Page 134 of A Breath of Life
“Mr. Stroud,” the man said as Joshua dislodged from my side with a flirty grin.
“Il Capo. How are you on this fine evening?” Joshua cooed as he handed over the card for il Capo to scan again. “I’ve brought a friend. Liam Hollowell.” To me, he said, “He needs your ID, sweetheart,” as though informing me of something I didn’t know.
My confusion and surprise were authentic and worked in my favor. Il Capo scanned me with a quirk in his lips as I frantically dug my wallet from a pocket and produced Kitty’s grandson-in-law’s driver’s license.
Moment of truth.
The man took it, no doubt noticing the steady vibration running under my skin. Hopefully, he chalked it up to nervous tension about our adventurous night ahead. This was the point at which everything could go wrong. If he didn’t believe I was who I claimed, the gig was up.
Joshua’s timing was perfect. He waited for the man to glance at my ID before saying, “Is Ace around this evening? He made a special request last time I was in, and I think I’ve found him the perfect toy.” He cozied up to me, grinning salaciously as he gnawed his lower lip.
The man, il Capo, barely registered the ID, too caught up in our interaction. I pulled on the sultry mask of mischief Diem loved so much, hoping it would adequately convey my willingness to play the part of Ace’s toy.
“Unfortunately, he’s not in this evening, but…” The quirk at the corner of his mouth returned. “Jackal’s here, and I get a break in an hour.”
Joshua fucking giggled as he turned ravenous eyes on the guard. “Even better. Don’t tell Ace his third in command stole his fun.”
“Never.” The man eyed me again, a burning hunger scorching my skin as he raked his gaze up and down my body. “Tight little package, aren’t you?”
I winked and seductively licked my upper lip.
The guard hummed with pleasure and returned my ID and Joshua’s card. Using a handheld scanner, he checked us for weapons. We cleared the inspection, and he waved us through a second set of doors that he unlocked manually with a code.
“Enjoy your evening.”
“See you in a bit.” Joshua took my hand.
Beyond the entryway was another world. The dark and smoky atmosphere was both vast and intimate, alluring in a way I couldn’t describe. It stretched in all directions, seemingly infinite in size, only because I couldn’t make out the four walls containing us. Dozens of men occupied various gaming tables spread throughout, all dressed similarly to Joshua and me in early twentieth-century garb. It was like we’d fallen back in time.
Vintage light fixtures hung low over the tables, emitting only enough illumination to make it possible to engage in betting. Curls of smoke danced in their midst, obscuring faces and clouding details.
Scratchy jazz played from a speaker system, loud enough to blanket conversations but not so oppressive you couldn’t engage in quiet talk. An island bar, built from rich and darkly stained wood, was the room’s main focus. In its center, an Art Deco-inspired pillar, at least ten feet in diameter, constructed of oddly shaped pieces of glass, reflected the colorful array of liquor bottles displayed on the shelves surrounding it. The pillar seemed to be lit from within, or it could have been a trick of the eye. I couldn’t tell.
The cigars enjoyed by many patrons wafted a sweetish smell into the air. Candles flickered on private tables situated around the circumference of the room, and scantily clad women entertained men in darker alcoves. Most couples were still clothed. A few teasing hands traveled into pants or up skirts. Displays of nipples and broad chests seemed common. Most pairings were men and women, but I caught sight of a guy in leather boy shorts, straddling a suited fellow’s lap and grinding seductively.
I must have been staring with a stunned expression because Joshua leaned in and whispered, “The women and leather-clad boy toys are high-end prostitutes. They’re included in your membership fee.”
“Really? I feel like Costco is ripping us off. They should do better. All I get there is a free meatball and a tiny square of cheese if I’m lucky.”
Joshua smirked. “It’s courtesy to fuck elsewhere. Some people get a thrill out of having an audience, so they enjoy a bit of foreplay before finding a room. The rooms are down that hall.” He motioned to a shadowed area I hadn’t noticed, too busy absorbing this otherworldly place.
“This is insane.”
“I told you. You can get anything you want here. Drugs, alcohol, sex. Whatever your heart desires. No judgment.” He nodded to a group of men openly snorting coke near the bar. “Best stuff on the market. Everyone here is part of high society, remember? They pay an astronomical price for membership, and they get quality entertainment in every way imaginable.”
“Isn’t it weird coming here with your uncle or father?”
Joshua chuckled but didn’t answer the question. “Let’s get a drink. We stand out otherwise.”
It took a minute to shake free from the awe and wonder. I could hardly believe I was still in the city. This was a world I didn’t know existed. A dangerous world. The people running it were criminals.
Joshua ordered for us and handed me a crystal tumbler. The orange hue of the liquid told me nothing about the drink, and Joshua didn’t fill me in. I sipped, and its biting edge made me shiver. Whatever it was, it was intensely strong and somehow both sweet and bitter at the same time. I wasn’t sure I liked it, but it didn’t matter. The drink was nothing more than a prop.
For a time, we wandered the room as planned. The slow perusal allowed me a moment to get acquainted with the layout and blend what I’d seen on Joshua’s map with reality. Three hallways joined the main casino floor.
“Private rooms,” Joshua said, indicating the first.
He gestured with his drink as we passed a second. “Bathrooms and other parts of the building that I know nothing about.”
