20. Damiano
I’m standing in the shadows in the Tropicana’s parking lot, waiting for Lily to finish her shift.
Even before this whole Paulie mess started, I couldn’t exactly walk into the Can without it causing problems. The Falco Famiglia is aligned with the Bagliateris and their boss, Riccardo is engaged to Joey Bags’ youngest daughter. When she turns eighteen, the two Famiglie will join. Unless she runs away first, which is my bet, given that Falco is twenty years older than her, openly fucks all his strippers, and has no qualms about smacking women around.
The Can closed thirty minutes ago, and dancers have been trickling out, heading to their cars or Ubers. Blows my mind that there isn’t a single security guard out here to make sure the girls leave safely. We’d fire any one of the Cat girls on the spot for walking out without a security escort.
I chatted with one of the first girls that came out. She said Lily would be one of the last to come out because she’s recently been leaving with one of the bartenders that has to close up.
Another twenty minutes later, the side door opens again, and a bleached blonde comes out with a tall skinny guy. They head to the last car parked in the lot.
“Hey, buddy, can I talk to Lily for two minutes?” I step out of the shadows into the dim glow of the neon signs.
He looks up at me, then looks back at Lily. “Fuck off, she’s taken.”
“She’s all yours, man. I just want to talk to her.”
“Take a hike, asshole.”
I could be home, in my bed with Paige. My leg nestled between her warm thighs, my head snuggled between her firm tits, my arms wrapped around her smooth body.
Instead I’m standing outside a shit-ass tittie bar, freezing my balls off.
I peel two hundreds off my money clip. “Give me two minutes to talk to her. Just talk.” I hold the cash out to him, hoping he takes the easy way on this one.
Lily snatches the cash out of my hand before the guy can decide what to do. “Wait in the car, Phil.”
“Do you even know who this asshole is?” His tone and his confidence make it clear he doesn’t.
“Yeah, baby, I know who he is. So take my advice and get in the car on your own before he slices you in half and stuffs you in sideways.”
That puts a smile on my face. I like when my reputation precedes me. Less clean up.
Phil stares at me a long minute, gives Lily a long kiss—showing me who she belongs to—then walks to the car, grumbling.
Lily and I both watch him climb in the car and close the door.
She takes a step toward me, puts her hand on my belt and tries to tug me toward her.
This fucking chick.
“Looks like you forgot about Paulie pretty fast.”
She leans in. “I wouldn’t forget you.”
“No, probably not. But I’m not here for that.” I take her hand off me.
“Pity.”
“Why did Paulie shoot me?”
“Hmmm. Not sure I know anything about that.”
I pull my money clip back out. “Anything going to help you remember?” I peel three hundreds off, then remember what’s waiting for me at home. I toss her the whole wad. That’s almost three large. “Talk.”
She stuffs the clip into her purse, then tucks her purse behind her like she’s afraid I’m going to try to grab it back. “I say a word Riccardo doesn’t like and I’m fucked.”
“You don’t say those words and you’re fucked. Your boy too.” I tip my chin toward the car.
She looks in his direction as if she’s trying to decide if protecting him is worth anything. “How about you get me a job at the Cat’s Meow, and then I don’t have to worry about Riccardo. I’ll tell you everything.”
No way Salvo will give a Can girl a shot at the Cat. He picks girls he’d be into fucking if they’re into it, and he won’t go near anyone who’s fucked Riccardo. It’s a non-starter. I could lie and tell her I’ll try, but I’m not going to.
“I heard you quit this place. Paulie come into some money or what?”
She looks away from me.
“Talk, Jeanine.”
Her eyes dart to mine.
“Yeah, I know your address too. Grammy’s probably all tucked in nice and cozy in bed already. So tell me about Paulie so I can get the fuck out of here.”
“How about—”
“How about you’ve got ten seconds until I show your boy Phil what a pissed-off enforcer looks like.”
She shrugs off my threat. Un-fucking-believable.
“ And I take back the cash?”
She glares at me. “Fine.” She crosses her arms. “Paulie was sick of Rob blowing him off all the time. You and Salvatore too. He felt like no one was giving him a chance to prove his value.”
Based on his shitty aim, I’d say his value was dick.
“Riccardo noticed him hanging around here, asked me if he was a Galliano. Called him into his office a few times, but I never went in. That’s all I know.” She steps away like we’re done here.
I’m a foot taller and twice as wide. I step in front of her. “Bullshit.” No way she quit her job without knowing what the fuck was up. “Right now, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt that you didn’t play a role in that fucker shooting me. But if I’m still standing here in two minutes, my generosity expires, and I’m going to assume you were involved. I might even assume Grammy was involved too.”
She searches my eyes, then looks over her shoulder toward the Can’s backdoor. She lowers her voice. “Fine. They offered to make him.”
I’m surprised as hell. “Falco did?”
She nods.
“Okay, but what does that have to do with me? Falco can make whoever he wants to make.”
“Falco doesn’t do anything for anybody without them paying for it, and he sets the price.” Her voice is a mix of anger and resentment.
“And I was the price?”
She shrugs.
“Why would Falco want me dead?”
“Not my circus, not my monkeys. Can I go now?”
“Any Bagliateris hanging around Falco or Paulie in the last few weeks?” I’m not ready to believe Joey doesn’t have a hand in this.
She’s starting to shiver out here in the cold, wraps her arms around herself. “Joey and Vinnie come in once or twice a week. Always have since I’ve worked here. Them and Riccardo grab a couple of girls and disappear into Riccardo’s private room.”
“What do they talk about?”
“Not much talk happening. Can I go now?”