“You may not think so, but you guys fucking dumped the body in the wrong spot. Gloria showed up in Treasure Town. Dead bodies don’t show up there. They’ve got a bad-ass police force, retired government agents, and shit, this is a fuck-up.”
“Calm down. It’s not a big deal. They won’t get shit off her body. It was a clean kill.”
“That’s not the point. Damn, I fucking wish Gloria hadn’t lost it on that other waitress at Prestige. She never would have been charged with assault, never would have been busted selling the drugs and screwing around with Lux.”
“Yeah, well, she did. We should put the pressure on Lux, too. Maybe have Ralphy and Chino pay him a visit,” Sal suggested.
“No. The cops will be following Lux. Hell, they may have a tail on you, Sal. You need to be careful and lay low a while.”
“Not a problem. I think you’re worried for no reason. In fact, we have that party for Santino at Prestige this weekend. What better way to act nonchalant than to go there like a normal, local citizen of the community.”
“You just want to check out the broad Gloria smacked around,” Chino teased.
Sal chuckled. “She did cause some of these problems we’re having. I’d love to see what Gloria was so jealous about.”
“Just watch your ass. We don’t need further attention drawn to us. Plus, you should be working on securing these potential new contracts I’ve been pushing. Two bar owners are giving our collectors a bit of a hassle.”
“Like who?”
“Those guys on the edge of Bayline and Treasure Town. Those two nightclubs the college kids all hang out at and are packed in the summer months. Riley’s and the Beach House. Both great establishments that more than make up for the loss of money and product we had from Prestige,” Gino told Sal.
“We can handle that, right, Ralphy?” Sal said and then lifted the cards back up to continue to play the hand.
“Sure, boss, we can do that. Tonight,” Ralphy said, and Sal smiled as he looked at his brother.
“No worries. We got this. Now can we continue this round before we head out to Riley’s and the Beach House? I’m going to need a couple of more drinks before I have to deal with all the noise in those places,” Sal said, and Chino laughed.
“But maybe picking up some horny college girls could end the night well?” Chino suggested, and Sal smiled and so did Gino.
“If you’re successful, I don’t give a shit who you fuck,” Gino replied and then walked over to pour himself a drink.
“You say that now, but maybe I’ll bring back a few sexy women for you, too, and we can really party tonight.”
Chino and Ralphy appeared pleased, and Gino shook his head as he pointed at Sal. “Secure those deals with those places, and remember, business first.”
* * * *
Frankie was miserable. She’d thought for sure the longing, the feeling of loss, would disappear because she’d conditioned herself to be hard and untrusting. But she wasn’t feeling strong or even good about herself. She regretted not explaining Kevin to the Hawkins brothers. But then she’d gotten angry, especially at Nate, who couldn’t seem to care less whether the relationship went anywhere but perhaps to his bed. She wouldn’t sleep with four men to experience a ménage and to feel safe, protected, and human again.
She had to be careful though. Kevin was resourceful and so was Carlotto. There was no way Kevin was giving her up without a fight, and it wasn’t right or fair to place the Hawkins brothers in the middle. It might be smarter to give her notice here at Prestige and then disappear again.
“Frankie?” She heard his voice and turned around quickly.
“Nate?”
Her breath caught in her throat. She looked him over, and it backfired on her quickly. Shyly, she looked away to gain some composure and not give away the instant effect of his sudden appearance.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He stared down at her as she felt a lump form in her throat. Was he going to give her shit again and accuse her of playing games?
“I came to see you,” he said and then looked around.
Frankie followed his line of sight and saw Charlie standing next to the bar. He gave her a nod, and Nate waved toward the door to the back offices.
“Charlie said you were wrapping things up for the night. That you just needed to go over your money and the numbers. He told me you do that in the back room sometimes. I’ll go with you so we can talk.”
He sounded so official and non-emotional. He was like ice, and as she thought that, she shivered with worry. But she needed to be strong. She needed to protect them as much as she needed to protect herself.
Nate opened the door for her, and they walked into the office. She sat down at the small round table in the corner and got out her money and her note pad. Nate watched her.
“Slow night?” he asked.
“One party and a couple of small groups. Pretty quiet,” she said as she counted out her cash.
When she finished, she stood up.
“I wanted to talk to you about the other day at the house.”
“I think you made it clear how you really feel about me, Nate. You don’t trust me. You think I’m a liar. I got that loud and clear.”
She went to walk around him, and he grabbed her around her waist and pressed her up against the table.
“No, I don’t think you understood.”
She released an uneasy breath. Despite his words from the other day and the wall she was trying to keep up, Frankie found herself feeling attracted to Nate. She was aroused by his size, his leadership and control. She was in trouble here and not sure what to do.
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or push you away from my brothers. I’m their protector and have always taken on a leadership role with them.”
She felt his fingers caress her hips against the tight T-shirt she wore. His eyes roamed over her breasts.
“I hate this shirt, yet I like it.”
“How is that?” she replied.
“I like how you fill it out and how sexy you are. But I hate other men looking at this body, wanting you when you belong to us.”
She shook her head as she gripped the table behind her.
“But I don’t belong to any of you.”
He gripped her waist tighter.
“We can change that tonight.”
She looked away from him.
“You don’t trust me. I get that. I haven’t given you enough concrete information on me for you to trust me fully. But the problem is complicated. There’s a lot at risk, and I don’t think I’m in the position or right frame of mind to give in to the attraction.”
“Why not? Why not see where this goes, and when you feel you can trust us with the truth, then you talk to us?”
“But that isn’t right either. Nate, you have to understand the fears I have.”
“Talk to me. To us and make us understand.”
“I can’t yet.”
“You can,” he pushed.
She moved forward, and he kissed her. He cupped her head with one hand and kept his other hand against her waist. He devoured her moans, cupped her breast, and explored her mouth deeply. She ran her hands along the large muscles on his arms and felt the strength and power he had over her already. She would be no match for his strength, and suddenly she feared the repercussions of his anger. What if he turned on her or was displeased with her in some way? Was Nate capable of violence or abuse?
She pulled from his mouth and gasped.
“Nate.”
He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing just as rapidly as she was.
“Come home with me tonight. Forget about everything. Forget about what that dick did to you and let go with us.”
“Oh God I—”
The door opened, and she immediately stepped away from Nate, and Nate stepped back. Lure was there.
“Cassidy is on line four. She said it’s important.”
Frankie walked over to the desk and picked up the phone, her head still fuzzy after Nate’s kiss as she pushed strands of hair behind her hair.
Frankie heard the worry in Cassidy’s voice.
“Keith found out about Peter and his brothers. He’s pissed, and he wants me back and wants to talk. I told him no and that I want nothing to do with him. I told him to move on. I think he was drunk, Frankie.”
“Maybe you should call Peter or one of his brothers?”
“No. I don’t want them to know about Keith. I can’t tell them about him and about the abuse. They’ll think I’m weak. They’ll think the worse.”
“No, they won’t. They’ll understand,” Frankie said and looked at Nate, who was standing right there along with Lure. Her own words sank into her head. She was doing the same thing to Nate and the guys. She was keeping secrets and pushing them away.
“What can I do to help then?”
“Can you come stay here with me? Please, just for tonight?”
“Sure. I was just wrapping things up. I’ll grab the bus and be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you so much, Frankie. I owe you.”
Frankie disconnected the call.
“Is Cassidy okay?” Lure asked.
“Yes. I’m meeting her at her place.” Frankie reached for her bag.
“She sounded upset. Is that ex of hers giving her a hard time?” Lure asked.
“Just shaking her up a little with his push to get back together with her. But she’s involved with someone else.”