Page 17 of Grace of Spades
"Hey, Ray. What's up?"
"Hey, Little Mama. I heard you're living the high life now." He teases.
"Yeah, turns out I have an uncle. Who knew?" I chuckle.
"Ah, you deserve it. But I did call for a reason. We got a job."
"Shit. Now?"
"Yeah, sorry Little Mama. The good news is: it's on your side of town." He says.
"Alright. Give me the details. Oh, I need to get my bike out of storage. Can you bring it with you?"
"For sure. Where am I meeting you?"
"There's a movie theatre on Grand. Meet me out back?"
"Done. See you in twenty. Sending you details." We hang up and I send Kennedy a text apologizing for having to leave and a text to Andras explaining that I'm going to be late and that a friend needs my help.
Surprisingly, both of them understand and I head around back to wait for Ray.
He pulls up in his black creeper van, I hop in and we're off to our job. I climb into the back and change into my Ace outfit. It's nothing too crazy just disposable and has more accessible weapons. I braid my hair back and put on the aviators to hide myself a bit. I do not need anybody to know who I am. Especially now that other people are at stake.
Ray says they asked for me specifically but I always bring back up. Not everyone respects my talents until it's too late and by that time, I have bodies to move and I just don't have the leverage for that all by myself and fires reduce the chance of repeat customers.
We drive up to a familiar grey cubic building. Very modern, all hard lines and right angles. We're led to a side door and through to a basement.
A large man with dark slicked-back hair and brown eyes waits for us. Leo Bianchi. He spreads his arms in a boisterous greeting.
"Ace! Thank you for helping us out with our little problem." He grins broadly.
We both nod silently.
"Right this way!" Man, Italians are friendly! Even in the mafia. The Bratva is pretty damn stoic and the Irish are always hitting someone and the Yakuza usually keep within themselves. Every so often some dumbass will cross them and then we get called but it's not very often. They like to work in house, which I get. Less risk.
Mr. Bianchi opens a door leading to a man strapped to a chair gagged and bloody. Looks like someone got a little excited there. I walk into the room and see a little shift in his posture.
I palm two of my knives continuing my wayto the man in the chair. I take a few wider steps and see he cut through his binds. He's playing possum. I can respect that. This is going to be fun.
I'm good at getting people to talk. Whether they want to or not. It's a gift.
"Ace, why are you so happy?" Ray asks with a chuckle. I see the tremor start to take over the man in the chair at the sound of my name. Makes a girl proud of her work.
I signal that he's untied making Ray chuckle.
"You crazy fucker." He mutters making me beam. He turns to Bianchi. "So what do you need to find out?"
"We need to know what he was doing with files on the heads of the mafias. Including ours. The other Heads should be here soon." Well, shit. That's a big fucking deal. Who's going against all the mafias?! That’s nuts!
"Fuck." Ray mutters.
"Indeed," Bianchi states lips in a sneer. "You have free reign, Ace." I hear a muffled sob from the man in the chair. He'll be breaking any minute now.
"Looks like the whole family is coming down for this!" Ray cheers. This is going to be a shit show.
I hear footsteps down the hall as I ready myself to get started.
"If you'll excuse me I'll be back with our guests." Bianchi leaves us to our investigation. I gently trail my knife down the back of the man's neck watching as the tremors take over again. I cut the gag off him and he lets out a sob.
