Read Online Animus by S. W. Frank - Free Book Online

listening. He exited and raced west. “You said you wanted to be down with family or something to that nature, you still want in?”
    “Hell yes!”
    “First you have to pass the Vincenzo test.”
    “My dad’s test?”
    “The one and only. My brother liked breaking in soldati especially the smack talking guys.”
    “He did?” Sergio inquired. He didn’t know anything about his father and anytime Uncle Nico talked about him, Sergio went silent.
    “Yes and he got a kick out of it, too.”
    Sergio smiled wanly. Too bad he didn’t get to meet his father. He heard some really good things about him from Alfonzo. His dad was an excellent shot, he also liked cracking jokes a lot, which Sergio found interesting because he did, too. But, it’s his dad’s bravery that inspired pride in a son. There’s a part of him that wanted to impress his Uncle. He believed Nico’s abrasive attitude stemmed from disappointment or maybe even embarrassment that his brother had such a useless kid. His mom called him, ‘useless’ whenever she got mad. The put-downs were the norm and he began accepting the worst about himself, but here was an opportunity to prove her wrong and to show his Uncle his worth.
    They finally pulled onto one of those quaint stradas, which Sergio considered old architecture, solid bricks and stones. There were local businesses, several elderly men and women strolling along actually carrying bags of groceries with breads and leafy greens peering out. Funny, the images were just like the pictures in the magazines he looked at on the flight. Friendly, slow paced, neighborhoods filled with culture, wine, food and smiles. Only thing he disliked is they said Italians ate late. Their average family ate dinner around eight o’clock, hell in the United States people were often finished by six. He actually dug what he saw thus far of Palermo; it had an old school feel which he liked.
    He didn’t have time to soak in the scenery for long because Nico returned to the drill sergeant stint. “Here are the rules. One, you have fifteen minutes to complete the test. Two, any mess must be sanitized. Three, no conversation giving real names or any personal information which can lead back to family. Four, don’t steal anything. Five, you’re on your own once you step out the car.”
    “Well, it’s nice to know the rules, but what the hell is this test on?”
    Nico opened the glove compartment, took out a pen and paper and scribbled an address. “See that panificio with the blue awning?”
    Sergio noticed the color but what the hell was a panificio? “Yeah.”
    “The owner opens at one o’clock, but he’s a sucker for lost tourists. Knock on the door; ask can he tell you how to get to this address. He’ll invite you in, offer you a taste of his bread and cheese and you will accept. Take a seat and when he turns around cap him…in the back of the head.”
    Sergio grimaced. “Ew, what happens when the shit splatters?”
    “Angle to the middle of the skull, keep a distance and step to the side after you fire.”
    Sergio noticed his Uncle was emotionless when he talked about capping people.  The crazy-motherfucker was straight-up gangster! “Alright, but I don’t have a weapon.”
    Nico remedied the problem and reached inside his backpack to withdraw a lethal weapon attached with a silencer. “You know how to use a gun?”
    “Hell yeah.”
    “Good.” He tucked the gun in Sergio’s duffle bag. “Alright get going.”
    Sergio gripped the strap and opened the door, paper in hand. He had one foot on the curb when Nico said, “Oh by the way nipote, there are two cooks in the kitchen. No small talk, shoot them quickly.”
    “Well damn anybody else I gotta’ off, the dog or cat?”
    Nothing from Nico except a glare and then he dismissed Sergio by getting a newspaper from the backseat reclined and began reading. The kid asked too many questions. Nico learned this early about Sergio and the best remedy for a loquacious