No Boundaries(68)
He shrugged. “Not a lot of girls can handle this.”
I slapped him on the shoulder. “I missed you, man.”
He gave me a look of disgust. “I'm not going to fucking hug you. Besides your dad is all over my ass about getting you back to the office. So it wouldn't surprise me if he also had another person watching us. The last thing I need is for any of the eligible women that I haven't fucked to think I play for the other team.”
I let out a loud laugh. “You got it. Lead on, my friend.”
Marco got into a black SUV that was parked right in front of my car. I followed him out of the alley and down toward the west side of town. I breathed a sigh of relief as we pulled into the back of the strip club. Home. It may not look like much to some, but to me, it was all I’d ever known.
I got out of my car and walked in the back entrance. I snuck a peek at the strip club, seeing that they’d done some upgrades. It no longer looked like something out of an eighties porn set. “Bringing in the higher-end clientele yet?”
Marco shrugged. “You know that's not where your father's focus has been. That was your dream, and when you left, it kinda died. But they did do the remodel you suggested.”
A small smile stretched across my lips. At least my father believed in me enough to do that.
We walked down the back staircase and into the office below. The earthy scent of cigars wafted over me and I was met with dark wood paneling on all four walls. Gaudy chandeliers hung from every corner. My mother's take on Italian taste at its best. I wondered if the painting of the naked cherub was still right behind my father's desk. I stifled a small laugh. But before I could check, I saw a little Italian woman come running at me with her arms spread.
“Oh Luka!”
I smiled at her. “Mama. How are you?”
As I embraced her, I remembered that she only came up to my chest. She was such a tiny little woman, but that didn't mean that she wasn't as fierce as they come. I’d seen what my mom could do to people. She was hard-core.
“I'm fine, I'm fine. How are you, my son? Did they treat you terribly? Are you hungry? I'm sure you're hungry. I'll go upstairs and cook you something. I just made a new pot of gravy.”
“Mama, I'm fine.”
“You're skinny! They feed you nothing in that jail! I'll be back.”
She reached up to give me a kiss. She laid her right hand on my cheek before hustling up the stairs. Marco was trying to hide his laugh.
“How much lipstick is on me?”
He offered me a handkerchief. “More than the broad at your apartment left on you.”
I shook my head and wiped vigorously as I saw my father and two other men that I did not know stand from the table in the back corner. I knew better than to think that they would approach me. I'd always come to them; it was a way of demonstrating my respect. I unbuttoned my jacket and strode over to them. I extended my hand to the other two gentlemen, and then made my way to my father.
“My son returns. It's good to have you back, Luka.”
He kissed me on either side of the cheek and then sat back down. “Your mother already going to get you something to eat? She could hardly contain herself.”
I laughed. “Of course she is. I expect there to be spaghetti and meatballs in front of me in less than ten minutes.”
The other two men at the table nodded and laughed. “I don't think we've been properly introduced.”
My father extended his arm. “These two thugs? This is Armani and this is Gino. Friends of the family.”
“Pleasure to meet you both, I'm sure.”
The first man, Armani, spoke. “We were actually just leaving. We'll let you two get back to the reunion . Prison’s nasty business. Hated the place myself, except the ice cream. Damn good ice cream.”
Marco made a face at me as he escorted the two men out.
“So Pops, tell me what's been going on. I've been gone for a while.”
“That you have, my son. But doing time for the family is an honor, isn't it? Protecting those we love?”
I nodded solemnly. “Of course. Anything for the family.”
“Good. I have a job for you. Armani was just telling me about how his business has been suffering. And when his business suffers, we all suffer.”
“What's the business?”
“He owns a set of butcher shops.”
“Pops, this man does not need help with meat. Get to the point.”
“Are you in such a hurry? Ready to get back to that piece of ass in your apartment?”
“Maybe I do. But that's not what this is about. You don't keep me in the dark about business, you never have. Don't try to protect me just because I went to jail. I've done my time, I'm not giving up on the family. So don't try to hide things from me.”