The Heist (24 page)

Lee smoked his cigar and let the smoke curl up from his mouth. Eddie smirked. Lee didn’t. He watched in silence as Eddie turned to his man next to him; he hit his arm. “See to it I’m dealt in the next game of poker. I’m going to take a piss.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Eddie stalked off. He strolled away, unaware Lee was tailing him. He pushed open the bathroom door and went straight to the urinal. Taking down his zipper, he squirted out the last six drinks in his gut. That's where Lee found him. He eased the door open, but Eddie didn’t bother to look up. Shaking his pecker dry and zipping his pants up again, Lee waited just a step behind him until Eddie finally lifted his eyes to the mirror.

“Let me guess, lucky in cards, but unlucky in love?”

A blow was delivered to Eddie’s lower back with such ferocity his knees buckled. Lee wrapped his arm around Eddie’s neck, dragging him from the urinal. Eddie’s shock wore off and he fought back, kicking his legs. But with his arm pinned high up behind his back, he had little chance of succeeding. Lee then threw him across the bathroom, and Eddie slid across the floor. Stunned, Eddie had little time to recover before Lee kicked him in the gut.

Eddie rolled to avoid the next kick and for his effort, he received it to his back. He grunted. Lee could hear the strangled sounds escaping him as he struggled for a breath. Lee knelt “You stay away from
Chocolat
.” He grabbed Eddie by his face. “I catch you even breathing near her, and it will be the last breath you take.”

Lee waited for Eddie to challenge him, for a reason to make it even plainer. Eddie shook with fury, but the unexpected attack left him silent. Lee rose. He dusted off his suit then kicked Cumminskey hard in the side once more for good measure. Lee stopped at the sink to wash his hands before he walked out. Suddenly, he felt much better.

***

Lee fixed the tie on his tux. His phone buzzed along the inside of his suit jacket pocket. He snatched it free and walked away from the casino. “What is it?”

“Boss, there was trouble. The Clan was able to make Sasha and Kumar.”

Lee breathed out of his nostrils. “How bad?”

“We have them both. But we lost the Raspberries. It was messy.”

“Doesn’t matter, the message is clear. Now Rawhead and Escobar will have to pay attention,” he noted, smoothing his hand back over his hair. “Keep them on ice until I return.”

He hung up, sure by now Rawhead and Escobar knew or would learn of his attempt.

***

Michelle entered, swinging her tiny, black-beaded bag. Late on purpose and full of caged anger, she moved with a confidence that assured those in passing she was used to having her way. The hem of her black evening dress pooled at her feet and flowed modestly behind her. It was crafted with an intricate spider-web lace as an overlay to a nude, sheer, form-fitting slip that showed more flesh than it covered, except for her intimate spots, of course. Adorned with tiny black stones, the V cut in the front separated her breasts. A large diamond rested between her caramel mounds. She had pinned her hair up to allow it to cascade in waterfall curls to the right side of her face. Her decadent appearance was all for Lee, his taste and his preference—a girl could get used to being pampered this way.

Several heads turned when she stepped through the door. She didn't see the man she was looking for.

“
Señora
… the house spots all guests five thousand,” a staff worker told her, handing her a roll of chips.

Michelle smiled, accepting the coins. “
Graciás
.”

“Enjoy.” He bowed and walked off. She glanced at the small roll and thought of Cosmo’s. How many tables would she have to wipe down to earn the amount in her hand? Hundreds? Closing her fist, she chose the roulette table.

“No more bets…” the dealer announced as the ball dropped on the spinning golden wheel of black and red numbers. Bill Dwyer’s gaze flickered up. He smiled and turned sideways. Michelle paused intentionally to give him the moment he needed to let his gaze linger.

“Like the dress.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Dwyer.”

“You know my name?”

“I know your game,” she answered. “Or at least your score, the one that brought you to Joker’s Wild. That Italian job was flawless.”

Michelle noticed the way Don Gio’s attention lifted from his cards across the blackjack table.

“Twenty-seven red,” the dealer announced and picked up the chips. “No winners….”

“Maybe we can step away and I can tell you how I went about it.”

“Ladies and gents, please place your bets,” the dealer announced.

Michelle went with black, stacking all her chips. Dwyer raised an eyebrow. “Fifty-fifty odds on that one.”

“Yes, but black is my lucky color.” Michelle smiled at him.

“No more bets!” the dealer announced as the ball dropped. Dwyer kept staring at her breasts instead of the wheel. Michelle saw Lee return to the poker room. His eyes met with hers. She averted hers immediately.

“Thirteen black, lady wins.” The dealer gave her a nod.

“Holy shit, black
is
a good color.” Dwyer laughed.

“You didn’t know?” She smiled.

“I knew your father,” he told her. “Well, I met Pops before I pulled off the Italian job. He was a good guy. I wish I could have learned more from him. Apparently, you learned plenty.”

“Ladies and gents, please place your bets,” the dealer announced.

Michelle let it all ride on double zero. She addressed Dwyer. “Do you know the last job Pops did?”

“No more bets!” the dealer announced as the ball dropped.

Dwyer smirked. “I heard rumors.”

“Well, I haven’t.” She turned and gave him a full view of her beauty, and he again allowed his gaze to drop to her breasts. “You should think about the benefits of sharing them with me sometime, but only if you can get me some facts.”

“Nine red.” The dealer swiped the chips. “House wins.”

Dwyer leaned toward her, his voice low but clear. “It appears you gambled and lost.”

“So it does. But my money says you didn’t get to where you are by hedging safe bets. I’ve got skills you can’t imagine. Think about that, and let me know if you can find something more than a rumor.”

Dwyer’s eyes cut across the room past the heated glare of the Don to the new one Lee was shooting his way. “You can be bad for a man’s health,
Chocolat
.”

Michelle followed his eyes. She saw Lee’s scowl. “Mmmhmm…but why does everything bad taste so good.”

She walked off, convinced Dwyer wasn’t placed high enough to give her what she wanted. Though Pops had indicated his importance. Accepting a glass of champagne from a passing tray, Michelle circled the gamblers.

“A weapon of mass destruction. That’s what you are.” Michelle heard someone speak behind her as she stopped at the crap game. Looking back, she saw Don Gio had abandoned his game of Black Jack and decided to approach her.

“What have I done?” Michelle smiled innocently.

Don Gio gave a hearty laugh with his cigar stuck in his fat jaw. “You come in here dressed like this and put us all at risk. Lee doesn’t look like he takes kindly to sharing. And I must say,
Chocolat
, I’m open to it.”

Michelle matched his stare with a fierce uncompromising one of her own. He wasn’t unappealing to her, but the lust in his eyes did qualify him as useful. She turned from the players around the table, brushing innocently against the Don’s protruding belly. “Lee and I have an understanding.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and I’m curious, Don Gio. How did you let that amateur Bill Dwyer move in on your turf?”

“Don’t worry about him.” The Don glared in the direction of Dwyer.

“Ever do any business with Pops?”

Don Gio removed his cigar, smirking. “You sure are full of questions, aren’t you?”

“And since you don’t have the answers, I guess I should move on,” Michelle declared, stepping away. He touched her hand in a sly gesture beyond anyone’s sight.

“I know about your father’s last job. I’m not sure what Lee has told you, but if you ever want the truth…well, come see me.”

Michelle flashed a sweet smile and walked off. Lee would never come clean. He was just as big of a liar as his comrades. How was she going to find Pops’ killer? Secretly, she hoped that she would uncover an enemy who wasn’t connected to him.

Her attention zoned in on the women. Consuela, of course, was sitting in the middle of the chatter at the bar. She tossed her honey-colored locks, revealing the large diamonds in her ears. Sipping her drink, she spoke in Spanish and all the ladies laughed. All of them except for Nancy, who stirred her drink with her finger, clearly bored. Michelle grabbed at the front of her dress to lift it an inch as she climbed the carpeted steps. Nancy saw her first, and the color returned to her cheeks.

“Hi,
Chocolat
!” she gushed.

Consuela’s head turned. She gave her a disapproving look and then fixed her with a stony stare.

“
Señoritas
, how is everyone?”

“
Bíen
,” Consuela replied, curtly. She was dressed in a purple and gold dress with a low cut front and high slit. It fit her curvy figure like a second skin. She rested both her elbows to the sides of her on the bar and licked her glossy lips devilishly. “I see you’re making your rounds. Get any takers?”

“No, I think they prefer your services better than mine.”

Consuela sneered. “
Hasta luega, chicas.
” She dismissed her band of worshippers. The ladies rose from the bar and scattered. Nancy hesitated, but Michelle winked at her to move on. She did. Michelle went to the bar and placed her drink on it.

“I know you think you’re hot shit because you’re Pops Dixon’s daughter and Lee’s flavor of the week, but this is
mi casa
.”

“You keep saying that, Consuela, as if there aren’t a million others just like this one. Why mark your territory like a bitch in heat with a woman you think beneath you?” Michelle challenged.

“Because your father tried to rob my husband of what is his. His title and his respect. And I see it in you,
chica
. I want you to know it’s not going down like that.”

Michelle looked at her curiously. “That’s not how I heard it.”

“You heard it wrong! There isn’t anything in this business I don’t know!”

“Really?”

“It wasn’t just the Raspberries that Pops Dixon lifted that night. You think Escobar is
estúpido? Tu eres estúpida!
” she spat.

Michelle’s smile only fanned the flames of anger, which was the point. Consuela ran her mouth like oral diarrhea when excited. “Yes. Escobar knew. Pops wanted to sell him the Raspberries but say he don’t know where the Chalice is. Escobar paid him the money and then he go and sell them to Rawhead. Everybody know that Pops shitted on Lee in the process, stole from his brethren. Nobody gives a damn about the Raspberries. They want the Chalice, and they know where to find it.”

“Where?”

“Thought you said you knew where.” Consuela sneered.

“I do, but you evidently don’t.”

“Ha! It’s in the Chi. Yes! We know very well that Pops couldn’t unload the Chalice through Monk and he didn’t dare take his drunk ass back to Lee after he betrayed him. No. He hid it in the Chi, and we will find it,” she bragged.

The news was disappointing. Consuela hadn’t given her anything she didn’t already expect. Except for the fact that Pops manipulated all these men, including his best friend, for a chalice he lost anyway.

“Escobar is still top of this game. Pops broke all the rules by going around my husband for a higher bidder! He’s as faithful as any drunk; I told Escobar so. If you think you’re going to ease your way in here to try to move in on us, well, you will have to deal with me!”

Michelle’s chest burned with grief. Her eyes stung as the words cut through her. But she held on.
Pops had set up a bidding war? For who? The Feds? Was his ultimate goal to see them all thrown in jail? Sweet merciful God, and if it was had she sealed her fate too, by stealing
the Jesus Stones?

Consuela let out an exaggerated laugh. “Why do I waste my time on you? Lee’s just fucking you.”

Michelle gripped Consuela’s wrist. She snatched her in, several heads turning in their direction. The drink splashed over Consuela’s gown. “Fucking
puta
, let me go,” Consuela cursed, trying to wrench free, but Michelle dug her nails in and held her close, ignoring the stares.

“Talk against my father again and I will snap that pencil neck of yours!”

Michelle let her go. Consuela glared, and stormed off. Michelle hated herself for losing control. She looked over to the poker room and saw Lee hadn’t moved. Neither had his gaze. Shaking off her anger, she faced the bar.

“
Chocolat
, you need to chill,” Nancy whispered, coming over to her. “You seriously don’t want to piss her off. Escobar gives her everything.”

“Then he should give her a muzzle, I’m sick of her mouth! Give me a shot of Patrón.”

The bartender nodded, going for the top shelf tequila. Nancy sat next to her. “Hey, you okay? You look…you look pale.”

Michelle’s head spun. Her heart tightened into a twisted ball of throbbing emotions. Pops had come to her and begged her to believe in him, to listen to him once more. Trust him just one more time. What did she do? She forced him out of their life, changed the locks, and refused his calls, in spite of Sasha’s pleas. She gave up on him, abandoned him without forgiveness. What if he had done the same when she was tossed in foster care? For all his faults, he never walked. He took his girls and gave the best of him, and the worst. But he gave them something.

“
Chocolat
?” Nancy touched her back.

“I’m fine.”

She took the lemon, sucked it then downed the shot. It burned like acid but she needed it; she needed more. “Another,” she ordered, sliding the glass over. Worst of it all, she was falling in love, for the second time in her life, with the same undeserving bastard.

“Want to go outside and get some air?” Nancy offered.

Michelle took the next shot. The second shot numbed her enough. The pain in her heart lessened. “No,” she insisted, slamming the shot glass back down on the bar. She looked over to Nancy. “You said you’ve been here before?”