Page 10 of Mob Star

“What’re you doing here?”

“Sean called and said you sacked a waitress today. Something to do with the guy you banned the other day. I offered to come in. You know I’m capable.”

She’s definitely capable. She went undercover as a waitress at one of our strip clubs to write an exposé. That’s how she and Dillan met. Needless to say, there were some tense moments when we realized she’d set out to ensure we lost money. But her family history is nearly as complicated as ours, and they intersect. Once we understood her rationale, we actually came to admire her even more.

“The aprons are in the back. All the tips are yours.” I wink as I turn away.

It’s at that moment I realize Thea’s been watching us the entire time. Feck me. She has no way of knowing Mair is my cousin’s wife. I hugged and kissed her right after holding another woman’s hand.

“Finn?”

I turn toward Shane, who’s walking toward me with basically a loaf of bread. There have to be only crumbs left in the kitchen. And that has to be half a stick of butter slathered on it. How he doesn’t have high cholesterol and high blood pressure is beyond me. How none of us have high blood pressure is inexplicable considering we live under constant stress.

“What?” From his expression, I’m certain I won’t like what I hear.

“The douche called the cops. We slipped them some cash, but that was out of my pocket. I need to pay my gardener today.”

We’re all the picture of domestic tranquility when we aren’t engaged in our illegal business ventures. I’m the only one who lives in Manhattan, and my place is a converted warehouse made into luxury condos. It has exposed walls and overhead piping. It’s my reprieve from real life and my favorite place. But it definitely isn’t everyone’s taste. I have overstuffed furniture and a library of books to rival most small-towns’, but the walls and ceiling are rough. I like the contrast. The rest of the guys are spread out among Brooklyn, Queens, and Harlem. No one wants to live in the Bronx or Staten Island. Can you blame us?

“Come back to the office. I’ll get some cash from the safe. How much?”

“A grand each.”

“So, two?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re lucky I haven’t hit the bank yet. I wouldn’t have the cash if I hadn’t gotten delayed with fuck nuts.”

“And the beauty with the eyes.”

Shane pretends to peek around me. My left eye narrows. It’s my sign I don’t find my brother’s joke funny. It only makes him laugh harder.

“Leave off, Shane.”

“There goes another one.”

“The feck does that mean?”

“You know damn well what I mean. When are you asking her out?”

“I’m not. I don’t date. I fuck. Rough. She just broke up with her boyfriend thirty minutes ago. And if that guy is any sign of what she values, we aren’t compatible.”

“Bullshit. Look. She’s talking to Mair, and they’re both looking over here.”

Do I dare turn around?

“You know the code. Get what you need.” I jerk my chin toward the hallway leading to my office.

“Why can’t you do it all of a sudden?”

“Because I have other shite to deal with.”

“What’s her name, anyway?”

“Althea.” Thea. It comes to mind every time I think of her.

“Kinda old fashioned.”

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