Page 65 of Alfie: Part Two

“We’ll find these fuckers, Alfie.”

Yeah, but my patience was wearing thin. At this point, we didn’t know more than the cops did, and that was embarrassing.

Well, our catalogue of nightclub stamps was more extensive.

Fucking awesome.

“Something about the stamps bothers me,” I said. “You know who you’d never see at a nightclub?”

He furrowed his brow.

“The women they’re attacking,” I answered. Just picturing my mom at a club was laughable. “Is there any other place where they stamp your hand?”

He sighed and peered down in his glass. “Eric’s got a theory. The first thing the cops ask is if the perpetrator has any marks or tattoos. And God knows I’ve applied the tactic several times over the years. I’ve used makeup to cover up my ink, and I’ve created fake scars and moles?—”

“To throw off the investigation,” I concluded.

He nodded once.

It wasn’t a bad theory. Did this mean the attackers were smarter than we gave them credit for?

“The food is here, darling,” Shan said, checking his phone. “I’ll get the door.”

Kellan took the cue to show us the dining room, which was just as comfy with its warm colors and big table of polished wood. I liked the chairs; they were padded and had armrests. But I’d lost a little of my appetite. I just wanted to find whoever had hurt my mom already.

The food helped. Shan and Kellan had ordered a feast of seafood from an Asian fusion place, and I was stuffing my face with spicy tempura shrimp while suffering through another conversation about golf. But hey, my man was happy.

“Definitely. Beautiful courses too,” Shan agreed. “We should go there sometime, the four of us.”

“Speaking for Alfie and myself, thanks but no, hon,” Kellan drawled.

He was as invested in the topic as I was.

Shan smirked wryly. “Did you even hear what country we’re talking about?”

Huh? Another country?

“Let me guess, Scotland,” Kellan said.

“San Sebastian—Spain,” West chuckled. “It’d be fun. You and Alfie can plan a heist or rob a bank while we play golf.”

I patted him on the shoulder. “I’m so glad you can joke about this, papi.”

His eyes were alight with mirth and happiness, and that was all that mattered.

“In other news, Alfie,” Shan said, reaching for the teriyaki chicken, “West told me you’re interested in acquiring a business.”

This topic suited me better.

“Uh, yeah. I think I need it.” I took a swig of my drink. “It’s been a good year, so to speak.”

He smiled faintly and nodded. “Let me know if you need any advice. Kellan and Finn can help too.”

“Finn might be the pro,” Kellan chuckled. “He runs like forty businesses, and none can be traced back to him.”

What the fuck? Forty?! That was insane.

“How can a single man run that many businesses?” I blurted out. “Why’s he always chill when we see him?”

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