In The Arms of an Angel
In The Arms of an Angel
"I'm here to see Joe" he said in a raspy voice.
"What's your name?" the young man asked getting up.
"Vic Vega" he replied. The young man nodded and walked towards the hallway that led to the back office.
"Vic Vega's outside" the young man called
"Tell him to come in." Joe bellowed.
He looked back at Vic and cocked his head towards the hallway.
"Go on in" he said simply going back to his desk. He walked into Joe Cabot's office and greeted him with a hug. They spoke mostly of Vic's parole officer, Seymore Skagnetti and how it felt to be out. A few minutes past by when he heard the familiar sound of cowboy boots stomping towards Joe's office.
“You son of a bitch…I see ya sittin’ there, but I don't believe it… How you doin’ Toothpick” he stood up and extended his arms.
“Hey Eddie…” he said embracing his best friend. "Fine now.” Vic brought his hands up and cupped Eddies face with a slapping sound.
“Look, I'm sorry man; I shoulda picked you up personally at the pen. This whole week's just been crazy. I've had my head up my ass the entire time…” he said as Vic sat back down in the chair in front of Joe's desk.
“Funny you should mention that… That's what your daddy and I been talkin’ about…”
“That I should've picked you up…”
“No. That you had your head up your ass…"
"Vic?" he heard from the hallway, turning his head towards the voice. She stood there in ripped up jeans and a black wife beater, her hair longer than he remembered. She smiled, her face lighting up like a Christmas tree as she ran towards him and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist tightly, her arms going around his neck hugging him close.
"Hey Tess" he said taking in her scent,and smiling as he held her close to him.
"Hey yourself Vega" she said kissing his cheek. He let her down gently and sat back down. She sat on the arm of his chair scratching the back of his neck softly. He looked back Eddie.
"We were just talking about how your brother's had his head up his ass...I walk through the door and Joe says ‘Vic, Vic, you’re finally here, I’m so glad there’s somebody that knows the fuck he's doin’, my son Eddie’s a fuck up. He’s ruining the business… I mean, I love the guy, but he’s flushin' everything down the toilet'…I mean that’s what you said Joe, tell 'im yourself” he said smiling at Joe.
“Eddie…” Joe began playing along with the game "I hate for you to hear it like this…But when Vic asked me how's business doin’, well, you don't lie to a man who's just done four years in the slammer for ya".
Tess got up as Vic stood sliding his chair back in the process looking at Eddie.
"Very true!” Eddie said before launching himself towards Vic. They wrestled playfully, Eddie brought Vic over his shoulder as the three friends laughed and Vic crumbled to the floor.
"Okay, okay, enough, enough! Playtime's over! You wanna roll around on the floor, do it in Eddie's office, not mine!” Joe yelled as he attempted to stop them. Tess laughed a little louder.
"Guys come on seriously stop" she said. Eddie stood straight up leaning against his fathers desk.
“Daddy, did ya see that?Tess I hope you saw that" he asked still laughing.
"What?” Joe barked still a little annoyed. Tess gave him a questioned look.Vic held out his hand to Eddie who grabbed it and pulled him up.
"Guy got me on the ground, tried to fuck me.” he said turning back to his father.
"You wish.” Vic said simply pulling his chair forward, pausing to turn around and take a cigarette from Joe's desk glancing up for approval. Joe nodded and he took the cigarette as Eddie spoke.
“You sick bastard, Vic, you tried to fuck me in my father’s office…Look, Vic whatever you wanna do in the privacy of your own home, go to it, but don’t try to fuck me…I don't think of ya that way...I like ya a lot buddy but I don't think of ya that way” Vic looked at Eddie then at Tess and sat back down.
"Look, if I was a butt-cowboy, I wouldn’t even throw you to the posse" he said settling into his seat. Tess took her place on the arm of his chair again as Eddie persisted.
"No you wouldn’t"he said still grinning from ear to ear."You’d keep me for yourself...Y’know, four years fuckin’ punks up the ass, You’d appreciate a piece of prime rib when you see it" he said gesturing at himself.
"Eddie" Tess exclaimed.
"I might break you in, Nice Guy… But I’d make you my dog’s bitch" Vic said eliciting a soft giggle from Tess.
"Ain’t that a sad sight Daddy, man walks in 'ta prison a white man,comes out talkin’ like a nigger.Y’know what, I think it’s all that black semen been pumped up your ass so far, now it’s backed up your fuckin’ brain, it’s comin’ out your mouth!”
"Eddie, you keep talking like a bitch, I'm gonna slap you like a bitch" he said smiling and standing up again "Come on man" Eddie replied bringing his hands up in a mock defense stance.
"OKAY! Enough of this shit! I’m sick of it! Now both of ya sit down!!" Joe yelled again. They pouted like scolded little boys and sat down. Tess shook her head still smiling.
She looked at Vic as he spoke with her father and brother remembering the day he was caught. She'd been devastated when she heard that he was in police custody and resented her father for making him pull that job. She wrote him letters and called whenever they were sure it was safe, in desperation of keeping their love alive.
She was what he thought about every night before closing his eyes to sleep and every morning after opening them to a brand new day. And now here he was right in front of her and all she wanted him to do was to claim her as his own again. Her train of thought was interrupted as she heard those familiar words escape Eddies mouth.
"You know dad, I have an idea" he began "Now I know you don't like using the boys for these types of jobs but, Vic here, he's been nothing but good luck for us. I mean the guy's a fucking rabbits foot. You know he can handle himself and you're damn sure you can trust him.I'd like to have him in" he concluded simply looking at his father.
"Well Vic, how would you feel about pulling a job with about five other guys?" Joe asked.
"I'd feel great about it" Vic said smiling at Joe, then at Eddie and at Tess who gave him a half smile and looked at her father.
"Daddy we're going to go get some lunch, do you want something?"she asked.
"No pumpkin. You and Vic go wherever you want.Nothing is too much alright?" she smiled and nodded.
"Alright. Eddie do you want anything?" she asked turning to her brother.
"I ate already you two go ahead" he said smiling and giving her a kiss on the cheek.She took Vics hands sliding her fingers between his and lead him out of the office,smiling up at him adoringly. Eddie smiled as they walked out of the office building.
"Never seen her so happy." he commented as he watched them through the window getting into her yellow coupe devile.
"That's for damn sure" Joe said agreeing with his son.