Page 87 of Cruel Love

Gio stands up from his chair and slowly moves through the crowd to the back curtain.

“He walks in,” I say, “and doesn’t come out again. We believe he’s still there now.”

Fox nods. “This is your city. You have connections in there, right?” he asks. “I mean, I feel a tad overqualified for this if you could easily just go in and drag him out.”

I shake my head. “After Hans Petrovin was killed in their bathroom, they cut all ties with us and the Petrovins. Said they didn’t want to be involved in mob business anymore.”

Markov turns in his chair. “They won’t return my calls. Makes me feel bad.”

I smile at his joke.

Dante squints. “If they don’t want mob business, then why house a mobster?”

“And not just any mobster…” I say. “A Zappia.”

“They’re in someone’s pocket,” Fox says.

“And since we currently don’t know who, I’d like to get Gio out of there quickly and quietly to avoid unnecessary conflict.”

He nods. “Feeling pretty qualified now.”

I look between him and Dante. “I figure the two of you may have a few tricks we don’t have.”

They glance at each other in agreement.

Yuri raises a hand. “Problem.”

“What?” I ask.

“The Obuvi checks for tattoos now.”

“They do?”

“Yeah.” He pats his chest. “No snakes allowed. Not because they’re bad for business but because they’re worth a lot of money to the cops.”

“When did they start checking?”

Yuri shrugs. “Just after the world found out. You didn’t know?”

“No, brother,” I say with a frown. “I can’t say I’ve had a lot of time to go clubbing since getting married and raising a child.”

He laughs. “Your loss.”

“That makes things a little more complicated,” Dante says.

Fox exhales. “Yes, it does.”

“Well…”

I pause, hearing a little voice I don’t recognize.

Lucy eases forward from her hiding spot behind Dante’s wide shoulders and points at the screen. “What about the dancers?” she asks.

I look at the video as a drunken woman climbs up onto the platform from the crowd. “Tourists looking for a good time, mostly,” I say.

“No, I mean… go back a few seconds. Please.”

Markov clicks and scrubs back in the video.

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