The other one is twisting to get up. I haul him by his ankle and sling him after his pal. He rolls awkwardly down the steps, and cannons into his partner.
I grab a fire extinguisher to jam the door closed before I leave. They should be grateful I didn’t lob it at them.
Naturally, by the time I get back to the walkway, the fragrant and lovely Mia Moretti has slipped into the elevator and away.
She probably didn’t even see me save her ass back there. Not that she would be appreciative. Not if she knew what I was saving her for.
The elevator doors slide open into the hard, dim light of the parking level. Right away, I see her manhandling her over-sized purchases into the back of her sleek SUV. Instinct makes me want to rush up and help her.
My instincts are taking way too much interest in her. She’s a job, I tell myself.
Quietly, in no hurry, I move along the aisle. My black van is next to her car.
Quietly, softly, I’m closing on her.
An orange slice of light splits open across the shining automobiles and the black cement floor. I duck so the light doesn’t catch me and show her a big, dumb silhouette. The elevator door opening again. Could be a problem. More likely, whoever they are, they won’t be going anywhere near the part of the level where we’re headed.
I’m sliding open the side door of the van. She fumbles as she juggles the fabrics and pops the rear door. I’m about to step around the van. I hear her voice.
“Oh, thank you, Nick.”
I duck back. The guy from the store has followed her down. He’s brought more fabrics. He sounds breathless and eager.
“This is all of it now, ma’am.”
I slip into the van and slide the door silently shut. The tinted glass should be enough to hide me. Even so, I get a thrill when she looks up. I’m looking straight at her.
Nick stacks the purchases in the back of the SUV. He slams the door smartly. Stands tall. Chest out. Poor puppy.
Still, he saved her bacon for now. If he knew it, he’d be wetting himself.
Now what? Always be ready to improvise. Adapt.
Now I wish I brought the rest of that Danish.
Waiting, keeping still inside the van while she gets herself ready to go. I’m making new plans, moment by moment.
Now I can't make a move on her without a witness. Or without wasting a shop assistant. That would not suit my plans. This is not the kind of job to leave a trail of crumpled civilians.
If I have to, I'll postpone. I found her this morning, I can find her again. I’m not giving up yet, though I'm down to Plan B already.
But I have to let her drive out first. I can't risk letting her see me now.
She starts the car and pulls away smartly. Reversing out, turning, then gunning her engine. Girl knows how to drive. I have to give her that.
As I'm slipping into the van’s driving seat, two black SUVs follow her, tracking her path.
I didn’t expect to be in a crowded competition. People are after this girl everywhere she goes. I’m not ready to admit that this is going to be difficult. Not yet. But it's nowhere near as simple as it should be.
She should be in the back of the van by now, with her hands zip-tied behind her back, and a neat gag, looking puppy eyes at me and wondering what the fuck happened to her. Shame. I was looking forward to seeing her all trussed up.
Ah well. Adapt. Improvise.
The two black cars follow her out. She makes a wide turn on to the Strip and they are exactly forty feet behind her. Attack distance.
This is not my usual line of work. It’s not my town, either. Vegas is loud and bright, it’s big and brash, twenty-four hours in the day.
I’m an enforcer and an underboss. I work in Boston for Liam O’Malley, taking care of certain interests the O’Malley family still have there. Before he came out to the desert and took over glitter city, Liam O’Malley was a top dog in Beantown.
Now he’s the top dog in Vegas, and I still work directly for him. Liam invited me to Vegas for his wedding. Then, he asked me for this job as a favor before I headed back.
He gave me a place to use as a base here in Vegas. Naturally, being Liam, it’s an enormous luxury suite in the Kingpin casino. One of the top bridal suites. I told him it isn’t really my style, but when Liam has an idea in his head, it takes a lot to shake it loose.
He told me, “I need you to do the job as an outsider. It can’t be seen as having anything to do with the O’Malleys.”