Rainy Night Reckoning

Prompt: Salieri’s bar, 1933 The rain hammered against the windows of Salieri’s Bar, each drop echoing the tension that seemed to hang in the air. Valerie pushed through the heavy oak doors, her fedora and coat drenched, leaving a trail of water on the worn wooden floor. “Ah, Tommy. Valerie,” Luigi called from behind the bar. “Frank says to wait for him in the garage out back. You both got a job, I think.” Tommy looked up from adjusting his tie. “Thanks Luigi. Sarah’s cooking. She’s bringing something over.” “In this rain? Ah, she’s a good girl,” Luigi replied with a warm smile. “Tell her I said hello,” Valerie added, wringing water from her coat. “That girl’s too good for this weather.” “I’ll see you tomorrow, Luigi,” Tommy said, heading toward the back door. “You know, it’s good to see a smile back on Sarah’s face,” Luigi added warmly. In the backyard, Tommy lit a cigarette as Frank approached with an umbrella. Valerie stood under the narrow overhang, water still dripping from her hat. “Thanks for waiting, you two,” Frank said. “The Don and I had to go over last month’s numbers again.” “Sure. So, what’s the job?” Tommy asked. “Must be something big if you’re calling us both out,” Valerie observed, studying Frank’s expression. “You look worried.” Frank nodded grimly. “I want you both to help Sam and Paulie with a shipment we’ve got coming in tonight.” “The good stuff?” Tommy inquired. “Straight from Canada.” “Where do you need us?” Valerie asked, all business now. “Sam’s gone to meet our friends from the North at a farm outside of town. Paulie will oversee the trucks bringing the shipment into the city. But I want you two to go with him. Be extra pairs of eyes. Make sure it all goes smoothly.” Tommy nodded. “Okay.” “Frank,” Valerie said, crossing her arms, “you’re sending three of us for what should be a routine pickup. What aren’t you telling us?” Frank met her gaze. “Morello’s been making moves. I’d rather have too much protection than not enough.” “Smart thinking,” she replied. “Better safe than sorry with that bastard.” “Get a car from Ralphie and meet Paulie at the warehouse. He’s got heaters, in case you run into any trouble.” “Sure Frank. No problem,” Tommy said. “Good. Now bring the Canadian home safe, both of you. There’s already a case earmarked for the Don.” In the garage, Ralphie looked up from under a car’s hood. “Workin’ late, Ralphie?” Tommy asked. “I s-sleep when F-Frank sleeps. Man, he’s been w-workin’ us hard.” “Morello’s takin’ bites outta business everywhere else, Ralph,” Tommy said. “Booze racket’s where we shine. Gotta stay ahead someplace.” “At least the cars are running smooth,” Valerie added. “Your work keeps us alive out there.” “Ah, well… I-I just f-fix the cars. I changed the p-plates again. C-can’t be too careful.” “See you in the morning,” Tommy said. “Stay dry, Ralphie,” Valerie called as they headed out. At the warehouse, Paulie was already behind the wheel of the truck. Tommy climbed into the passenger seat while Valerie settled in the back. “Hey! Hey! Watch it, pal! I just dried out,” Paulie complained as Tommy shook rain from his coat. “Sorry.” “Jesus, this weather,” Valerie muttered, checking her .38. “Hope Sam’s staying dry wherever he is.” “You know this place?” Tommy asked Paulie as they drove. “Uh, yeah. We’ve done a few pickups at the farm before. Don’t worry, there ain’t nothin’ but cow shit and shine out here. It’s gonna be an easy few clams.” “Let’s hope so,” Valerie said from the back seat. “I’ve got a bad feeling about tonight.” “Ah, you seein’ Sarah later?” Paulie asked Tommy with a grin. “What about you, Val? You been seeing anyone lately?” “I’m married to this job, Paulie,” she replied dryly. “Someone’s gotta keep you boys out of trouble.” “Ha! You’re tougher than both of us put together.” When they reached the farm, Paulie pulled over, frowning. “Ah, dammit. Sam should be waitin’ here, but I don’t see him.” “Something smells off,” Tommy said. “My thoughts exactly,” Valerie agreed, her hand moving to her weapon. “This is too quiet. Where is everybody?” “Don’t let your nerves get the better of you,” Paulie said, though he sounded uncertain. “Probably just tryin’ to get outta the rain.” He pressed the buzzer. “That’ll wake him.” Nothing. “He ain’t coming,” Tommy said. “Okay. Let’s go find him,” Paulie agreed, reaching for his shotgun. As they stepped out into the rain, Valerie drew her .38, scanning the darkness. “Stay close, boys. Something’s not right here.” “If that bastard is just three sheets and I’m wreckin’ a new suit for nothin’, I swear I’m gonna kill him,” Paulie grumbled. “Don’t joke about that,” Valerie said sharply. “Not tonight.” Paulie handed Tommy a shotgun. “Here, just in case Frank was right. I’m gonna go grab them boys, get ‘em sorted out. You two go ahead, see what’s what. We’ll catch up.” “Paulie, wait—” Valerie started, but he was already heading toward the other buildings. “Come on,” Tommy said. “Let’s find Sam.” As they moved through the rain-soaked farmyard, Valerie’s instincts screamed danger. She’d learned to trust that voice during her years in Chicago, and it had never steered her wrong. Tonight, it was telling her that Sam Trapani was in serious trouble.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Tommy and Valerie moved through the rain-soaked farmyard, their footsteps muffled by the muddy ground. The silence was unnerving - no voices, no movement, just the relentless drumming of rain on wooden structures. “Someone’s been waiting here tonight,” Tommy muttered as they entered a small cabin, gesturing to cigarette butts and empty bottles scattered around. Valerie examined the scene, her jaw tightening. “Multiple people. This was planned.” They continued exploring, passing dilapidated buildings that should have shown signs of the whiskey operation. Instead, everything felt abandoned, wrong. “Guy we pay to keep this place in check don’t even pretend to farm now,” Tommy observed. “Place is derelict.” “Too derelict,” Valerie replied, her voice tense. “This is supposed to be an active operation, not a ghost town.” As they rounded a corner, Tommy stopped short. “What kinda guy shoots a dog,” he said, staring at a lifeless form on the ground. “The kind that wants to send a message,” Valerie said grimly, her grip tightening on her weapon. “Tommy, we need to find Sam and get out of here. Now.” They approached one of the trucks, and Tommy knocked on the door. “Hey buddy!” When he opened it, the driver’s lifeless body tumbled out. “Jesus!” Tommy exclaimed. “Shit,” Valerie hissed, immediately raising her gun and scanning the area. “We’re walking into a trap.” “Drop your weapon!” came a voice from behind them. Tommy and Valerie spun around to see two men with guns trained on them. “You first,” Tommy replied steadily. “We don’t have time for this,” the first gunman said. “Then you shouldn’t have started it,” Valerie shot back, her finger hovering over the trigger. “Sorry, pal. Guess we’re doin’ this the hard way,” the second man said. The firefight erupted quickly. Tommy took down the first gunman while Valerie dove for cover behind the truck, picking off another who tried to flank them. “Get over here! I got him pinned down!” one of the remaining attackers shouted. “Not if I get you first,” Valerie muttered, putting a bullet through his chest. When the shooting stopped, Tommy surveyed the carnage. “Not here… This was a set-up… Nothing about this feels right.” “Tommy! Valerie!” Paulie’s voice called out as he approached with a few of their men. “About time,” Valerie said, reloading her weapon. “Where the hell were you?” “Lookin’ for Sammy! Did you find him?” Paulie asked urgently. “Nah, not yet. Just him,” Tommy said, pointing to the dead truck driver. “Canadian crew,” Paulie said, examining the body. “Dollars to doughnuts, the rest are face down in the dirt too.” Paulie searched the dead attackers and pulled out a police badge. “Oh, Christ… They’re cops, Tommy.” “How would I know? They didn’t show a badge! They didn’t say anything!” Tommy protested. “Dirty cops,” Valerie said, her voice cold with anger. “Morello’s got his hooks in the border patrol now.” “They must be in Morello’s pocket,” Paulie agreed. “This bastard. He can’t even let us have this one racket.” “These guys are the real deal. They gotta be cops from the border patrol,” Tommy said, studying the badge. Valerie found a crumpled paper in one of the dead men’s pockets. “Look at this - ‘Ambush plans. Copse Farm, nine o’clock.’ They knew we were coming.” “Fuck. They’ve come heavy alright,” Paulie said grimly. “Make Lost Heaven PD look like pussycats.” They moved toward a large barn, finding more bodies inside - the Canadian whiskey runners, all dead. “Jesus,” Tommy breathed, looking at the carnage. “Poor bastards didn’t have a chance,” Valerie said, her voice tight with controlled rage. “This is a goddamn massacre.” “Check every building! Sam could be anywhere!” Paulie ordered. As they searched, Valerie heard voices from a nearby structure. She signaled for quiet and crept closer. “See that hooch they got in the truck? We hit pay dirt,” one voice said. “They should’ve expected heat. They deserve what they got,” another replied. “Border cops doing Morello’s dirty work,” Valerie whispered to Tommy as they prepared to take them down. The next few minutes were a blur of violence as they fought their way through more corrupt border patrol agents. Finally, they heard gunfire from the barn. “That’s gotta be Sam!” Paulie shouted. They could see a figure in the barn’s second floor window, firing down at attackers below. Then they saw him get hit. “Sam’s been clipped!” Paulie yelled. “No!” Valerie shouted, her heart pounding. Not Sam. Not like this. The firefight intensified as they battled through waves of corrupt cops to reach their friend. When they finally cleared the barn, they found Sam on the floor, bleeding heavily. “Sammy! Ah Jesus, what’ve they done to you?” Paulie cried out. Valerie dropped to her knees beside him, pressing her hands against his wounds. “Sam, look at me. Stay with us.” “I got clipped,” Sam groaned. “Christ, that’s a lot of blood…” “Can you walk?” Paulie asked desperately. “No. No, I don’t think so.” “Hey, you’re tougher than this,” Valerie said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. “We’ve all been through worse, right?” “Sure… Sure we have,” Sam replied weakly. “I’ll go get the truck,” Paulie said. “Valerie, Tommy, stay with him. I’ll be back in a flash.” As Paulie ran off, Valerie kept pressure on Sam’s wounds while Tommy kept watch. “You’re gonna be fine, Sam. The doc will patch you up good as new.” “Always the optimist,” Sam managed, his breathing labored. “Someone has to be,” she replied, forcing a smile. “Besides, who else is gonna keep Paulie from doing something stupid?” When more attackers appeared, Valerie and Tommy had to fight them off while protecting the wounded Sam. She’d never felt so desperate, so afraid of losing someone who meant so much to her. “Where’s the goddamn truck?” she muttered, firing at another wave of cops. When Paulie finally returned with the truck, Valerie helped carry Sam out, her heart breaking at every pained sound he made. “I gotcha, I gotcha,” she whispered as they loaded him into the truck. “We’re gonna get you all patched up.” As they drove away from the farm, police cars in pursuit, Valerie stayed in the back with Sam, keeping him conscious and applying pressure to his wounds. Every bump in the road made him groan, and each sound was like a knife to her heart. She’d lost her father to this life, had fought tooth and nail to survive in Chicago, and climbed the ranks of the Salieri family through sheer determination. But the thought of losing Sam - one of the few people who’d become family to her - was almost unbearable. “Stay with me, Sam,” she whispered, watching his pale face in the dim light. “Don’t you dare leave us.“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The truck bounced violently as Paulie swerved to avoid another police car, and Sam let out a sharp cry of pain. Valerie’s hands were slick with his blood as she pressed against the wound in his side. “Easy, Sam. Just breathe,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. In the chaos of the gunfight, she’d acted on pure instinct, but now, with his life literally in her hands, every moment felt weighted with something she couldn’t quite name. “Val,” Sam whispered, his eyes finding hers in the dim light. “You didn’t have to come back for me. Could’ve gotten out clean.” “Don’t be stupid,” she replied, but there was no bite to her words. “We don’t leave family behind.” Sam’s hand found hers where it pressed against his wound, his fingers weak but deliberate. “That’s not… that’s not what I meant.” For a moment, their eyes held each other’s gaze. Valerie felt something shift in her chest - not just fear for his safety, but something deeper. The way Sam always seemed to watch out for her during jobs, the way he made her laugh even on the worst days, the way he’d gotten shot protecting their operation. “Save your strength,” she said, her voice catching slightly. “We’ll argue about it later.” “Promise me we’ll argue about it later,” Sam said, and there was something in his voice that made her stomach flutter despite the dire circumstances. “Yeah, I promise,” she replied quietly, not quite understanding why the words felt so important. “That thing back there is huge! Where the hell did they find that truck?” Tommy shouted from the front, firing at their pursuers. “Don’t you dare try to be a hero right now,” she told him firmly. “Let Tommy handle the shooting.” “Yes, ma’am,” Sam said, and despite his pain, there was the ghost of his usual grin. “Always liked it when you got bossy.” “Shut up,” she said, but she was fighting back a smile. Even bleeding and half-conscious, he could still make her feel lighter somehow. The truck lurched again, and Valerie had to brace herself against Sam’s chest to keep from falling. For a moment, they were impossibly close, her face inches from his. She could feel his breath against her cheek, could see the way his eyes darkened as he looked at her. “Sorry,” she whispered, starting to pull away. “Don’t be,” Sam said quietly, his free hand coming up to steady her arm. The touch was gentle, careful, like he was afraid she might disappear. “These guys keep on coming! Paulie! The truck’s comin’ for us!” Tommy yelled. “They’re too close, Val.” Sam called out, but his voice was getting weaker. Valerie felt panic rising in her throat. “Hey, stay with me,” she said, gripping his hand tighter. “Don’t you dare check out on me now.” “Not planning on it,” Sam replied, his thumb tracing a small circle on her palm. “Got reasons to stick around.” The way he said it, the look in his eyes - it wasn’t about the job or the family. The realization made her breath catch, and she found herself studying his face as if seeing it for the first time. When had the lines around his eyes become so familiar? When had his smile started mattering so much? “We’re in trouble!” Sam called out, never breaking eye contact with her. “We’re not gonna take much more!” “We’re gonna be fine,” Valerie said fiercely, leaning closer without thinking. “The doc’s gonna patch you up good as new.” “Val,” Sam said, his voice barely audible over the chaos around them. “If something happens—” “Nothing’s gonna happen,” she interrupted sharply. “Just… just remember you’re worth more than this life gives you credit for,” he said, his eyes serious. “Don’t let them convince you otherwise.” Now continue the story with this context: They all yell, as Valerie puts her body over Sam, […and lands on the road below.] Paulie quickly books it the truck barely hold on. Paulie: (rejoicing) I’m a wheelman too Tom! [Suddenly they are attacked by AN ARMORED CAR with A MACHINE GUN on the roof!] Tommy Angelo: Shit! Sam: Get the turret while they reload! Take out the windshield armor, I got an idea! The windshield! Shoot out the windshield, Valerie! [Breaking through the windshield, valerie throws a molotov cocktail in it.] The armored truck swerves into a ditch, a massive explosion can be seen. They all rejoice as paulie drives away. Paulie: Ahhh! We did it, we did it! [They get to the doctor quickly.] Paulie: Okay, we’re here! Tom, help Valerie to get Sam out. I’m gonna go wake up the doc. Tommy Angelo: Sam. Sam! We made it. We’re at the doctor’s house. Sam: That’s three I owe ya. Doctor: Paulie? What the hell are you doing here so late? Paulie: Hey, ah… Evenin’, doc. I’m sorry to wake you, but um… We had a little accident. We got an injured man out here. Doctor: Alright. Bring him inside. Make sure to add scenes in between dialogue.