Page 85 of The Viper

“Is everything alright?” I look at the fob again and shake my head. “What is it?”

I want to tell Evelyn everything but I can’t, it’ll put her in danger and I’m not willing to introduce her into the mafia world. Evelyn is good and pure and she does things because she’s kind and generous. The mafia world would eat her alive, then spit her out. “I um...” I look at the fob like it’s burning a hole in my hand. “I have a car now, so if you don’t want me to clean your house anymore, I won’t.” Eliza and I still need the money, but I want to give her the chance to find someone else if she wasn’t happy with what I did.

Evelyn’s forehead crinkles as she intently stares at me. “If you don’t want to do it, then you don’t have to. But I still need someone to clean my house until my regular cleaner returns.”

A small relieved breath passes by my lips and I smile at Evelyn. She’s such a good and kind person. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, don’t you have work?”

“I do.”

She de-escalated whatever was going through my head, and I like that about her. In my world of insanity, Evelyn’s kindness keeps me sane.

I walk out of her office feeling somewhat calmer.

At least, for now I can push my craziness aside and focus on work.

Chapter twenty-one

Dominic

“Tomorrow, we need to go to Heaven, Lust, and the Sunset Hotel,” I say as I look at the inventory of Lust. “That’s three now.” I glance at the ledger and know this is going to be a death sentence for whoever is helping themselves to our money. Ruben will slice their throat when we find out who’s doing this.

Marco reaches into his suit jacket and takes his phone out. He looks at the screen and narrows his eyes. “Shit,” he says.

“What is it?”

He scrubs his hand over his chin and glances at me before returning his attention to his phone. “Shit,” he repeats.

“Marco.”

“Hang on.” He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “We have to go.”

“What’s happening?”

“Heaven, Lust, and the Sunset have all been hit simultaneously.”

“What the fuck?” I close my laptop. “I just said the two clubs and the brothel. What do you mean they’ve been hit simultaneously?”

“All three had the safes hit at the same time last night.”

“The hookers, are they okay?”

“As far as I know, only the safes have been targeted.”

I pick my phone up and dial Adrian’s number as I stand to my feet and shrug into my jacket. The call rings out, and I look to the phone. “Where the fuck is Adrian?” I try him again, but to no avail. I’m forced to call Ruben. “Tell Frank to get the car ready,” I instruct Marco who’s heading out of my office.

“Dominic,” Ruben answers on the third ring.

“I’m heading to the club, what time will you be there?” When speaking on the phone we always need to be cautious.

“I’m leaving in a few moments.”

“God will always bless us,” I say giving him the code for which club to meet at.

“God always looks after us.” He knows which one I need him at.

I slide my phone into my pants pocket, take the ledger, and walk out toward the front door. Marco is waiting by the idling car. Frank is already in the driver’s seat, waiting on me. “Did you get a hold of Adrian?”

---