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Patrols in the entertainment district were familiar for Leone, having done them god knows how many times during the war. Which could be a reason why whenever his colleagues complained about them, he always got a bit irritated.
“Oh quit your whining!” He said once, tired of the two officers behind him groaning about patrol duty again. “You think this is unbearable? Well imagine having to do this everyday for four years in a fuckin’ row! You don’t see me complainin’ now, do ya?”
They went quiet about their complaints after this.
Instead, the two officers Leone was paired with would talk about things they notice that they didn’t before. Sure, it was still bothersome, but at least it was something interesting to do, especially on boring nights when there’s not a lick of nefarious activity for miles.
Wednesday nights were usually the ones with the lowest amount of crime, making Leone’s patrols more like a leisurely walk; If you could call walking in alleyways leisurely.
The trio of officers passed by the grand, opulent club that almost everyone in the city has been to, or wishes to go to. They decided to stop walking for a while and look at the menagerie of posters beside the club. They seemed to be advertising for events that happened there and in the surrounding area.
“Check out this one!” One of the younger officers said, Donovan, Leone remembered. He was pointing to an older poster, a bit yellow from age, it seemed like an advertisement for a cabaret show, although Leone certainly didn’t recognize the name of the place.
“Casa del Cigno Nero? Didn’t that place just recently shut down?” The other officer, Raymond, chimed in. “I heard after Passione opened their doors their clientele went down to basically nothing. So the owner had to close up shop!” He grinned, it was a little mischievous. Leone could tell that he has some sort of gossip to tell.
“What I heard ‘round town, is that the owner of Passione actually used to perform at Cigno Negro. Of course nobody’s seen the guy, so it’s probably all speculation.” Donovan turned his head to look head-on at Raymond. “Well what if they did? Ya know guys can’t do those kind of performances, so the owner’s probably a girl! I think…”
He turned to face Leone. “What about you Leone? Got any idea about this owner fella?”
Oh he had a few ideas for sure, but he wasn’t going to reveal everything he knew about the oh-so-elusive owner of Club della Passione. So he stuck with the basics.
“I heard he frequents speakeasies, some guys I’ve overheard even say he’s one of them damn bootleggers. Either way, the guy’s pretty shifty.” The two younger officers seemed to agree on that, before Raymond perked up again with another story to tell.
“You know, I actually went to that show. I snuck in, of course, cause I wasn’t of age, but man! You had to be there to see it!” He began, the same mischievous grin on his face.
“They were real lean and muscular, but also soft and delicate; Kind of blendin’ the lines between man and woman, if you get what I mean. They had these crazy blue eyes and hair darker than the night sky!” He pointed up, as to prove his point. “ And the tone of his skin… I thought it was a tan at first but nope! They had this warm olive complexion, reminded me of Francesca. You remember her right Donovan?”
“Oh yeah, your Italian girlfriend! She’s from where, Naples? Wouldn’t be surprised if this fella was from there too!” Donovan replied, and then the discussion went from the mysterious being on the wall to Raymond’s girlfriend. Leone tuned it all out and went to get a closer look at the poster. He was almost taken aback by exactly who was on the poster.
Raymond was certainly right about how they looked; Midnight bobbed hair and aegean blue eyes, and the warm skin of a native Neapolitan. But it wasn’t his hair or alluring eyes that shocked Leone, no, it was his smirk. That playful, mischievous Cheshire smirk that was on the performer’s face. This mysterious figure was someone that the officer had met before.
The performer was none other than Bruno Bucciarati himself, the Don of Buona Vita.
Leone stared at the poster for minutes, his thoughts running a mile a minute; Of course Bruno would’ve been part of the cabaret, why else did he dress so, provocatively ? He was even wearing the same filigree bralette Leone had spotted the first time he ran into the man. Good God… Leone was done for.
The younger officers shouting his name snapped him out of his thoughts. “Hey! Leone!” Donovan shouted, “Come on let’s get outta here! Shift’s almost over anyways!” Leone sighed, shaking his head and taking one last look at the poster. “Coming!” He replied, etching the little sign on the brick wall into his memory.
Perhaps he should ask Bruno about the poster, surely he would provide some information about his past. Then again, probably not. Leone didn’t dwell on it, he’d simply ask Bruno the next time he ran into the mafioso.
He followed his colleagues down the street, returning to the station. Black lace, raven hair, aegean blue eyes, and playful smiles occupying his every thought on the way back.