Page 68 of Business or Pleasure

He said Harlee sent him which could have been a lie, but I really didn’t see any other option.

“Let’s go.”

Everything happened in only a few seconds, so everything was still chaotic. The other players were all rushing for the exits too, giving us the cover we needed. He grabbed my arm and pulled me the opposite direction of the emergency exit. I had no idea why we were heading for a solid wall, but I wasn’t going to argue. He had to know something I didn’t.

I heard shouting behind me that I thought was directed at me rather than just people yelling about a fire or whatever, but I didn’t even steal a glance behind me. I had a feeling this was one of those times where even a little hesitation would get me killed.

“Here.” The man pushed aside an elaborate wall hanging to reveal another door.

Under other circumstances, I would’ve found a hidden door very cool. Now, I just wanted to get through it to the other side. A moment later, I was in a short, dark hallway, lit only by emergency lights above another door.

“You’re lucky the buddy I’m covering for told me about Mr. Alesini’s secret exit,” the bouncer said as we moved toward the door. “This goes out into the alley. Go to the left and disappear into the crowd. In a half hour, meet Harlee here.”

He shoved something into my hand. and I stuck it in my pocket without looking at it. I needed to get out of here first. Then I’d see where I was going next.

“Won’t he be pissed at you?” I asked.

“When the first alarm goes off, every employee is supposed to help evacuate. I’ll say I didn't know I wasn’t supposed to let you go,” he said. “Now get gone.”

He pushed open the door and I hurried out into the humid July night. Before I could thank him, the door was closed, and I was alone. I could hear sirens coming closer and headed in that direction. Once I got a few blocks away, I’d take a look at the paper the bouncer gave me and find out where I was supposed to meet Harlee.

We had a lot to talk about.

Thirty-Two

Harlee

What the fuck happened?

The question circled my mind the same way it had been almost since the moment I realized Baylen was at Pulse to help me. Right then, though, I had to push it back and focus on the con, not on how he knew about it, how he knew where I was.

Or why he came at all.

As soon as I signaled for Baylen to call Alesini on his bluff, I left, hoping Franklin told Baylen about that last sign. I wasn’t about to just leave him there to get out on his own though, not when I knew Alesini wasn’t going to let it go that easily. Fortunately, I came up with a plan pretty quick.

After telling Bear I’d give him a couple hundred bucks to help, I explained what I needed him to do, and pulled the fire alarm before I ran. Bear said he’d do it for free, but I knew it would be dangerous for him if Alesini was as pissed at losing as I thought he was. I didn’t want Bear to get in the middle of it all, but I couldn’t see any other way to ensure Baylen got out safely. Money seemed like poor compensation for what might get Bear killed, but it was something at least.

What I didn’t realize was how hard it would be to wait. I told Bear to give Baylen the paper with the diner’s address on it and say to meet me in a half hour, but I didn’t stop to think that I would be stuck for thirty minutes, not knowing if he made it out okay, not knowing if him showing up actually meant anything.

I must’ve walked for twenty minutes, not really paying attention to where I was going, just needing to move, and then I finally flagged down a cab and had them take me to the diner. By the time I got there, it’d been thirty minutes since I asked Bear for his help, but I reminded myself that didn’t mean Baylen was late. I had no way of knowing exactly how much time passed between my giving Bear the message and Baylen getting it.

So there was no need to panic. No need to worry about all the things that could have gone wrong. No need to wonder if he changed his mind at the last minute and simply gave Alesini the money back.

No, there was no need to think about any of those things, but I still did. All the way up to the moment the door to the diner opened and Baylen walked inside.

The rush of relief that went through me made my legs so weak that I was glad I wasn’t standing. I managed to raise a hand to catch his attention and saw on his face what I felt. My heart lurched, demanding to know what it meant.

I told it to wait. Other things had to come first.

“Are you okay?”

We blurted out the question at the same time, then shared an awkward laugh that turned into awkward silence. I motioned for him to sit down, and he did. The waitress came almost immediately, and I ordered the first thing on the menu. Baylen did the same, his fingers tapping against the tabletop the only indication of his own impatience.

The waitress barely stepped away before Baylen spoke, “I’m sorry.”

I pressed my hands together under the table and tried not to let anything show on my face or in my voice. “I think I should be thanking you.”

He shook his head. “You wouldna needed me tonight if I hadn’t fucked things up this morning.”

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