Then, management shifted to sex. And the building served as some form of a brothel since the 1950s. Many hands passed ownership and management, but none thought to make the place anything else.
These walls have seen a lot of sex.
Information on Celina had been low. Giorgio had left my side today to head the task. All we knew was that Celina had been a low-end prostitute right in this building. The few people who’d been around for Celina’s hooker days, rushed away when any of my men asked them questions. Apparently, that was a secret she wanted to keep.
How did you get the money to own this place? Was it your Russian connection?
From all angles of her taxes, paperwork, and our people walking the streets, she owned the Candy Shop on her own. No one else had any say in the operations or money, but her. Other brothels in the Red Light District had gangs or criminal organizations backing them. All except hers, had to pay collections to somebody at the end of the month.
How did you get the Russians to storm down my birthplace, but not launder money through your brothel?
I looked around.
Celina stood next to the bar with two other women. One was a blonde. The other was tall with long black hair to her waist. She looked to be from an Asian descent.
Every few minutes, they glanced at Rafael and my table and talked quietly to each other.
The bar was a sharp triangle about eight feet on each side. In this room, deemed the Sugar Lounge, the bar was more of a focal point. None of the men had entered to buy drinks. All watched the nude women dancing on stage.
Except me.
My attention remained on Celina and the tall Asian woman. Celina appeared nervous and annoyed with my presence. Surely, she hadn’t bet on my taking up her offer. The whole time, she had her arms folded tight across her chest.
I scanned the rest of the space.
Rafael and I hadn’t been in the other sections of The Candy Shop yet. We’d planned to explore every inch. My focus remained on Celina’s business and resources. Rafael’s attention centered on the women.
Rafael leaned his head my way. “How many women do you want me to flip for you?”
“At least five. It’s a nice round number.”
“Is it? It’s not even.”
“Just work with five.”
“I would rather fuck and flip ten. It’s a nice bountiful number.”
I eyed him. “We never said you would fuck them.”
“How else will I get the women to turn on Celina?”
“Money.”
“Celina has money. What I have to give them is something that Celina can’t. And that’s my big—”
“I have a good grasp of your plan.”
Rafael laughed.
Louis entered the lounge, walked up to our table, and sat down. “I reserved the entire fourth floor for us.”
I smiled. “Did Celina have a problem with that?”
“She didn’t jump up and down or clap, but she seemed a little relieved. Maybe, she thinks she can get your attention away from Eden by dangling women in front of you.”
“That’s what I was hoping for, Louis.” I directed my attention back to the bar. Celina’s and my gaze met. Neither of us presented the anger that I was sure we both felt. I lifted my glass and gave a cheers to her. She formed her mouth into the fakest smile and nodded back.
Rafael leaned my way again. “I hope we can all exist in one building without killing each other.”
“The foundation seems sturdy enough.” I’d been assessing every brick since I walked in.
No plan existed in my mind yet. I just knew that the only way to get to Eden was to slip by Celina. If this person in my way was anybody else, he or she would’ve been dead. But this was Eden’s aunt. I couldn’t put one finger on her, if it caused harm or disrespect.
I’ll have to tread lightly from now on.
Celina tilted toward the Asian woman and then strolled away. When she left the lounge, I looked at the woman that remained. She smiled at me.
“Rafael.” I gestured to her, but without making a huge show of it. “Flip her first. So far, she looks like she’s the closest to Celina.”
Louis joined the conversation. “I can find out as much information as possible.”
“Do it,” I said. “If she has a problem, fix it, then let me know.”
“You think she has problems?”
“She looks like a city girl. They always have problems.”
My mother feared cities and believed that danger lurked on every crowded corner. My dad disagreed. He thought the city would be a good education. A great way to turn me into a man. I went with him to Paris on many trips. It was how I’d begun trafficking drugs for him. Later, he brought Rafael along. Our fathers were brothers. They held the same sickness in them. The craving for violence, and ways to make fast money.