Page 49 of Gemini
There were dozens of cars parked alongside Dom’s building. Inside the courtyard, several high-end sports cars sat in a row, including a classic Thunderbird and a Ferrari. People hung around and drank just like the first night they’d brought me, with music booming from inside the club.
Eyes were on Dom’s car as he parked between the others. Several people called to him in greeting, many I recognized from the night of the racing.
“Where’s your bro?” a bouncer at the entrance of the club asked. Dom signed at him and the man’s eyes dropped to me before returning to Dom. “Cool, man. Good turnout tonight. Cops were patrolling the east side, so no racing.”
Dom nodded as he brought me inside. He led me to the bar and got me a drink before getting another for himself. I took the beer gladly then followed him carefully through the crowd. My leg was starting to ache pretty bad. I probably should have usedthe crutch again but I’d left it in Dom’s car, not wanting to garner more attention.
Dom took me to back, dulling some of the noise as the door closed behind us. He led me down a passage and showed me the back of the club. Some of the rooms were large enough for events or parties. Dom explained how they wanted to expand, having separate parts of the club, either for private lounges or for those who wanted to have a show. On special occasions, like when the techno festival was going on, they’d have the whole place opened up for different artists.
“Kind of like that club downtown,” I said off-handedly. “You know, the one you and Lez stole me from?”
His expression darkened even as a smile tugged on his lips. It almost reminded me of Lez. “Yes,” he typed. “Kind of like that one.”
He showed me some of the storage rooms and offices next. They had an impressive amount of stuff already, from extra furniture to equipment for the lights and sound system. Some of the rooms were still being painted and remolded, with a few art pieces ready to be set up. It was an impressive space and I dug the grungy cyberpunk feel they were going for.
When we returned to the club, I expected he was going to take me across the courtyard to show me the other side of the building. But as we got to the bar, a couple of members in their leather jackets stopped him.
“We need to talk,” I heard one of them say, a tall lanky guy with a buzzed head. He leaned in and said something in Dom’s ear. Dom’s face hardened with an expression of annoyance.
“You sure?” I saw him sign.
The man nodded.
Dom took out his phone and typed quickly before showing it to the guy. He read it over then lightly tugged at the jacketof the other guy with him who I realized looked much younger, possibly straight out of high school.
“We’ll wait for you,” he said and they left.
“Everything okay?” I asked after Dom sent out a few more texts to unseen numbers.
Shaking his head, he placed a hand on my back and started leading me through the club then out to the hallway with the elevator. “What’s going on?”
We stepped into the elevator, and he pulled the gate across then smacked the button. As it lurched slowly upward, Dom typed. “Something’s come up at one of our properties down river.”
“Something bad?”
“Yeah. A break-in. And damage to the building.”
“What kind of damage?”
Dom looked hesitant to tell me. “Shots were fired.”
My body went cold. “The Serpents?”
“Maybe. Or another gang. Can’t know for sure till we check it out.”
“What’s at the property?”
“Inventory,” he answered, but wouldn’t elaborate.
I frowned. “Dom.”
“I have to go tonight.”
Anxiety pulled at me as the elevator halted and Dom threw the gate open. I limped back with him to his apartment. As we stepped inside and locked the door, I went for the couch and sat down to rest my leg. I watched as Dom rushed around grabbing stuff from his computer room including a duffel bag, not unlike the one Leslie had conjured up the night I had got beaten. I could only guess what was inside. He went to his bedroom next and brought out another backpack with him, placing it next to the bag on the kitchen table.
“How long will you be gone?” I asked when I thought he could take a moment to answer. He stopped to check his bag and typed out, “Not sure. Hopefully not long. Probably won’t be back tonight. If the damage is bad enough, maybe not for a day or two.”
I shifted in my seat, my hands gripping the cushion. “Is Leslie joining you too?” I didn’t want to be stuck here alone.
