Page 47 of The Veiling

Distraction

“He’s here,” Marco announced from the foyer.

Hands nestled in my pockets, I stood in the middle of the living room between Joseph and Noah, waiting for him to enter. After William let Hayden inside, he held his arms out so they could pat him down.

“Holster to the right,” Hayden murmured as he watched me intently.

Marco confiscated his gun while William checked him for other hidden weapons. “You’ll get it back when you leave.”

“Fair enough,” Hayden replied. “Wouldn’t want to upset the big man over there.”

Even though I did not know him, I did not like him. Gnawing the inside of my cheek, I glared at him, waiting for him to test me. He was a friend of Marco’s, so it was possibly in his nature to be somewhat of an asshole.

“Clear.” William commented then led him into the room with Marco at his side.

They remained nearby, keeping a watchful eye on his every move. I knew Marco trusted him but the way he scrutinized him, meant he either did not actually have faith in him, or he was not taking any more chances. Hayden came to a stop in front of me.

“Mr. Greco.” He extended his hand before awkwardly pulling it away when I did not reciprocate.

“Get to the point.”

“Okay.” He glanced around at the others before settling his gaze back on me. “My father and Felipe have been living it up in the city. They’re actually at a brothel, that’s also a nightclub now. They’ll be there tomorrow night, too. Might be better to strike then.”

“Do you know where this place is?”

He nodded. “I can take you there.”

I lifted a hand. “Just tell us where it is. The less people involved, the better.”

He reached toward his black denim jeans, causing me to place my palm on the handle of my gun. Slowly, he dug his phone from his pocket, holding it up. “I’m just going to show you. It’s a little hard to find, but they were planning to be there a lot while here. They’re meeting with some guy later tomorrow night.” He tapped on the screen for a moment and then handed it over to Noah.

Noah studied it in an instant, then took his own phone out, taking a photo before handing it back to him. “You better hope you’re not setting us up.”

“I want them dead just as much as you do.” He turned his attention to me. “There are four guards you’ll have to take out before you get to them. There is one in a car out front, keeping an eye out. He might just ignore everything if you don’t make a big show of entering the building. You’re just there to fuck like the rest of them, ya know?”

None of us responded.

He shook his head indifferently, getting back to his point. “Anyway, there’s another in the lobby. He’s about this tall.” He held his hand up to his shoulder. “A little guy. Name’s Arnie. And two outside the back room where they’re having a private show.”

“Private show?” William asked.

Hayden nodded. “Yeah, there are two areas. One is set up like a champagne room, or private room, at a strip club. A sitting area with a small stage. The second one is where the real shit happens. Girls come out to a room and do some little sexy dance shit on a platform in a round theater type thing, then you buy one and take them to one of their designated rooms.” He furrowed his brow. “The problem is they don’t let just anyone in.”

“What about you?” Noah lifted his chin.

“I got VIP status there already.”

“How?” Marco asked.

Hayden snorted.

“Never mind.” Marco scoffed. “Don’t answer that.”

“Boss,” Joseph stepped forward, “I think we should let him take us there. He knows the place and we can get in and out quickly and quietly.”

I cocked my head. “Can you get us in tomorrow night then?”

“What’s your plan?”

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