around the bar.
“They’re fucking.” Adriano jerks his head to one of the beds on the left.
“What did you expect? We’re in the sex club. Find the way to the fight club.”
Fat Sal owns Club 7. The first floor is a legal, highly profitable dance club. Club 7 Underground – where we are now – is a high-end sex club and fight club. The fight club is Sal’s most profitable venture, and I think Camilla is tied to that fight club somehow.
“Well, it’s kind of hard to focus with all this bare skin everywhere.” His eyes dart around.
“I bet. Now find out how to get into the fight club.”
Henry told me that access to the fight club is nearly impossible. The only way in is through the sex club or through Fat Sal. Adriano and I split up, and I’m chatting the bartender up when the redhead interrupts us.
“Mr. DeMiliano, could you come with me?”
“Where to?”
“Sal would like to talk to you, Luca .”
She emphasizes my first name, but I don’t know why.
The Syndicate’s business dealings focus only on the world of drugs. This world, the underworld of sex and fight clubs, is unfamiliar territory for me. While we – James and I – are intentionally vague about the hierarchy in our Syndicate for our own protection, it does lead to situations where I’ve been mistaken for the boss, the Capo crimine, instead of the underboss. And the fact that we have four instead of three high ranking men also throws people off.
Every Syndicate usually has three high ranks: one – the Capo crimine , two – the underboss, and three – the Consigliere . The underboss usually has several Capi, so-called captains, working for him, and these Capi take care of the actual drug dealings. The Capi have soldiers working for them, and these soldiers report to their own Capo . The Capi report to the underboss. The underboss reports to the Capo crimine and keeps his lawyer/ Consigliere constantly informed on everything.
Our four high ranks include: one – Capo crimine James, two – underboss, three – Capo Adriano, and four – Consigliere Salvatore . I use Adriano as my number one Capo , the other two Capi usually report to Adriano instead of me. When I’m indisposed, Adriano is next in command. That’s a high privilege for a Capo , but James knew I would never agree to be his underboss without Adriano. And James trusts both Adriano and me. The counselor or Consigliere is also highly important. Consigliere takes care of all legal issues and must be informed on everything. The hierarchy is quite clear to us; however, it’s confusing to others, which is exactly our intent.
I have a feeling that Fat Sal thinks I am his equal from the drug world, but that’s not the case – James is his equal. Fat Sal is the Capo crimine – the boss – of Chicago’s fight clubs. James and I made it our business to know the basics of all criminal activity in Chicago, whether drug related or not. Most Mafia bosses are only up to date on their own sector and the parties they work with. Fat Sal buys batches of drugs for his sex club from Alessandro, one of my two other Capi .
“Fine. Mr. Montesi is coming too,” I inform and signal to Adriano, who was already watching her approach me, to join us.
Adriano falls into step next to me as we follow her back out and turn into another long hallway. This place is a maze.
Adriano whispers, “What’s wrong?”
“Sal wants to talk.”
We’re shown into the office belonging to Sal, who swivels around in his black leather desk chair when we enter. Fat Sal does his name justice. He’s fat with a huge, round stomach and is dressed in a crisp, white, too-tight dress shirt, but he’s clean shaven, extremely tanned, and flashes us his white teeth.
“DeMiliano, to what do I owe the honor of Chicago Syndicate royalty visiting my humble establishment?”
His guard closes the door behind us. “Sal, this is Adriano.” I don’t elaborate on his rank or mine because I still believe Sal
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