Chapter Five
Milo
Jesus Christ, she was beautiful.
She stood under those stage lights like she belonged to them—the black dress, the soft spill of her curves, her dark hair falling loose, her blue eyes sharp enough to hold a room captive without any force at all.
And I had the distinct, irrational sense that noticing her was a moment I would never forget.
I tried to look away. I really did. Tried to anchor myself in the reason I was there—work. I was there with the expectation that I’d leave with something settled, something to bring back to my Family.
But my attention kept circling back to her, like my body had already decided what was important.
Then those blue eyes lifted, swept the room, and for half a second it felt like she’d found me. Not accidentally. Intentionally.
It was there in the twist in my gut.
The desire.
But hunger wasn’t even the right word for it. Hunger implied impatience, need. This was something slower, heavier. An awareness that if I let myself keep watching, something in me might shift. Like I’d already crossed a line. Like I wanted to keep going.
So I sat captivated by her as she sang, as she held the whole room in the palm of her hand.
Then I was on my feet nearly the second she finished, desperate to get closer to her, to get her to agree to spend some time with me away from the crowd.
It was pure fate that Frank was quick to step in. That Monroe was someone he thought of as his little pet.
And to an untrained eye, maybe you’d think she was enamored by being owned.
But I had sisters.
I knew a fawning smile when I saw one. Knew what a woman looked like when she was uncomfortable but trying not to escalate a situation.
I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Monroe might be looking for another job, a way out. And, yes, a way to take her creepy-ass boss down in the process.
So getting myself invited to the after-hours poker game had been a perfect excuse to get close to her again.
I’d jotted down the note, slipped it into the cash, and waited for the right opportunity to hand it to her.
I hoped she would know it was from me.
That she would show.
A woman with a face (and body) like that in a town like this, she had to be used to endless men trying to get her to meet for a meal.
I hoped the intrigue of an afternoon meal (since she worked nights) and a chance to eat at a very exclusive restaurant before it opened for the day might be reason enough for her to show up.
Because I was trying really hard not to think about the way I swore she sang just to me as she was crooning a song that was not-too-subtly talking about someone handling all her curves.
I was trying not to let this get personal.
Not if she was my way in to Frank Martin.
Besides, there was no one to say we couldn’t let things get personal after the job was done.
I tied my shoelaces after a restless night of thinking way too much about her and headed outside, wanting to shake the thoughts (and the desire attached) with a long, punishing run up and down the Boardwalk.
I’d just started to break a sweat when I heard the thump of feet behind me.
I thought nothing of it. There were a decent amount of people out early. Biking, running, walking dogs.
Then they gained on me.
Matched pace.
I tensed.
Until he spoke.
“Your second left.”
Then he charged ahead, going past the turn he told me to take.
I slowed my pace, then went down to a run, made a show of stretching a bit.
Then turned down the space between buildings.
A metal door creaked open.
Then there was Remo in another of his all-black outfits.
“Come on in,” he said, watching down the alley until we both ducked inside.
He flicked on a light.
And we were surrounded by multi-colored, differently sized stuffed animals.
“The fuck is this?” I asked, pushing a purple seahorse out of my way as I walked through.
“One of those shoot water in the center of a bullseye games. Closed for the season.”
“What? You have keys for the whole city?” I asked, shaking my head at him.
“It’s impressive how little security they use in these Boardwalk shops,” he said, grabbing a duckling that had fallen on the ground, turning it around, then shoving it in one of the organizers attached to the wall. “Any progress last night?”
“Yeah. I went to the piano lounge and made contact with Frank. Got myself invited to a private poker party. But more than that, I think I might have come across someone on the inside we can use to get more information.”
“Who’s that?”
“The lounge singer.”
“Monroe something,” Remo said. I couldn’t help but wonder if he knew the name of everyone who worked there.
“London.”
“Langston. London must be her stage name.”
“Monroe is her real name, though?”
“As far as I can tell, yeah. I don’t have much on her. Why do you think she’s someone we should tap?”
“Frank treats her like his little pet. And she very clearly isn’t into it. He gets handsy. He wants more. She can get close.”
“Safely? Not having her rape or murder on my conscience.”
“She handles him well. Keeps him on the hook without letting him think he can have anything. I didn’t get a chance to really talk to her. But I did slip her a note asking her to meet me today. Figure I can feel her out. But if I think she’s an asset, do I have permission to rope her into this?”
“Okay. But tell her as little as possible for the time being. Until we know if we can trust her or not.”
“Got it.”
“Did you learn anything at the poker game?”
“He’s friends with a bunch of dicks. Well, one or two were alright. The others—”
“The one with the mustache?” he asked.
“Yeah, he was there.”
“He owns one of the sleep-and-fuck motels around here. Officially.”
“Unofficially?”
“He’s got a deal with a local pimp to use the rooms for the Johns to have their trysts.”
“Classy. Is he dangerous?”
“Depends on who you are. He thinks he’s some big, bad.
But he’s never been in a fight in his life.
But if you’re a woman… that’s a different story.
He had two sexual assault cases thrown out.
I would imagine it’s because of intimidation.
And there have been rumors for a long time that he roughs up the working girls. ”
“Sounds like someone who should slip, whack his head on the pier, and fall over.”
“Trust me, he’s in my plans. But I can’t be making too many waves with the smaller players or it will put the bigger ones on watch. What time are you meeting the girl?”
“Three. Then I’m thinking of going back to the casino tonight to hit a few tables. See if Frank approaches me again.”
“Good.”
“How’s Dom?”
“Up thirty grand,” Remo said, shaking his head. “Told ‘em he’s gotta start losing tonight. But I think he’s made some contacts around the casino. Which is good. I’m heading out first. Give it a few then finish your run.”
With that, he turned and made his way out of the small square building.
I waited a few then made my way back out, making a show of stretching as I walked back onto the Boardwalk.
“Get yourself some lunch, sweetheart,” Remo’s voice reached me as I started to walk again. Glancing over, I saw him handing cash to an older woman with stringy gray hair pushing a shopping cart loaded down with random shit she’d likely collected walking around town.
He’d be a good boss.
I would be glad to help him take over this town.
I finished my run and made my way back to the hotel.
Then there was Domenico in his own workout gear, likely coming up from the gym.
“Making any progress?” I asked when the doors slid closed.
“Making connections. But I gotta start losing or that shark of a pit boss is gonna wanna have a private conversation with me. You?”
“Got a date this afternoon with a lounge singer who might be an in with Frank.”
He nodded at that.
“What do you think of Remo?”
“I think he’s gonna be a good boss. Seems to have a good handle on the town. Has a heart. Haven’t seen the hard, though.”
To that, Dom nodded. Like he’d been thinking the same thing.
“Guess we’ll see,” he said as the doors slid open and we walked off in different directions.
I went into my room, showered, shaved, and got dressed before heading out.
As I showed up at the café, there was a damn flip-flopping sensation in my gut.
It took an embarrassingly long time to recognize it as nervousness.
I was fucking nervous.
Like a kid on prom night.
I stood out front of the building, heartbeat fluttering, thinking she wasn’t going to show up.
Until a car pulled up right out front.
Then there she was.