Bobby turned to Nick. “Where’s Mike?”
“I thought he was coming with you?”
“Ain’t no tellin’ what time he’s gonna get here then,” Wanda added. “Why he has somebody driving for him that don’t know where anything is, is still a mystery to me.”
“We’re on 42-nd Street. How hard could this place be to find?” Nick asked.
“Kevon used to drive him around in the Bahamas and Mike trusts him. That’s good enough for me,” Bobby said.
“It oughta be, since it was your bright idea for him to have a driver,” Wanda said.
“Only question is, how long we gonna wait for him?” Nick asked. “I’m hungry.”
“You're always hungry,” Bobby said as their waiter arrived at the table.
“Are you ready to order?”
“We’re still waiting on one more person,” Wanda informed the waiter.
“Bring me a Remy Martin on the rocks,” Bobby ordered.
“I’ll have another Johnny Black,” Nick added. “I think we should go on and order.”
“Go ahead. I’ll order something for Mike,” Wanda said.
Bobby put down his menu. “What do you recommend?”
“I highly recommend the saffron-spiked lobster ravioli. The signature black truffle mac and cheese was served on season one of Bravo’s ‘Top Chef.’ It’s a tasty blend of black truffles; brandy and fontina slow-cooked with fresh thyme and oregano. The oversized scallops are doused in a buttery pool of vanilla bean cream. And our roasted salmon is served with a sweet sherry brandy glaze. All of those are excellent.”
The trio gave the waiter their orders and he left them. They talked about the business at hand while they waited for Black to get there. He arrived at the table just as the food was being served.
“Sorry I’m late. We had a run to make, and on the way here Kevon went the wrong way on the Major Deegan and then we got stuck in traffic on the Cross Bronx,” Black said and sat down. “Did you order me something?”
“I got you the smokey-rubbed filet mignon,” Wanda replied as the server placed a plate of veggie pasta in front of her. Nick had the Chilean sea bass, while Bobby opted for the hoisin amp; cider pork tenderloin.
“What's that you havin’?” Black asked Wanda.
“Veggie pasta.”
“You shoulda got me that, but this is cool.”
While they enjoyed their meal, Wanda went over the state of their business. First she went over the legitimate business, telling her partners how strong profits were and gave a very optimistic outlook for the future. However, when she went into the state of their gambling operations, the report was not as good.
“So what you’re sayin’ is money is down across the board?” Bobby asked.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Wanda said and took a sip of her drink.
“What are you really sayin’, Wanda?” Black asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Stop it, Wanda,” Bobby said. “You know exactly what he’s askin’ you. If you been in his ear, like you been in mine, all I can say is I feel sorry for you, Nick.”
Wanda looked around the table, and slowly the corners of her lips curled into a smile. “What?” her smile turned to laughter.
“Go ahead and say it, Wanda. You think we need to get out,” Black said without looking at her while he cut his filet. “I mean, that is why you got us all together to tell us the same shit you’ve been tellin’ all of us individually for months. Or did you just want to go out to dinner?”
“He’s right.” Nick turned to Wanda. “You have been beatin’ us all over the head with that club.”