Romance

Fedelta Parte 27: Snitches

~ Rachel Rueben ~ Leave a comment
Fedelta Part 27
Image via Pixabay

Warning: Language

All of the old hat detectives delighted in reviving their alter egos from yesteryear, “Hey you mutha fuckas ready to roll?” Jimmy yelled from the end of the hall.  “Aihhh, keep your toupee on!” Amato yelled at Jimmy.  As the others at the bar laughed at the exchange, Cassie kept checking her phone.  She got a call from her ex Stephano, over an hour ago, but couldn’t answer it without looking suspicious.  She already knew that Amato would figure things out eventually but how long that took would all depend on her ability to play it cool.  She had to make good on this one deal with Stephano because it could change her life.  As Cassie watched the boys chum it up, she was desperately waiting for them to just leave.  Finally her prayers were answered when the guys started filing out of the room, and as the door slammed behind them, she fumbled around in her purse until she found her phone.  Looking at the screen, Cassie saw that Stephano left a text that read, “Location, location, location.” With that text was a pic of an empty parking lot and an unguarded gas station.  Her heart leapt for joy, it was starting to look like she had a business partner. Getting up from her chair, she texted her location and invited him to the VFW.

There was no way Amato and Jimmy’s crew of grumpy old men were going to be able to pull this off without a little help.  Okay, a lot of help.  She hoped it wouldn’t come to this but it looked like her worst fears were about to come to fruition.  She would have to watch Amato get killed, or be killed herself.  Looking at their stupid corkboard, Cassie ran her hands over the pictures and chuckled.  She knew it would never be enough, because once you learned how the play the game was played, the rules would change.  And she could sense change in the air, it was a sudden decision but she had to seize the moment.  Cassie would return, back into the fold and take what had always eluded her father and brother—kingship.  She knew Stephano could get her that, and she had to try for everybody’s sake.

From behind the bar, she took out two Champaign flutes and borrowed a very expensive bottle of Dom Périgon Rosé.  She would pay Jimmy back later, today, she had a lot to celebrate, her rebirth and the Cosimo’s funeral.  She convinced herself this was the best for everyone, Amato would get what he wanted, and she would get off the hook, so it was win-win.  Putting the Champaign on ice, she smiled as she grabbed the glasses and put them on the counter of the bar.  This felt right, no longer would she be at the behest of Amato or the FBI and now she would have a new family, the Alunnis.  Once the money started pouring in, Stephano would make his move and she would help him rule over the entire family.  This was her chance to reclaim her family’s honor and to lead the next generation into a new era.  First however, Amato and Jimmy had to play their parts.

As Cassie planned her next move, Amato and his crew were parked down the street from Clark’s gas station waiting on Caruso to come back with the intel.  Info had trickled in via social media in the form of pictures and videos which he was sure to encode with hashtags and phrases like, #CarusosDayOut #OpReCon to be sure that the threads were vague and understood only by those it was meant for.

Things were going great and when Caruso returned to the surveillance van, Amato was relieved that the first part of their operation was done.  “I can’t believe how little security there was!” exclaimed Jimmy as he went through photo after photo of empty rooms accessed by Caruso.  “They’re getting very sloppy.” Amato answered back, “This would’ve never happened on Frank Fenetti’s watch.”  Surprised, Jimmy responded, “It sounds like you admire the rat bastard.”

“No, but I do admire a tightly run ship.” Amato replied.

“Well, we got what we came for maybe we should go back to base an…”

Amato cut him off and said, “No, we need to move now before they have time to redeploy.”

Thrilled by the response, Jimmy said, “Okay, we can throw down today but we need backup.”

“Let’s roll.” Amato said as he exited the shabby, white van.

Walking up the street to his car, an elderly woman approached him on the sidewalk and said, “Hey I know you, you’re the guy from T.V..” she said.

Confused and taken aback, Amato said, “I think you have me mistaken for someone else.”

“No, you were the cop.  The double-crosser!”

Laughing nervously, he replied, “Ma’am you got the wrong guy.”

That’s when another older woman who was sitting on a porch next door threw a glass jar at him and yelled, “Rat!”

Dodging out of the way, the glass jar shattered all over the sidewalk but Amato kept his cool and remained silent even though his cover had been blown.  Getting on his cell he called Jimmy and said, “Get the hell outta here, we’ve been made.”  As he heard the van start, he made it safely to his car, when a black SUV pulled up blocking the road ahead, trapping them all.  Bewildered, Amato stared in disbelief as four heavily armed men popped out of the SUV and proceeded to enter the gas station.  “Son of a bitch!” he muttered to himself.

“What the hell is goin’ on?” yelled Jimmy still on the speakerphone.

“I don’t know.” Amato answered.  However deep down he had a feeling Cassie had something to do with it but how, he didn’t know.  Scrambling to get inside the car, he started the ignition, and put the car in reverse, then Amato ordered, “Back to base boys.”

Author Bio:
Rachel Rueben is author of the bestselling YA novel Hag and The Eternal Bond Series both available on Wattpad. To keep up with Rachel, you can sign up for her frighteningly entertaining newsletter here.

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Fedelta: Chapter 10: Identity Crisis

~ Rachel Rueben ~ Leave a comment

Fedelta Part 10

There’s a fork in the road and Detective Amato has to make a choice.

Books & Entertainment Network

8374560802_49de4fea0c_z Photo by Jared Asato via Flickr

As the morning sun struggled to pierce through the grey clouds, Detective Amato tried to make sense of what happened in Xavier Park. 24 hours ago it would have been inconceivable that a woman was able to take down one of the Mob’s up and coming stars. Now the question remained, for what? Cassandra was clearly paying the price for her role in her brother’s demise.

Clinging to life for the last several days, she nearly pierced the veil into eternity on three occasions. Each time, the doctors and nurses were able to bring her back but for how long? It was a question that went through Amato’s mind as he watched from a steel folding chair across the room. It was the kind of Karmic justice where no good deed goes unpunished.

Since Cassie was in critical condition, visitors were monitored by the…

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Fedelta Parte 9: Closure

~ Rachel Rueben ~ Leave a comment

Fedelta Part 9

 

As an ER nurse took Cassandra’s vitals, a doctor was sedating her, in order to prep her for surgery.  In this foggy state, Cassie saw her life flash before her eyes, people, places and events all merged into one big final trip down memory lane.  Just as she was about to let go, she heard a voice saying, “I don’t think this one’s gonna make it” and suddenly fear struck her heart.  She still had a job to do and a promise to fulfill.  Reluctantly, Cassie fought her way back to the physical world and when she did, the pain was excruciating.  Though the doctor managed to remove both bullets, she was in so much agony she found it hard to breath.  For the next 12 hours Cassie lapsed in and out of consciousness.

When she finally started to wake from the anesthesia, she found it hard to put sentences together.  It was important that she talk, she had to warn Amato he was in danger but all she could do was babble incoherently.  Upon seeing this, the nurses gave her more medication thinking she was in pain.  This went on all night long.

Meanwhile, Detective Amato spent the night making a call to a cop he knew worked for the Cosimo family but he wanted nothing to do with Amato.  So he reminded the young patrolman, “Listen Lieutenant, if you don’t want your wife finding out where you spend your Fridays, you’ll send the message,” he said before hanging up on the now very scared cop.

Immediately, Amato started digging up old files he had encrypted in his own computer just in case he needed them one day.  He had tons of dirt on Dominic as well as several other city officials who were on the Cosimo payroll and he was ready to play his hand, if it got to that point.

Just as he was considering his options the phone rang, knowing who it was, Amato picked it up and heard Dominic’s lackey say, “The boss will see you at Xavier ‘round three.”

“Done” Amato responded and hung up.

At 3 o’clock on the nose, Amato showed up to Xavier Park in Brooklyn.  Entering the gates, he saw none other than Dominic Fenetti smoking a cigar and chatting up some red haired floozy at a bench.  Upon seeing him, he smiled at Amato and dismissed his fidanzata (girlfriend) with the snap of his fingers.

“There are some pretty babes in BK, I should come here more often.”

“You never learned from your hero Capone, did ya?”

“I’ll have you know Brittany is an accomplished dancer,” Dominic said with a sleazy wink.

“Yeah, I’m sure she makes more than the other puttanas (whores) at the strip club,” Amato said taking a step closer to Dom.

Feeling uncomfortable, Dominic warned Amato, “No funny business, I got guys everywhere.”

“I know Dom, you never went anywhere alone as I recall.”

“Where did I go wrong with you?” Dominic asked. “I gave you everything, money, cars, women, and you piss on it like a God damn rat.”

“You gave him everything?..” a voice said coming from behind the trees.  Turning around, Dominic was stunned to see the big boss, Carmine Cosimo in the flesh.  The older gentleman made a signal and immediately Dominic’s own men came out of hiding with their guns turned on him.

As if that weren’t enough, Cassie emerged from the circle of goons like a ghost from his worst nightmare.  Looking worse for the wear, Cassandra’s head was still heavily bandaged.  Having fought her way back from death, she discharged herself against her doctor’s wishes in order fulfill an oath she made to her father.

Unsteady on her feet, she held on to Carmine’s arm, “Ya see Dom, papa taught me some things; one, loyalty is never guaranteed, and two, always hide the evidence,” she said taking a manila envelope out of her long coat.  Dumping  the contents on to the ground, out came a ledger Dom was hiding from the boss along with several pictures of him with rival crime bosses.

As Dominic’s face went pale, Cassie went on, “You cooked the books Dom, and when papa found out, you had him executed.  Your own damn father!” Cassie said with disgust.

Shaking and sweating, Dominic knew his time on this earth was up.  “You can’t believe her, she’s crazy!” he said pleading with Carmine.  However, Carmine just rose his hand silencing Dominic.

As their final act of revenge, Cassie joined Amato, and turning their backs, they slowly walked out of the park.  As they exited the gate, they heard multiple gun shots but never looked back.

When they got to the car, Amato saw Cassie losing her color.  “What are you crazy leaving the hospital like that?  You’re going back.”

“Doesn’t matter, I kept my word,” she said as she slid down the side of the car and to the pavement.  Amato sprung into action and got her in the car and called ahead to the hospital.  Seeing he didn’t have that much time, he raced through the streets nearly hitting a delivery truck.

Pulling up to the emergency room parking lot, he kissed Cassie on the cheek before several orderlies put her on the gurney.  Watching as they disappeared into the hospital, he had this awful feeling that this was the last time he’d ever see her again.

Author Bio:

Rachel Rueben is author of the bestselling YA novel “Hag” and “The Eternal Bond Series” both available on Wattpad. To keep up with Rachel, you can sign up for her frighteningly entertaining newsletter here.

Fedelta Parte 8: A Miracle Behind Crime Scene Tape

~ Rachel Rueben ~ Leave a comment

Fedelta Part 8 complete

 

Detective Amato arrived at Mira’s Cafe to a gruesome scene.  Someone from the forensics team handed him a pair of surgical booties to slip on his shoes with the warning, “Watch out Amato, it’s a massacre.”

Making his way past the crime scene tape, he entered the café and saw bodies laying everywhere.  Careful not to touch any blood on the floor Amato, skillfully, moved across the room.  As he scanned the floor, he found what he was looking for.  Wiping his tired face with his hand, he let out a sigh.  “Ah, Cassie what the hell were you thinking?” he said to himself as he knelt down next to her body.

As a tear rolled down his cheek, he couldn’t help but look at her expressionless face staring at the ceiling.  It broke his heart, he and Cassandra had a past and though it was a convoluted one, it got real more than once.  It was the main reason his boss wanted him off the case.  He was getting too close to Armand Amatorè and Dominic Fenetti and his superiors were concerned.  He was the only cop in the history of law enforcement that managed to penetrate the inner circle of the Cosimo crime family and lived to tell the tale.  In the process, he crossed a lot of professional lines and nearly lost his badge because of it.

As the darkness from his past threatened to overtake him during this awful task, he saw what looked like movement.  Thinking he was just having a nervous breakdown, he blinked his eyes and looked again.  It was no figment of his imagination, Cassie was breathing! “Gotta a live one here!” Amato yelled.  Immediately all of the officers jumped into action, and grabbed a first aid kit while another called for an ambulance.

Within minutes Cassie was on her way to the hospital and Detective Amato was left to deal with the Cosimo crew alone.  He knew what he had to do and after he wrapped up the crime scene Amato got in his unmarked car, as he turned the key in the ignition, he heard his supervisor say, “John, you better not be doing what I think you are.”  Looking him dead in the eye, Amato said, “Don’t worry bout it, I got this.”

Though it was pointless, his super warned him nonetheless, “This time it was the girl, next time, they’ll be gunning for you.”  Shrugging his shoulders, Amato simply pulled away and went to meet up with Dominic Fennetti to finish this once and for all.

Tonight 100 years of mafia history was going to be wiped out and the shockwaves were going to be felt everywhere from the cells in Rikers to the Mayor’s office.

Author Bio:

Rachel Rueben is author of the bestselling YA novel “Hag” and “The Eternal Bond Series” both available on Wattpad. To keep up with Rachel, you can sign up for her frighteningly entertaining newsletter here.

Meet S.A. Hussey: Yeah, That Hussey!

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 4 Comments

fantastic blog hop bus

Meet S.A. Hussey, author of the new novel Remembrance available soon at a bookstore near you.  Let’s see what we can learn about this new and upcoming author.

1.  Are you a fan of the genre that you write in?

Stephanie: My biggest issue I am a fan of many genres and I tend to incorporate them all when I write, so I never know what to call my book genre other than, “Stephy’s Supreme”.

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write?

Stephanie: Both, but mostly the computer.  I keep pen and paper with me everywhere I go so in case something leaps out at me I can jot it down.  Other times I revert to pen and paper when writer’s block hits me.   I’ve also used a dictation machine and keep one in the car “just in case”.
3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead?

Stephanie: My best guess…a singer or an artist.

4. What about this business surprised you the most?

Stephanie: How hard it can be to get a “good” crit.   Thankfully I have 2 people who are my “go to” people and I know they’ll give it to me straight.

5. Do you blog?

Stephanie: I have one and I do try but I changed over to WordPress and I am still learning the ins and outs of it.
6. Are you on social media? Do you enjoy it?

Stephanie: I am.  I tweet, have a facebook acct., etc. etc.   I still have an old Myspace acct. lol    I enjoy meeting up with new people but I find social media can be an energetical drain.  I feel like once I’m on-line I can’t get off and if you’re trying to write…well you need to uplug the internet connection.
7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection?

Stephanie: Since I am limited on space – my library is electronic I’d grab the laptop.  Though if I had the room and I had a library I would most definitely save the book collection.

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors?

Stephanie: Everything is changing.  I would say it’s a little of both for authors.  Good in that anyone can self pub nowadays but the bad is at what cost?  You have to market and edit the story, something the industry used to do.

9. How do you promote your books?

Stephanie: My plan is to get myself into the local papers.  Most papers will post a blurb on locals.  I live near colleges so my plan was to make flyers and post them there and put under wipers at the local malls.  Also to hang some bigger flyers at high point traffic stops so people can see it.    It’s a plan.

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax?

Stephanie: In my current story, Remembrance, someone does get bumped off but if I had to kill off another person it would probably be Paige and by doing so would really change Ari.

Blurb for Remembrance: “Everybody has a past but not everyone has it return to torment them 600-years later bringing with it an enemy who plans to eliminate their future.”

Author Bio:

S.A. HusseyS. A. Hussey is a freelance writer, author, and published poet. She writes for Bluebird Reviews and Rock-it-Write both web-based music review sites and has had two poems published in anthology books. She takes part in on-line critique and writers groups. Her latest project is preparing her first novel, REMEMBRANCE, for self publication in January 2014. She continues to write and is working on another story entitled, ALL ACCESS.

Author Personal:

I live in a small coastal community just north of Boston, Massachusetts, and very close to the witch city of Salem. I have two amazingly beautiful daughters, and a 20-year-old Maine coon cat named Gidget who we believe gives rides to fairies in exchange for her long and leisurely life lounging on the back of my sofa. I am a full-time manager at a local hospital and when I’m not there I’m writing, reading or listening to music. I enjoy a good concert, and write reviews for my music website, Rock-it-Write, as well as do freelance reviews for an amazing fan-based music website, Blue Bird Reviews. I enjoy most genres of music but the blues and classic rock are favorites. Led Zeppelin stole my heart and makes my soul come alive.

Reading is another passion. I love escaping into new worlds every day. My favorite is, The Songmaster, by Orson Scott Card. There’s something in the way the worlds were weaved and how the characters were brought to life. When I first read it my 11 year-old mind was enthralled. I wanted to do that – I wanted to create and write, and I did for many years through poems and short stories, stopping only to raise my girls. Now I’m back, creating worlds and characters of my own and having a blast while doing it.

Dulcet By Dellani Oakes: A Review

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 1 Comment
Dulcet By Dellani Oakes
Dulcet By Dellani Oakes

Recently, I tried to get back into romance novels and was disappointed by the same ol, tired stories.  But I met an interesting author by the name of Dellani Oakes, who has breathed new life into a very stuffy genre.  In her newest release, “Dulcet” Dellani brings us the story of Cooper, a newly born again Christian with a sexually torrid past.  Cooper, who is now comfortably at home in church finds himself in danger of backsliding when he meets Gloria, the church’s newest cantor.  Instantly attracted, he fears the ghosts of his past pulling him back to his old womanizing ways.

None of this goes unnoticed by several of his friends and church family who are concerned for Cooper as well as for Gloria’s innocence.   He is at odds with his old friend and spiritual mentor Barry– better known as Father Barry.  Cooper is feeling like he’s being judge by those around him and to be honest, he is.  What Cooper doesn’t know is that they only have his best interests at heart but it’s hard for him to see that because he’s still a wounded man.  His life took a tragic turn in college when his fiance was killed in a car accident.  This led to his inevitable drinking and womanizing.  But Cooper’s new found comfort in church changes, when he starts unofficially dating Gloria.

However, not everything is as it seems, as it’s not only Cooper with secrets and a past.  Gloria has a confession of her own and it will throw everyone for a loop!

Although a Christian themed romance novel, Dulcet is not your typical Christian book.  Don’t let that pretty cover fool you.  It does have strong language and adult themes in it.  The reason why I loved this romance novel is because the main character Cooper, although a new Christian, has issues, real ones.  Unlike your typical Christian romance where nothing happens and nobody says anything “unspiritual” this book has characters that are relatable and seriously flawed.  We all know a Cooper, or have one in our family.

Dulcet, I believe will having romance fans laughing, crying and wondering what the heck!?!  Dellani Oakes did a marvelous job with creating characters that are quirky and loveable.  Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and believe if you miss real romance novels, then you definitely need to give Dulcet a try.

I give Dulcet 5 stars ★★★★★