my arm around her protectively as we strutted along. I nodded and smiled to any passing patrons trying to seem nonchalant to anyone watching us.

“Can we go somewhere fancy this time?” Emily asked, batting her eyes at me. God she could convince anyone whatever she wanted to with those eyes. “Please?” she added, giving me a playful pout.

“Anything for you sunshine,” I replied as we hit the fancy double doors out into the boardwalk finally catching my breath. The salt air was a relief. Nothing like that God awful stale cigarette smell.

Smiling, Emily continued to hold my arm as we went down the boardwalk. “So how’s life?” she asked.

“Fine,” I replied simply. She took a moment of silence as if figuring out what to ask.

“Nothing exciting?” she pried. She never did like my simple answers but I didn’t want to dive into details with her. Then her eyes went down to my wrist and she stopped us from walking. “Oh my God! Dante!” Emily screeched. “What happened?!”

She grabbed my wrist and pulled up my sleeve before I even had time to process. I pulled it away as soon as I had the chance.

“Emily slow down,” I whispered calmly, glancing to make sure we’re not making a scene.

“You’re bleeding!” she whispered harshly.

“It’s nothing,” I urged, giving her a begging look. I didn’t want to stir any commotion. “Please.”

She shakes her head as I adjusted my sleeve back to covering the bandaged wound. She smiled at me but I could tell she wasn’t exactly happy. My eyes looked up at the neighboring building next to the casino. She glanced, noticing the beautiful white marbled building.

“Why don’t we treat ourselves hm?” Emily asked, motioning down the boardwalk. I swallowed as I realized she was talking about the one in front of us. She grabbed my uninjured hand, dragging me down the boardwalk. I resisted.

“Emily!” I objected. I didn’t want her to go in there. She rolled her eyes, letting go and making her way down the boardwalk to the hotel reading:

“Jewel of the Sea Hotel”

Damn it…of all the places. I followed her inside as I straightened my suit. Well…no turning back now.

I followed her inside the beautiful historic hotel. The architecture was breathtaking even at night. It’s stone aged on the outside from the salt of the ocean. But inside…it was always immaculate. Marble walls, maroon carpets with high class decorum and classical music filled the room for the night.

Emily was in and already running with excitement towards the hotel bar. Thankfully it was relatively empty outside of a few people here and there. At least they were well dressed, expensive. Some I recognized as Vincent’s clients. I noticed a few of my boys guarding and running their patrols inside the hotel. Some even entertained themselves with drinks. I didn’t blame them.

I nodded at them, keeping my face hardened and unreadable. I finally caught up with Emily who sat herself down at the bar, spinning excitedly on the bar stool. She was so cute when she was like this. But as I eyed my surroundings, the more I felt like she was a lamb in a lions den.

“Ooo that one looks good,” Emily grinned, pointing up at one of the wine bottles behind the bartender. She batted her eyes at me as I stood next to her, leaning my arms against the bar and I made a face. Red…I hated red wine, especially that bitter brand.

“Let’s try a different one,” I coaxed, noticing my favorite white wine sitting not too far from the bar’s edge. I walked over to it as she pouted at me.
“Are you saying I have expensive taste?” she asked.

I grabbed the bottle and smirked at her as I nodded to the bartender.

“No…just not the best taste, sunshine,” I retorted. “Price is not a problem. You know that.”

Emily stuck her tongue out to me playfully and all I could do was wink at her in return. I placed the cash on the bar as the bartender nodded, handing us wine glasses. As I poured the wine she jumped a bit and grinned.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” she chimed, as she reached into her purse digging frantically. The thing was small I was surprised she had to search within it. She smiled at me. “I got something for you.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Close your eyes and hold out your hand,” she instructed.

I gave her such a puzzled look. “What?”

“Just do it!” Emily insisted and I reluctantly looked around before closing my eyes, putting out my hand. A feeling of velvet fabric grazed my hands. I finally opened my eyes to see such a small thing and Emily encouraged for me to open it. Gingerly, I opened it.

A glimmering ancient looking coin fell into my palm. The design engraved looked to be a Spanish cross and various symbols.

“Where-?”

“I was on vacation, a gentleman gave it to me. Such a sweet man,” Emily chimed, leaning forward and putting a hand over her face for others not to see her lips moving. “He said it was valuable.”

Valuable. It sure looked like something and not some cheap tourist gimmick. Emily’s hand reached out, gripping onto my arm. My eyes darted up to her.

“What if this is our way out?” she whispered. Our way out. The words repeated in my mind as my eyes wandered the room.

Then, they stopped.

The man from the casino was leaning up against the wall, his eyes narrowed at us. I put the coin back into it’s velvet pouch, placing it on the bar while lightly removing her hand from my arm.

“Excuse me,” I whispered as I stood from my seat and headed out of the room. I had to get him away from Emily. I made a break for the restrooms. I could tell from not looking that he was following into my trap. Hearing soft footsteps on the lush carpets.

I felt like my heart was racing as I bolted into the restroom, opening every stall in there until I realized I was standing completely alone.

Empty. The bathroom was empty.

I made my way to the sink, turning on the faucet and splashing the cool water onto my face. Shit. Not tonight.

I wiped my face, my thoughts racing. I had to get Emily out of here.

That’s when I heard the door slowly open behind me and my body stiffened. I glanced, the same stranger waltzed in, his dress shoes echoing onto the tile floor.

“Are you Mr. Salvatori?” he asked. I dried my hands as my eyes finally met him. He was blocking the door, revolver in his grip. No way to get passed him without going through him. Great…

“If you know what’s best for you,” I warned but he readied the gun, aiming it straight at my head. Bastard. I tossed the towel onto the sink, cracking my neck loose. “Guess we don’t want to talk.”

Without a second thought, I charged him, tackling the man onto the floor. I grabbed his head, slamming his face into the tile. I slammed it more times until I saw the bright red blood spilling over the immaculate marble white. He finally loosened up to where I grabbed his gun from him, keeping him pinned.

“Now I’ll ask you politely,” I growled, the man’s breathing staggered. “What do you want?”

I could see his mouth open to a grin, his teeth caked in blood. He said something in a language I’ve heard…Russian. Vincent and our gang knew they like to be here in Jersey too. We just…have been on decent enough terms to keep things civilized.

He cursed under his breath. One of the few things I could translate. Guess we won’t remain that way…civilized.

“Oh I’m sorry,” I whispered mockingly, tilting my head. I put my hand around his neck choking him. “I thought you were the one who intruded. What you are you here for?!”

In the middle of his breaths, he finally got a hand out, dropping a small thing that clanked against the tile.

A coin. The same coin that Emily gave me. He grabbed onto it in mere seconds. In that moment, his eyes looked off. They started turning a different color. Dark, black, relentless. I let go immediately, backing away from the little space that we had leaving his gun on the floor.

The strange man picked up the gun, his face starting to sweat profusely, his eyes still that monstrous black.

“Take it! Take it!” he demanded.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I growled. He stared at me and I was utterly confused. He grinned, his red teeth showing with his hand still gripping that small coin. Was that a slight glow under his hand?

Fear drastically appeared in his face as his hand directed the gun to his throat.

“No!” he cried and I put my hands up in surrender. But it was too late. The gun went off and he dropped dead in front of me. Bleeding. I looked at the door cursing under my breath. The coin dropped and clanged onto the floor, a glow slowly disappearing within moments.

I felt the need to suddenly make the sign of the cross on me, kissing my cross necklace around my throat. I grab the coin, the metal cool to the touch. Emily.

I rushed out of the bathroom, straightening my now partially bloodied suit into the hotel.

At the bar my eyes saw her, scared but composed. And then him. Vincent. He was drinking my glass of wine in front of her. I saw Emily’s eyes widen as I approached them.

“Dante!” she cried. Vincent turned to see me, smiling at me. God I hated that smile. Means he was up to something. Emily stood up, walking over to me urgently.

“You have an interesting taste in women, Dante,” Vincent greeted smoothly. I rolled my eyes, walking over to Emily.

“Where did you find that?” I questioned and she looked puzzled at me.

“Find what?” Vincent questioned. For a moment, she stared at me, looking at my bloodied suit. Then I looked down at her hands.

One of them started glowing. I looked at her eyes…they turned into that same black as the strange man in the bathroom. Then a small pistol came out of her purse, pointing it at me.

“Emily!” I whispered harshly, putting up my hands.

“There’s blood,” she replied. “Why?!”

My hands instinctively stayed where they were. I couldn’t just fight her like the asshole in the bathroom.

Vincent sighed, forcing my eyes to glance at him. “This is why, we have discussions about this,” he stated flatly. Emily looked between both of us, fear and even some anger flashing along her face.

“Sweetheart,” I breathed but she cocked the gun.

“Don’t you dare call me that,” Emily growled. What is wrong with her, she knew about what we have done. “You said you owed someone money.”

Vincent laughed. “Is that what he told you? No sweetheart,” he replied. “He’s the one who asks people for money. He’s my second…and I own this whole city.”

Her eyes widened, the color draining from her beautiful face. Her yellow dress couldn’t even substitute the brightness that should’ve been around her. She looked like a ghost. I should’ve told her the truth.

He walked over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed, scrambling into my jacket pocket. Emily’s eyes teared up as she kept the gun pointed.

“So all those times you couldn’t make it. You were a loan shark?” she asked her voice breaking.

“He does what he’s told to do,” Vincent replied simply. “Sometimes without question.”

“I didn’t mean…” I started stammering. Vincent seemed to notice.

“Did you not learn the last time? Or from your brothers?” Vincent scolded softly.

I ignored him. I was supposed to ease her into this, but we were supposed to be long gone from this life.

“Dante,” Vincent growled next to me as his eyes glared at the box. I saw her eyes tear and I swore I could feel them form behind mine if I wasn’t careful. “There’s a threat in our house…” my boss pressed.

No…no I don’t want this. Emily didn’t deserve this. I looked at her shaking my head as I scrambled to get the ring out of my pocket, I opened it and placed it on the ground in front of me.

She stared at it.

“Emily… I can explain everything,” I whispered and motioned to the gun. “Just put it down…please.”

Silence. Vincent glanced between me and this angel that had changed before me.

“She will never understand,” Vincent coaxed and I heard his own revolver leave his holster and pointed at my ribs. “And I gave you an order.”

I swallowed hard, getting my own pistol out, now aiming at her. I looked down seeing that coin glow brightly in her hand like that stranger in the bathroom. Her eyes still a darkened color.

“I loved you,” she whispered. But her finger went to the trigger.

Bang! Her body falls to the floor, her heart bleeding out. No one screams. No one moves. The hint of classical music lifts into the room. I watched as her skin turned pale, her eyes changed back to those beautiful sea blue, the coin loosening from her grip. My life…everything I wanted was gone in a second. All because of that stupid coin that now rested in the hands of my boss. The man who ruined my one chance of getting out of this.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered.

“Clean this place up,” Vincent ordered as he left me to watch as they took her away to never be seen from again, under the catacombs of the hotel.

Beyond the Legends is a fictionalized series based on folklore with a combo radio drama series I’m hoping to relaunch. Thank you so much for being here!