Page 64 of Demise

“Good God,” she says with a lazy smile.

I smile back. Good God is right. This is going to be a long couple of weeks.

I adjust myself and she straightens her dress. I take her hand. “Let’s go, love.” We walk down the hall and around the corner. Dishes clank and servers and cooks mingle about quickly. Bexley looks at me.

I grin. “Moretti owns this place as well. He bought it a few weeks after Red.” I point. “Through that closet is a secret door that leads down to a casino.”

Her eyes widen in interest, and I know she loves playing cards. “I’ll take you down there after.”

“Okay,” she says.

I’m greeted hello by several employees as we head through the kitchen, the smell of Italian cuisine drifting in the air. Steam bellows out from the enormous pots on the stoves, and chatter sounds throughout.

Orders are called and jokes are being told. Bexley gets second glances and lingering eyes from some of the men. They quickly look away when they notice me, knowing I’ll rip their fucking throats out.

We walk through the swinging doors and into the crowded low-lit restaurant where customers are smiling, making toasts and enjoying fine food.

“Mr. O’Brien,” the manager greets me. “A table for two?” he asks, looking from me to Bexley.

“Yes,” I reply.

“Great. The show is about to begin. Head to the front, they’ll have your wine and table ready.”

I nod and slide him a tip, still holding onto Bexley’s hand.

“Bones,” a man calls out to me. I lean over and shake his hand, recognizing him as a regular customer downstairs.

“Good to see you,” I say. “Enjoy your meal. Have a round on me.” I toss down a bill.

We curve in and out of small tables and head to the front where ours is set. I pull Bexley’s chair out, and then I take mine after she sits.

“What is this place?” she asks.

“It used to be a fine Italian restaurant, but Moretti turned it into an entertainment club. Comedians come here and you can enjoy a good meal and drinks.”

“I’m a little overwhelmed.”

I smile. “This is the finer side of my life.” I take her hand, kissing her palm. “I’m happy you’re here with me.”

She smiles. “Me too.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Bones

The afternoon sun slips through the bottom of the shaded window in the loft. Bexley lies on her back, half naked from last night. A little drunk and a few hundred dollars richer from playing poker. My girl pulled her dress off, tossed her bra, and passed out.

I’d shown her an evening she would never forget, and today I’m going to show her more. While she was playing poker, I met up with Moretti. He didn’t mention any kind of new business, only made small talk and tried to avoid talking about the businesses. He was hiding something, and he wasn’t budging on what it was. I was sure at that point it was going to take some time to get him to slip up.

It discouraged me.

This morning, I rose with the sun and worked out at a local gym down the road that Grant had suggested. The man’s into MMA and visited the gym frequently. I need to regain my strength, so I thought it would do me some good.

Afterward, I had a meeting with Trig.

We sat on a bench in Grant Park and watched as some teenagers played Frisbee, having no idea how close they were to danger.

There sat two murderers, who were into very serious shit their little teenage minds couldn’t imagine. I left Sweep out of this one. Trig and I needed to talk, it was long overdue, and I wished to do it alone.

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