Page 111 of A Dirty Business
I sat, not wanting to, but I sat.
He moved to the back, where he kept a table. There was a pile of papers, and he shifted through some before his phone buzzed. “Yeah?” He grew quiet. “Yes. I do. Yes. Thank you.”
My own phone buzzed.
Ashton:At Katya. The old roommate is here, talking with Jess.
Me:Thanks for letting me know.
Ashton:Want me to pass on any messages? She’s alone.
Me:I’ll come by after this meeting.
Ashton:Want to guess why the old roommate showed up? I’m hoping they’re going to start bowling again.
Me:?
Ashton:I like bowling. Your girl hasn’t gone for a while.
Me:You like bowling or you like who owns the bowling alley?
Ashton:Is there a difference?
Me:Where is this coming from? Have you been watching their group of friends Sunday nights?
Ashton:Maybe.
Me:Ashton.
Ashton:I checked in a couple times, just keeping abreast even though your girl wasn’t there.
Me:Did the owner recognize you?
Ashton:No.
“Here you go.” Bobby brought a wine bottle, two glasses, and a corkscrew into the room. After placing everything on the table closest to where I was sitting, he opened the bottle and began pouring. “Tristian.” He handed one to me, then filled the other.
I took it but only held it. No way was I going to drink from mine before my uncle drank from his. We were family, but we were still Mafia. Everything about this meeting was setting off my alarms.
“Thank you, Bobby.”
“You want me to ...?” He gestured to the door, and Uncle Stephano nodded.
“Yeah, yeah. Close it. Leave us alone. I need privacy with my nephew now.”
“Okay.” Bobby shared another look with me before he left, shutting the door behind him.
“Uncle Stephano—”
He stopped me, a hand in the air, and gestured to the door. “Make sure they’ve all gone.”
What? That was news to me. “Is there something I should be made aware of about your men?”
“What?” He continued to watch the door, listening, and once we heard a thump upstairs, he relaxed. “Ah. Good. All good.” He moved his glass toward me. “You can never be too sure. Now. How are you? Tell me, how is my favorite nephew doing? Still making all that money with your job and your businesses?”
Now we were falling back into old patterns. I relaxed, just slightly, but scooting forward, I put my wine back on the table in front of me and rested my arms on my knees. “Uncle Stephano, you know I’m doing well. Everything is well for me.”
“Yeah?” He sat down in one of the deeper chairs, facing me. “And the woman? Are you still seeing that copper? Montell.”
