Page 25 of Romeo vs Romeo

“Is that for sure?” Rafael asked.

I wasn’t surprised that he was the first to question the certainty of a bad outcome. He was the guy who had spent adecade colliding with the love of his life, losing him after every encounter, and yet here they were, married and happy.

“The question is, what do we know for sure?” Martha said.

Mama Viv jerked her head up and blinked quickly a few times, long, black eyelashes batting against the welling tears. “We know that the Planning Commission and Urban Development Corporation have declared this property eminent domain. We know that it gives them the right to force a sale. And we know that Harold Langley is the buyer.”

Martha cursed under her breath.

“This isn’t the first time we’re fighting Langley’s company,” I explained. “Just last month, I got my ass kicked by some thugs who just so happened to want that youth center shut down. And I’d be surprised if Langley wasn’t the guy behind the attack.”

“He dictates the face of New York,” Martha said with unfiltered hatred.

“That’s it,” Mama Viv said, throwing her hands in the air. “We cannot fight him, darling. I appreciate you wanting us to gather here, but I won’t put you all at risk of vendetta.”

“I think we should have a say in that,” Tristan said carefully. Cedric, with his chin lifted regally and his blue eyes sharp, entered the sitting room with a tray full of steaming mugs. He set it on the table and joined Tristan on the ottoman.

“To what end?” Mama Viv asked hopelessly. “We are discussing crossing an unscrupulous man with many connections. Planning Commission is likely in his pocket, darling, and Neon Nights isn’t the Stonewall Inn.”

I tapped my lips in thought. “That’s just it.”

Silence followed my words.

“We don’t need to be the Stonewall Inn to put up a fight. Mama Viv, you’ve spent forty years here. When was this place built? A hundred years ago?” I asked.

Mama Viv cocked her head in thought. “A hundred and two.”

I snapped my fingers. “Last night, I spoke to my, uh, friend about this.” By instinct, I glanced at the door of the sitting room. He wasn’t here. “He thinks that the four decades of nurturing underground queer culture in here gives you a good chance to declare Neon Nights a landmark.”

Luke shook his head. “That’s a very tall mountain to climb.”

“That’s true in most cases, but we could start campaigning fast. The sooner, the better. If we can apply enough pressure and get enough eyeballs looking our way, we’ll delay Langley. What matters the most is that you don’t sell willingly,” I told Mama Viv.

She considered this carefully. “And if he wins, after all, the price will be forced.”

“It’ll be a fraction of what you would get if you sold it now,” Luke said in slightly more than a whisper.

“Whose side are you on?” I snapped.

He thrust his head up. “Mama Viv married us right there in the garden, Roman. This place means everything to me, but we have to look at it from all angles.”

“Fine,” I muttered. “Sorry.”

“He is right, darling,” Mama Viv added. “If the city forces me to sell, they’ll set their own rates. I’ll be ruined.”

“And if you sell now?” I asked.

Mama Viv said nothing. To all of us, the thought of Neon Nights closing was impossible to comprehend. It clashed with the entire reality.

“Now is not the time to make that decision,” Martha said, adding some reason and breathing room into the discussion. “Roman, whatcanwe do to delay?”

I drew my shoulders back. “Pressure campaign,” I said. “It would have to be a blitz. We start by speaking to the media.”

Cedric shook his head apologetically. “Forgive me, Roman, but put yourself in their shoes. Why would anyone care?”

“Because we make them,” Tristan said. “Cedric is right that we can’t just invite CNN here. There needs to be a story that matters enough. And we can start by finding that story.”

“Corrupt officials and a greedy developer going after an innocent minority?” Luke asked.

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