I lowered my chin and looked up at him with a flirty wink. “Not nearly.”
He laughed and opened the door.
“Thanks. Hey, can you tell me what time it is?”
“Sure thing, doll. It’s five to ten.”
“Perfect.” Flashing one more smile at him, I went through the vestibule and up the cement steps. Once I was outside, I almost collapsed. My heart was racing so fast, I thought it might gallop right out of my chest. Fanning my face with one hand, I leaned against a light post. I did it. I’d discovered when the rum shipment would come in without having to come on to Enzo.
So why did I feel a little disappointed?
I should be even angrier with him. Not only had he stolen business from me, he had a girl, for Christ’s sake. He’d kissed me and touched me, and all the while he had some little chippie waiting for him! Had she been at the club Saturday night? Maybe that’s why he dragged me through the underground tunnels—he didn’t want to be seen with me. Maybe he knew all along what would happen when he got me behind a locked door, and he didn’t want anyone to know about it. Then he’d gone behind my back with Al Murphy.
Bastard. No man that despicable deserved to be that handsome.
A dark sedan pulled up to the curb, and thinking it was Joey, I moved toward it. But instead, a young couple got out of the back seat, laughing as they stumbled toward the stairwell. Clearly they’d been at the bottle already. I wouldn’t mind a sip or two myself, I thought, backing up to the post again. Come on, Joey. Get here, why don’t you? I looked up and down the street, but saw no sign of him. A few pairs of headlamps approached and passed. My stomach began to ache as a question I hadn’t considered popped into my head.
What would I do if he didn’t show?
Another car slowed, and the lone driver looked me over, but he sped up again without stopping. Shit. I couldn’t stay out here alone like this much longer; it wasn’t safe. But going back in there without all five grand wasn’t safe either. A string of the foulest curse words I knew ripped through my brain. I had no idea what time it was, but I knew it was well past ten.
My knees started to tremble.
And then my hands.
A searing pain worked its way from the back of my skull to the front, settling right between my eyes. Maybe that’s where they’ll shoot me.
Goddammit! I shouldn’t have trusted Joey! I should have gone to Bridget. Maybe she would’ve panicked, but she might have had six hundred dollars to lend me. Then again, she might have insisted on cops too, and that wouldn’t have done me any good. Joey was my only hope, but that hope was draining away to dregs.
When my feet started to ache, I knew that I had probably been standing for close to an hour. I had run out of curse words to think.
“Fuck,” I said. I’d never spoken the word aloud before. Actually it was kind of helpful to physically utter the word; it relieved some tension. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Just the feel of it bursting from my lips felt sinfully good. And if I’m going to die, I might as well sin a little before I do.
Exhaling, I looked down the street once more. I could make a run for it. I could leave here and go to the cops. Fuck it, I could leave here and go to Paris! I had more than four thousand dollars tucked under my arm. They’d never find me. No one would ever know I’d been a coward and abandoned my family.
But I’d know.
“Fuck it,” I said. Loudly.
Then I turned around, took a deep breath, and headed down the stairs into the club.
Chapter Nine
Once inside, I wasted no time. Spotting Enzo alone near the bar, I squared my shoulders and tried to walk like he did—long, confident strides with purpose. When I reached him, I tapped his shoulder, and he turned.
“You made it.” His eyes traveled down my body and back up again.
“Did you doubt me?”
A hint of a smile. “Not for a moment. Follow me.” He led me toward the far right wall, where a tall, stern-faced guard stood in front of a red curtain. He nodded at Enzo before allowing us to slip behind it.
The sound of the music receded as we walked down a dim corridor. The air smelled like cigar smoke, and I heard laughter and shouting behind several closed doors, each of them guarded. At the end of the corridor, I followed him up two flights of stairs. From there we entered the paneled hallway I recognized from Saturday night, and I knew he was l
eading me to Angel’s office. My heart tripped faster, and I ransacked my brain for the right words to say as I handed Angel an envelope that was six hundred dollars short. Should I admit it up front? Should I accuse them of stealing my business? Should I trade the information I had about the River Gang planning a heist of their rum? The thought of betraying Joey made bile rise in my throat, but I was on my own. I had to do whatever it took to protect my family.
The door was open but guarded by two men, and Enzo gestured for me to enter first. Angel sat behind the desk, and at the sight of it, my stomach flipped repeatedly like a coin through the air. Three nights ago, Enzo had set me on it and stood between my knees, loosening his collar. What I wouldn’t give to be in that moment instead of this one.
“Good evening, Miss O’Mara. Please sit.” Angel rose to his feet as I approached. Big Time Raymond stood in a corner and had the nerve to wink at me.