Page 53 of King of the Bronx

Chapter Twenty-Three

Raven

I didn’t go straight to the brothel like I’d planned. Instead, I found myself at Toby’s bar. Before I left the apartment, I grabbed a pair of keys, not having any idea what it went to. I was relieved to find they belonged to a nice Lexus and not one of the sports cars that I had no idea how to drive. Finding a parking spot on the street outside the bar was a struggle. I had to park three blocks away. I should be scared to be walking alone, but I knew Enzo probably had someone looking after me, and from what he said, the rock on my finger was protection in itself. The ring felt a lot heavier than it had before. Maybe because I finally realized what it meant to be married to a made man. And not just any made man. A capo. Enzo ruled the Bronx, and this ring meant I was his partner.

I opened the door to the bar and loud music poured out. The place almost looked more like a nightclub. What the hell? Then I noticed the handmade sign behind the bar.

Burgers$5

Hot Dog$3

Chip & Soda$1

Shit, I’d completely forgotten about the barbecue. I can’t believe how much has changed since Toby had told me about it. I hadn’t even gotten the chance to let the girls know. I didn’t spot Toby, so I took a seat on the only open barstool.

“What can I get you?” The bartender asked me. She was petite with hair that went down to her waist.

“Is Toby here tonight?” I asked.

The girl looked uncomfortable. If I knew anything about my brother, there were probably a lot of crazy girls who came up here looking for him after he snuck out of their house after a one-night stand.

“I’m his sister,” I clarified when the girl didn’t respond.

“He’s in the back. I’ll grab him.”

She walked away, and I took my time to look around the bar. After a moment, Toby came out of the back room and smiled at me.

“Hey! What’s up?” he asked.

“Maybe I just wanted to see my brother and get some good barbecue.”

He smiled and made me a martini. I took a sip. “Damn, that’s good.”

“I hope so. I’ve been bartending for long enough. I should know how to make a martini.”

When I didn’t respond, he tilted his head. “What’s going on Raven?”

“Someone took Erica,” I said quietly.

His eyes widened. “What?! Who?”

“We don’t know. We thought it was the Irish, but Enzo doesn’t think so.”

“Enzo?” he lowered his voice to a whisper too. “You’re involved with him?”

I forgot all the things I still haven’t told Toby. Heat traveled up my neck. “Actually, we’re married.”

His eyes landed on my hand where the ring sat. It was impossible to miss.

“Holy shit…congratulation? When did this happen? And why?”

“It’s a long story and you have a full bar to take care of,” I said, not wanting to pull him away from his business.

“I have time.” He came from around the bar and I followed behind him. He led me to the back exit where an old beaten down picnic table sat next to a dumpster. This must be where his employees came out to take their smoke breaks. We sat at the picnic table and I explained everything. The words rapidly fell from my lips, like I’d been waiting to tell someone, anyone, what was going on. It was nice to get everything off my chest, and Toby was the perfect sound board. He would have an outsider’s perspective on all of this. He kept quiet throughout my whole story.

“Wow,” he said after I was done. He ran his hands through his hair. “So Enzo, huh?”

I nodded my head and took a drink of the martini.

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