Cori and I each lay a hand on top of hers.
“That sounds horrible. I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Me, too,” Cori adds.
The second round of drinks relaxes us, and we order three different entrees. We always share, so we each get something different.
As we’re talking nonstop, I notice a shift in the room’s atmosphere. Everyone quiets down. Everyone except Selene, who lets out a big belly laugh at something she’s showing us on her phone. I roll my eyes at the stupid cat video.
The waitress arrives at our table to refill our water glasses, and I notice that her hand trembles so hard that some of the liquid falls on the tablecloth.
“Oh, fuck,” she whispers. Then she must realize what she said because she blanches. “Sorry. I’ll wipe it.” She does, but she shakes while she does it.
“Are you okay?” I whisper.
“I hope Madge doesn’t make me wait his table,” she says before she runs away.
“No way,” I hear Cori whisper. “Selene, did you tell your mother exactly where we were going?”
“Yeah. She asked and—” Selene shuts up, goes pale, and points.
The entire room stares as not one, but two giant men cross the restaurant behind the hostess. She misses a step while she walks to the booth directly across from us.
“Why is he here?” I whisper, but I already know. He’s here to fuck up my night like he’s fucked up every night since I had the misfortune of going into that club. “Andwho is that?”
“I have no idea,” Cori whispers. “A friend?” she asks with a shrug.
“You think that man has friends?” I ask.
“He just has other goons,” Selene whispers as she looks across the room. She slowly sips her drink. “But that guy he’s with is kinda hot.” She crosses herself. “Oh, wait. I’ve seen him before. He works at Seven Heaven, sometimes in the kitchen. I saw him one time when I was there with my mom. He was talking with Ms. Hazel. I think he’s a dishwasher.”
“Really?” I discreetly check him out. He doesn’t have the air of someone who does domestic work.
“I’ve never seen him before, but that negro is fine,” Cori agrees. “But who cares? Men are stupid.” Cori sips her water and takes a deep breath. “So, I had some downtime at work this week and looked up Ripley Ryan King.”
“That’s his full name?” I don’t announce to the table that his name is almost as sexy as the man himself. “What did you find out?”
“Just your basic name, address, and date of birth. He has no criminal background. To the best of my knowledge, he has never been arrested. He owns that old, abandoned house on the edge of town. I looked up all the new businesses from the past few years, and everything is listed as an LLC.”
“So, you know nothing?” Selene asks, clearly disappointed.
“Do I look like an idiot?” Cori snaps. “I focused on the club we went to, but they don’t have any names, only registered agents. But I’m no fool, so I dug deeper. Ripley Ryan King and D.H. own the club.”
“Who the hell is D.H.?” Not that I care, but I wait to hear what Cori says.
“No clue,” Cori whispers.
“So, he owns clubs and has no criminal record?” Selene says. “Great.”
I glance at their table, and the other guy is very handsome, if a little scary. He’s dressed in gray pants and a V-neck shirt. His hair is cut in a low fade. His facial hair is perfectly trimmed, and his brown skin glistens. Cori is right. The other man is fine, but so is Ripley Ryan King.
“Don’t look at them,” Selene says. “Do you think that guy could be D.H.?”
“The dishwasher?” Cori chuckles at my horrified look.
Cori looks around the room and gestures for us to come closer.
“I’m going to tell you guys something. This doesn’t leave the table,” she whispers. She turns her head and looks directly at Selene.
