26. Vinny
CHAPTER 26
Vinny
L as Vegas is a fever dream. It’s blistering heat and lots of lights. It’s also the one place we’ll get lucky and find Rosa’s parents. Killing my own father wasn’t on my list. I expected to just spook him enough to make him back down. But, as he stood over me, this darkness filled his eyes.
“ You’d better have the balls to kill me, kid. Because if I get away, I’ll make sure all five of you are dead.”
I released one bullet. He was dead. I can’t get it out of my head. Nick clears his throat and I snap back to life. We’re in a crowded burger joint with a table full of fattening food. Rosa and Jodie are back in the motel with the babies.
“Are you sure we can catch them?” I ask once again.
Nick takes a bite out of his burger, chewing slowly. “You don’t trust me?” The information Nick got from his “source” was that Rosa’s parents opened another convenience store right next to a seedy stripper joint. It’s the perfect placement since too many drug lords and criminals come through those sparkly doors to hide away from their crimes for the day.
“I still don’t know why she’s with us,” Nick says. “Rosa isn’t skilled like us.”
“They’re her parents…she knows the best way to speak to them,” I remind Nick.
“They’re mine too, remember?”
I roll my eyes. “Not like Rosa.”
Nick finishes his burger and folds all the trash into the bag. “Either way, we need to be ready for tonight..” The plan is to go into the club and find them; end their ties to New York. On the journey here, I felt a lot better about getting this over with. But once night falls, and I see the look on Rosa’s face, guilt takes over.
“Are you sure you want to come along?” I whisper in the back seat. Rosa has on a black beanie and sweatsuit. She keeps her eyes straight ahead.
“As opposed to what? Staying back with the babies?” she hisses. “I don’t trust what my parents have going on and the only way to actually have a life is by getting rid of them.” I don’t utter another word until we reach the club. It’s been a while since I’ve been inside a strip club, and this one is quite the show. The lights are dim and dark pink with tons of half-naked women dancing on tables and a lit stage.
“How are we supposed to find them?” I ask Nick. But Rosa is already moving.
“You can’t go in. You two look too obvious,” she says as she quickly takes off her sweats, revealing a shimmering mini-dress. She shoves the bag slung over her shoulder into my arms, then reaches inside for gold pumps. My mouth begins to water at the sight of her.
“Get a table and wait for me there,” she instructs us. Before I can interject, Rosa disappears in a sea of people. Her tight dress draws a lot of attention, including from some of the dancers. I watch as a tall brunette pulls her to the side, and then takes her in the back.
“This doesn’t seem safe,” Nick says.
I spot a table towards the back, next to a busy bar. “Let’s just do as she said.”
We get two drinks before Rosa rushes back over.
“The owner will come and see us,” she announces.
I frown, confused as to why she’s smiling. “Rosa, what the hell was that back there?”
“Keep your voice down,” Rosa says as she lowers her gaze to the table. She grabs a menu across the table and holds it over her face.
“I pretended that I was interested in working at the club and told the other dancer to have the owner meet me at the table with my managers,” she says.
Nick and I wince at the same time. “Great. So he thinks you’re a prostitute, basically,” Nick says with an eye roll.
Rosa scowls. “What was your master plan? Do you really think he would’ve come out willingly if he saw you two?”
I put the menu down. “I suppose you have a point, but this could get really dangerous. Our plan was to take him out back and do what we needed to do. If he sees you in here, he’s just gonna flee. “
Rosa slams her hands on the table and leans forward. “Why don’t you all trust that I know what I’m doing?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve never done this before?” Nick reports.
She crosses her arms. “I grew up with him, okay? This isn’t the first time my dad has been caught up in things like this. Which is why it surprises me that I didn’t know that he would have such strong ties out here in Las Vegas.” Rosa stares out into the crowd, taking a deep breath. “Either way, I know how to trap him and get him to where we need him to be. I just need you all to trust me.”
A few minutes later, I hear the booming voice of Rosa’s dad. He’s wearing a gaudy blazer and fedora hat with a feather in it. Rosa fluffs her hair as he approaches the table.
“Well, hello—” he pauses, his smile dropping immediately. “What the hell?” His eyes float over to Nick and his face goes white. Before he can run, Nick grabs his jacket.
“I suggest you sit down,” Nick instructs. “Or else your little club will turn into a shit show.”
He reluctantly sits down, beside Rosa. “If this is about the Montoyas, I have no control over what he does.”
“You’ve lied about everything you’ve ever told me,” Rosa cuts in. “For once, can you just be honest about why you’re out here? ”
He shifts uncomfortably next to her, avoiding her eyes. Finally, he speaks.
“Rosa, my dear daughter. Toni and I both made our dues in big cities. The Montoyas chose New York, and I chose Las Vegas. It was always supposed to be this way. But whatever else he got himself into has nothing to do with me. I swear.”
“But the other gangs answer to you now, don’t they?” I ask.
He shrugs. “It’s business and these people need to make sure that they’re reporting to the right person. I mean, you should know, Vinny. You were under your dad’s thumb for all those years.”
I could punch him. “Don’t mention my dad.”
He narrows his eyes. “So, you really do have it in you. You finally took the old man out.” I have no idea how he knows that. It’s like he smells it on me.
“Well, I wouldn’t be so cocky if I were you,” Nick chimes in. “You do realize why we’re here?”
“You have a vendetta for me, is that it? Fine. If you wanna kill me, do it. But that won’t solve all of the different connections. You’ll have to track down thousands of other criminals just to get to the root of all this mess.”
Rosa and I exchange confused glances. “What exactly are you telling us?” I ask.
He looks over his shoulder as if someone could be listening. “I’m saying that if you want out, I can get you out. You took your dad out and that alleviates your ties to this business.”
Rosa shakes her head. “What about me? What about my kids?”
He gawks at Rosa. “Kids?” he exclaims. “I thought that was a rumor.”
“I have two boys and I owe it to them to give them a good life. I would think that you would owe it to me to protect me for once, but this stuff keeps following me,” Rosa admits as a tear slips down her cheek.
He hangs his head in shame. “I’m not proud of the decisions your mother and I made. Especially not when it comes to you and Nick. But the Montoya clan is the one that had the most power over the situation. All other cities belong to me which means that I get the final call.”
“Meaning what?” I ask sharply.
He rolls his sleeves up. “I’m saying you have my blessing that you will be safe. Wherever you go.”
“I don’t believe you, nor do I trust you,” Nick says.
Ralph rolls his eyes. “Fine. You’ll have my blessing if you come with me to one last meet.”
Of course, there’s always something more with Rosa’s dad.
“I don’t like doing deals like this. Unless it’s written on paper, anything can go with you,” I hiss.
“I want to do right by you two,” he says, ignoring me. “Besides, I need them to see that I have powerful blood next to me.”
Rosa hesitates as she looks over at Nick. For the first time, I see a pause in Nick’s face.
“You two are actually considering this, right?” I chuckle nervously. Rosa tightens her grip on the hem of her mini dress. She narrows her eyes at Ralph.
“If you’re lying, we’ll kill you on the spot,” she says through gritted teeth. He holds up his hands and signs a cross over his heart.
“I just want my grandkids to have a good life,” he answers sheepishly. Nick takes the remaining, half-full glass and chucks the wine into his dad’s face.
“Don’t push it, asshole,” he says. The club has eyes on us as we try to settle down. I nudge Nick, throwing him a look.
“Give us a time and place so we can get this thing over with,” I demand.
“Rumi’s Hotel parking lot,” he mutters as he stands up and throws a fake smile towards a passing guest. “Be there at 9.” I watch in silent fury as he rushes back into the crowd. I have so many thoughts racing through my head but Rosa calms me as she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Trust me, I have a plan,” she mutters. I can only hope her plan is solid.