A Bookie's Odds (13 page)

Remembering the lack of valets during the birthday part, Nicholas parked in an empty spot around the corner from the club. After raising the top and locking the doors, he strolled back to the front.

“Where do you think you’re going?” The goon who had confronted him outside the party stepped in front of the door.

Nicholas was getting annoyed. As he sized up the man to figure out the best way to bring him to his knees, the younger punk draped an arm around Nicholas’s shoulders.

“It’s all right. This is Nicholas Santiano. He’s Mr. Acardi’s brother-in-law.”

Nicholas wasn’t sure what bothered him most—the kid’s chumminess or the stench from his uniform.

He plucked the punk’s arm off his shoulder. He then reached for his wallet, pulled out a couple of bills, and shoved them into the kid’s front pocket.

“Get that uniform cleaned.” After a second, he shoved a couple more bills into the pocket. “Better yet, go get a uniform that fits.”

The giant eyeballed the wallet. If he was expecting a tip, he had a long wait ahead of him. Nicholas sneered at the other man before he headed into the club.

Nicholas searched the crowd for Alton, but he did not see the familiar face. The stench of cheap cigars and perfume hung in the air. Instead of a melody from the house band, raunchy conversations and boisterous laughter echoed through the building.

Around the dining room, men who looked like they would be more comfortable ogling a performance at a two-bit dive knocked back drinks. The women with them looked like the type he’d pick up outside the dive…for a price.

Across the room, Gianni stood by the bar talking to a man who had probably seen better days a decade earlier. His hand shook as he held it out. Gianni slid one palm over it. His other hand slipped into the man’s coat.

The man nodded as he stepped back from the bar. With a smile, Gianni patted the man’s shoulder. He then turned to the bar and passed the bartender the wad of cash he had taken out of the other man’s hand. As he spoke, a young woman Nicholas had gone out with several times moved to Gianni’s side. She leaned toward him and whispered in his ear.

Gianni completed his conversation, then turned in Nicholas’s direction. He held out his hands and maneuvered around the tables.

“What brings you by?” Gianni grasped Nicholas’s hand and pulled him into a quick embrace.

“Figured I’d stop by and hang a bit.”

“Come, have a drink.” He draped a hand on Nicholas’s shoulder and led him to the bar.

Nicholas spotted the man he’d had a confrontation with at his grandmother’s party. A woman who was nearly hanging out of the top of her dress was draped over him. This was not the same club where they’d celebrated his Nonna’s birthday or where he’d teased Georgia as he held her close to him on the dance floor.

“The place looks different.” Nicholas did not recognize any of the staff. “Where’s Alton?”

“Things didn’t work out. But, you know…that’s how things go.”

Nicholas wasn’t so sure. As far as he knew, Alton got along with everyone. That’s what made the man good at his job. He could charm a disgruntled customer into being his best friend.

“What’s the deal with the goon outside?”

“Relax.” Gianni rapped his fist on the bar. “Give him a shot of the good stuff.”

The bartender placed a glass on the bar and poured the drink. Nicholas saluted him with the glass, then threw back his drink.

Tears formed in his eyes. He was certain turpentine was better than what he had been served. If that was the good stuff, what the hell was his friend serving to the customers?

“This is not what Pops intended when he opened the club,” Nicholas said once he regained the ability to speak.

“Your old man didn’t have the vision. A few changes and I’ve got this place packed and a line of people outside waiting to get in.” Gianni reached to his right and grasped a bottle. He poured the amber liquid into a glass, then knocked back his drink.

“How’s Celeste?”

“She’s doing good. Settling into married life. She’s doing fine keeping house, and she’s okay in the kitchen, but she’s still got a lot to learn in the bedroom.”

Nicholas nearly swallowed his tongue. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.” There was some information about Celeste he didn’t need to know.

“You forget she’s a married woman. No more blushing bride.” Gianni reached behind him for the woman who had been at his side when Nicholas walked into the club. “Speaking of someone who won’t be blushing on her wedding night, you remember Alice.”

Up close, Nicholas quickly remembered what he had seen in Alice. Her low-cut blouse could barely contain the assets that made men drool, and her narrow skirt hugged long legs he had enjoyed spending time between.

“Hey, Nicky.” Her low, breathy voice reminded him of a woman panting through an orgasm. The thought woke a body part that had not received the attention it deserved for a long while. It also reminded him of one of the reasons he had shown up at the club. “It’s been a long time.”

He leered back at her, enjoying the view. “Yeah, too long.”

“How’ve you been?”

“I’ve been in search of some companionship tonight,” he confessed.

“And Alice was telling me she wanted some attention.” Gianni patted their shoulders. “Why don’t you two enjoy a round of drinks on me while you get reacquainted?”

After a quick nod to the bartender, Gianni rushed away and met a man halfway across the room. The new arrival sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. He exchanged a few words with the club owner before Gianni led him toward the kitchen. Two large men followed them out of the room.

The encounter piqued Nicholas’s curiosity. However, a bold move by Alice convinced him to stay out of his friend’s business. The club had been given to Gianni as a wedding present since Nicholas never wanted any part of it. Therefore, who was he to butt into its affairs?

Chapter 11

The date was a failure.

At the diner, William had taken the liberty of ordering a BLT that Georgia could barely finish without gagging. Afterwards, they went to a double feature. Having purchased the tickets in advance, he rushed her into the theater. It wasn’t until she was settled in the center of the row that she discovered what was playing. Not wanting to disturb the other moviegoers, she remained for the show.

“Woman, I don’t believe you’re coppin’ an attitude over the movies,” William grumbled.

When others were around, William was well spoken. He corrected the boys he mentored, telling them people were not only judged by the color of their skin but also by how they walked and talked. Lately, whenever it was just the two of them, he spoke like one of the creeps who hung out on the street corner, as if she wasn’t worth the effort to maintain appearances.

“I told you I don’t like movies with killing. Geesh, I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again after that second movie.”

“How was I supposed to know you wouldn’t like
The Last Train from Gun Hill
or
The Man Who Could Cheat Death
?”

“I told you when you asked me about it last week. Come to think of it, I also told you I don’t like BLTs. You did everything without taking any of my feelings into consideration. How’d you like it if I ordered you a fried egg sandwich and made you sit through
The Five Pennies
?”

“Not gonna happen. My dime, my say.”

“Is that so?” Georgia’s eyes narrowed. “In that case, next time I’ll pay for my own ticket.”

“Come on, sugar, don’t be that way.”

“Why not? I don’t have a problem paying my own way. In fact, you don’t even need to pick me up. I’ll take the bus.”

“Don’t be like that.” He grabbed her arm as she turned to the door. “You know I don’t like it when you’re upset.”

“From the way you were acting tonight, I didn’t think you gave two hoots about me.”

“You know that’s not true. I wouldn’t be by every night if I didn’t care.” He released her arm and reached up to stroke her cheek. “Listen, don’t you ever doubt my feelings for you.”

His eyes dropped from her eyes to her mouth, cuing her in on what was about to happen. Despite Celeste’s insistence that men wanted her, Georgia had few experiences with the opposite sex. She had only been kissed once before.

Her curiosity overrode her anger. She decided she wanted to go for it. Not wanting to appear too eager or easy, she waited until he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

Even with her limited knowledge, she knew she should have felt something more than the need to simply tolerate his mouth on hers. Where were the quivers she read about in romance novels? She did not feel the slightest thrill when his lips moved against hers or when he slipped his tongue past her lips. The act was as exciting as being served liver after dreaming of steak.

William leaned in to deepen the kiss. It felt like he was trying to suck the breath out of her. When her head became light and her lungs were about to burst, she pulled back and placed her hands on his chest.

To her relief, he backed off. William dropped back in his seat and panted like an overheated dog. “Damn,” he gasped.

Georgia also sat back, but she did not feel the same sentiment. Maybe she had done something wrong?

William shifted in his seat. In the streetlight, she saw the lust in the man’s eyes. He was ready for round two. Celeste, however, could think of plenty of other things that would be more exciting…scrubbing the kitchen floor was one of them.

Deciding she needed to get out of there before he saw hope where there was none, she grabbed for the door handle. “I better get inside, before Daddy steps out to see why we’ve been sitting in this car so long,” she said.

As she expected, William moved in the opposite direction. He had an equal amount of respect for and fear of her father and would not do anything that would make her scream for his mentor.

“Wait there.”

William climbed out of the car and jogged around to the passenger side.

“How ’bout we drive up to Harlem and hit the Savoy tomorrow night?” he asked as he opened her door.

“I’ll have to get back to you.” While she enjoyed hanging out at the ballroom in Harlem, after this evening she had to reconsider going out with him again.

Georgia accepted his hand and stepped out of the car. He kicked the door closed. With his hand on her back, he escorted her to the bar and opened the door. She walked in—and stopped short.

“What the…Daddy?”

The radio that normally sat on the end of the bar lay smashed on the floor. Tables were overturned and the chairs scattered around the room. Broken bottles lay on the shelves behind the bar. Liquor and the contents of ashtrays littered the floor.

There was the occasional fight at the bar, if someone didn’t appreciate another’s tone of voice or someone caught her man looking at another woman. Maybe a drink was spilt or a chair was overturned. There was never damage to the extent of what she was surveying.

“Daddy?” Georgia called out again.

Silence answered her.

Her heart pounded as she stepped over glasses and other debris. She moved toward the back room, her fear growing with each step she took. She reached the door and pushed. An object blocked it from swinging more than a foot.

Georgia squeezed through the opening. Her hand shook as she reached up and pulled the string to the overhead light. A dim glow illuminated the body blocking the door.

****

Nicholas flopped back onto the bed, letting his arm fall over his eyes. Despite trying everything, he was unable to complete the task.

It was a first for him. He had never had a problem in bed. Yet even Alice’s skillful mouth did not help matters.

Mentally, Nicholas had been ready when they left the club. He had not complained when Alice started the foreplay during the drive. It was one less thing they’d have to do when they reached her apartment.

Once inside, they did not bother turning on the lights. Using the wall as their guide, they felt their way from the door to her bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes in the hall. But the moment they crossed the threshold, his body stopped responding to her stimulation. With each stroke she made, his body recoiled until it was soft and unmoving.

“I don’t know what’s up.” Nicholas groaned.

“It’s definitely not you,” Alice replied.

He glared at her, despite the veil of darkness that hid the expression.

“That’s not funny.”

“Oh, lighten up.” She shoved his shoulder. “It happens.”

The snicker that accompanied the statement offered him little comfort. She was never going to let him live it down. Hell, she’d probably have announcements in every New York paper by morning.

Nicholas sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He reached for the boxers he had shed before diving onto the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“Cutting out. It’s obvious nothing’s going to happen here tonight.”

“That’s not necessary.” Alice switched on the lamp next to her. “There’s other things we could do.” She pulled a bag of white powder from the drawer to the nightstand.

Nicholas jerked back from the substance. He had been called a lot of things—criminal, thug, skirt chaser, and jerk—but no one had ever been able to call him a doper.

In order to handle his businesses, he needed to think straight. All it would take was one lapse in judgment and he’d lose everything—his money, his family, his freedom…his life.

He also stayed clear of anyone who did drugs. If they weren’t hustling for money, they were stealing or snitching to get their next fix.

Nicholas stood and yanked up his boxers. “What are you using that for?”

“It’s no big deal.”

“That stuff will mess up your mind.”

He walked around to her side of the bed and snatched the bag from her.

“What are you doing?” She reached for the bag.

He stepped out of her reach. “Getting rid of this.”

“Don’t you dare!” she screamed as he walked out of the room. “Come back here!”

Ignoring her unholy screeches, he ducked into the bathroom and locked the door. He lifted the toilet lid and seat, opened the bag, and poured out the contents. Alice’s screams switched to curses when he depressed the lever. She punched and kicked the door.