Page 70 of Caged Bliss

“That’s right,” I say, running my finger down the front of Tommy’s filing cabinet. “I’m going to comb through this place. Every folder, every piece of paper, all the computer hard drives, everything. We’re going to interview all the employees. We’re going to find out every secret, every stain, every broken rule. This can go much easier on you if you’re up front with me from the start. Do you understand?”

He nods once. “What do you want to know?” he asks.

I appreciate a man like Rodrigo. He’s effective, judicious, and his loyalties are flexible, given the situation in which he finds himself. That’s a kind of practical survival I can get behind.

“The third floor. Tell me everything.”

Rodrigo sits with his back straight and his hands folded in his lap, and he starts talking.

It started two months after Tommy took over. The third floor was more club space, but he had it converted into private rooms, and began catering to specific sexual needs. The girls came soon after, girls Rodrigo didn’t know, many of whom did not speak English. He didn’t ask questions at first, but soon he heard stories. Small towns in Serbia where men offered poor girls a lot of money to move to America for the chance at a better life. Only to find themselves trapped in a terrible situation. The girls came and went, and Rodrigo never asked what happened to them, but he knew. Everyone on the third floor knew. Money sloshed around that place, filling pockets and bank accounts, and it kept mouths shut, but it was hard to ignore.

“That’s why Cage has been so profitable.” It confirms all my suspicions and more. “Did Tommy ever talk about the Famiglia?”

“I always assumed the Biancos were aware of the arrangement.” He fidgets in his seat and I believe him. “It was never for me to question either way.”

“Do you know who he was working with?”

“Foreign men. I think Russians and Serbians.”

“I need names and locations.”

He nods and gestures at the filing cabinet. “I’ll dig out what I can.”

“Good.” I lean back and study him. “Now you have a decision to make, and it won’t be an easy one. You worked as Tommy’s top manager for years, but Tommy’s gone now, and he won’t be coming back. You can either help me turn Cage around and get rid of anyone still loyal to him, or you can walk out that door and never come back. You’ll have to leave Chicago, but it’s a small price.”

Rodrigo doesn’t seem surprised. It’s the deal Roc wanted, but this time I’ll actually honor it. This man may have been complicit in the trafficking and Tommy’s schemes, but he was only doing his duty, and I still believe he can be an asset.

“I’d be happy to keep working for the Bianco Famiglia,” he says after a pause, which I appreciate. It’s not a small decision.

“Start by giving me all of Tommy’s known locations, especially the secret ones. And I need to know anything you can tell me about Serena.”

“His girlfriend?” Rodrigo shrugs a little. “She’s just a girl. Pretty and smart, but an addict. I don’t think she knows much of his business.”

“Write it all down anyway.” I knock my palm against the cabinet. It makes a low boom. “And starting now, the trafficking is over. Any girls still upstairs will be offered a choice. They can keep working here as legitimate employees, or they’ll be paid out for their time, given a bus ticket to wherever they want to go, and sent on their way.”

Rodrigo clears his throat. “Ah, there are certain, uh, deals already in place, with important people?—”

“Cancel them. I’ll deal with the fallout.”

“Very well, sir.”

“I want everything I asked for done by the end of today. Do you understand?”

“I’ll get started now.”

“Good. And Rodrigo? Stay loyal to the Famiglia and we’ll get along just fine.”

“That’s my plan.”

I leave the office. I’m not positive he’s going to be smart, but I think he’ll do the right thing. He’s a survivor, after all.

The sky stretches over the oasis like an endless blue ribbon. Claudia’s palm tenses against mine and I squeeze back. She smiles at me, head tilted, sunlight streaming through her hair, and I marvel at how good this feels. I never pictured myself going for a walk hand in hand with a woman before, but now that it’s Claudia, it’s like this fits perfectly.

I’m a murderer. I’m a thief, a gangster, an ex-con. I’m also holding hands with a beautiful woman and thinking about bringing her back to my house so I can fuck her senseless.

“I wish I had seen their faces,” she says as we reach the end of the block and start back. I feel the eyes of Bianco soldiers watching our every step. “I mean, I bet nobody imagined Tommy would end up on the run like this.”

“It honestly went pretty smooth. Most people don’t care who their boss is, so long as their job is secure. Rodrigo’s making a list of anyone that might give me trouble and I’ll let them go, but otherwise I don’t plan on shaking things up too much.”

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