Page 6 of Sinful Secrets

I stand and push my chair back in when the office door opens.

“Ah, good. Lucy, come here and say goodbye. Spencer is going to look into things and get us back on our feet.”

That’s a cosmic order, but I’ll try my damnedest to make it happen.

Lucia pulls me into a tight hug before placing a kiss on my cheek. “You are a good man, Spencer Reed.”

“Don’t be saving that out loud. People might think I’m soft or a pushover.” I laugh as she gives me a scowl.

“Are you hungry? Do you want some food for the road?”

“I’m alright, but thank you for the offer. I’ll swing by and eat dinner here sometime soon, as long as you don’t lock yourself in the office.”

She blushes, like she’s ashamed of herself. “I won’t, as long as you come back with some good news.”

“I’ll try my hardest to track them down.”

I wave bye and head back to my car. If this gang is as unpredictable as Mario warned, then we need to try to stop them before they grow any bigger.

Arturo won’t like being another target, but he’s making enormous waves here in Savannah, so it’s to be expected.

As I get to the next stop, an idea pops into my head. I grab my phone and call my financial advisor.

He answers on the first ring. “What can I do for you, Mr. Reed?”

“Hey, Mr. Williams, I was wondering if you could find out how much is left to pay on the Mario’s Pizzeria loan.”

“Do I even want to know why?”

I mentally roll my eyes. “I want to pay it off. Anonymously, of course.”

“Uh, what is your reason for this?” The sound of his fingers typing on his keyboard comes through the phone line.

“Besides the fact that I’m a multi-millionaire?” Why is this any of his business? I pay him great money for discretion and to not ask too many questions.

He panics. “Well, uh, I was just asking for tax purposes.”

“Charity. Investment. Splurge. You can decide. Mario and Lucia are thinking of selling and retiring so they can travel, but they owe more on the loan than what they think they can sell the restaurant for. I’d like to make their dreams come true.”

“That is very generous of you.”

“Can you make it happen?” If he can’t pay it off anonymously, I’ll write Mario and Lucia a check myself.

“I’m sure I can, but it may take five days up to a week.”

“Get it done in two days and I’ll triple your normal fee.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be in touch.”

I end the call and get out of my car.

Several men standing around bullshitting with one another glance my way as I walk to the front door of the laundromat.

The owner, Bruno, scurries into his office and slams the door closed.

“Son of a bitch.” I mumble as I pull my gun out of its holster and run around the counter.

Turning the doorknob, I try to push the door open, but it doesn’t budge. The fucker must have something against the door.

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