Page 49 of Wicked Truths

“Here’s to your success,” Nick toasted and they clinked glasses, and drank the smoky liquor.

Silence fell between them as Nick arranged his words. “We’ve known each other a long ass time and most of that time we’ve been on opposite sides.”

Frank waited him out. Like any good chess player it was about strategy.

“I even remember you having that crooked cop, Farrell trash our club in Manhattan to make your point, but I like to thinkwe’ve settled our differences and come to an understanding since then.”

Frank slowly nodded his head.

“Thing is, I don’t think Johnny got the memo.”

Frank set down his glass, and leaned in slightly.

“I’m afraid he might be starting shit without your permission.”

Frank’s brows furrowed and Nick knew he had him on the hook.

“We had an unfortunate accident at Wicked tonight.” Nick paused. “Would you know anything about it?”

“What kind of accident?”

“You don’t know?” Nick enjoyed the tease of this deadly cat and mouse game. He also took the extra few seconds to see the surprise in Frank’s eyes.

“I wouldn’t have fuckin’ asked if I knew. One thing you have to know after all these years is—if I reign hell down on you I’m sure as shit going to own it.”

“Exactly what I was counting on.”

“Why don’t you stop talking in code and spit out whatever you came to say.” Frank refilled his glass but he didn’t drink it.

“I think you’ve given Johnny too much power and it’s starting to go to his head.”

“What does this have to do with Johnny?”

“Around six o’clock tonight three guys bypassed our security system, broke into Club Wicked, and smashed all our stock.”

Frank locked eyes with Nick. “You think I had something to do with this?”

“No, I don’t.” Nick drew in a deep breath. “I think it was Johnny.”

“It don’t make sense.”

“It does when you know Cheryl asked him for a divorce, then accused her of having a thing with me.”

“Are you?”

Moment of truth. Lie and dig the hole deeper or come clean.

Nick shifted his gaze to the empty club, then back to Frank. “You had to know it was gonna happen.”

Frank rubbed at his jawline. “I hoped after all these years you both moved on.”

“I still don’t understand why you set her up with him.”

“At the time, it was the only solution.”

“But you still manipulated her.”

“The day I found out she was really my daughter, everything changed, but she turned me away.” Frank scrubbed his hand over his face.

---