“Well supposedly I have all day to get the numbers since it’s my day off. So the more the better. Whatever you think will work. I trust you.”
Yeah, she did. Damn. Why? Wait, sheshouldtrust him but she might not if she could read his mind. Especially when she was trotting around in her skimpy clothes, which was most of the time. Next undercover assignment better be in Alaska.
* * * *
“Can I get you another drink, Mr. Martin?” Tina asked as Chris took the last sip of the one he’d been nursing for the past few hours.
“Sure,” he replied smiling at the mocha-skinned beauty who usually waited on him. She had the corner tables located where he could keep an eye on who came and went in the back room. He held up the empty glass. “Tell Dave to keep making them the same way. This is how I like them.”
“Of course, sir,” Tina answered sauntering away on her ridiculously high heels.
He looked around catching sight of Meg flirting shamelessly with a group of customers. He’d been around her enough to know her body language. Over-bright eyes, fake smile and the tense muscles all indicated she was sickened and ashamed. Hated wearing the skimpy outfit, acting like a damn whore, her words not his, and pandering to all the horny revelers who felt they had a right to touch her.
He admitted he was getting sick of it himself. They’d been living together for two weeks. She was fun, pretty, intelligent, and kissing her while she was wearing a bathing suit hadn’t been a hardship. Go figure. Watching guys treat her like dirt or some sex object, yeah, he hated to see it. She didn’t deserve that. None of the waitresses here did.
“Here you go, Mr. Martin,” Tina said as she placed his drink on a napkin. “Dave says it’s just the way you like it.”
“Thanks, Tina. I appreciate the special service.” He threw enough money to cover the drink then another ten on her tray. She could use the extra for her college fund.
She gave him a genuine smile. “It’s never a problem, Mr. Martin. You’re my best customer.”
Best customer, hardly. He never ordered half as many drinks as most of the patrons but he did tip well and he didn’t try and feel up the waitresses. Guess that counts as a good customer. He lifted the gin and tonic to his lips, smiling at the decided lack of gin Dave always gave him. If he had to sit here for five or six hours every night, he couldn’t afford to get plastered. Not if he wanted to remember anything.
Good news was they were making progress. Between the agents, cops and informants, they were learning a good deal more about Moreno’s organization. They had people on the inside in several of his businesses now. The information Meg slipped to them had been helpful as well. Moreno truly thought so little of women. Wouldn’t he be surprised?
“Martin.”
He looked up to find Sonny’s ugly mug glaring at him through the dim lighting. He’d spent the last few days at some of Moreno’s other clubs so he didn’t have to run into this thug after their altercation. Dave had kept an eye out for Meg.
“Yeah,” he answered. Was Sonny looking for trouble? Wanting to settle a score?
“Mr. Moreno wanted to extend an invitation for you to join him for a game of poker.”
This was it. What he’d been waiting for. Had his little fight scene given Moreno a kick in the pants? Or was it what he said about training Meg? Maybe the numbers she’d given to him had checked out favorably. He didn’t care either way. He was going into the back room.
“Would you care to join them? It’s Monday and a slow night,” Sonny said through clenched teeth. He wasn’t happy but he’d never go against Moreno. Chris guessed he was afraid of the man. Understandable.
He took his time answering, sipping his drink then lowering it to the table. “Sure. Game of poker would be nice. When would they like me?”
“Now,” Sonny answered. “I can escort you myself.” Ha, this had to be killing the bouncer. Being polite to the man who kicked his ass. Chris could see it in his eyes. Sonny wanted to finish the fight they’d started last week.
Chris picked up his drink and held out his hand. “Lead the way.”
Meg glanced up surprised as he walked in. She was leaning over Barone serving him a drink. Unfortunately she was also serving him a bird’s eye view of her breasts hanging out of her top. The pig.
“Mr. Martin,” Moreno greeted as Sonny backed out of the room. Good, he wouldn’t have to deal with that piece of scum glaring at him while he tried to schmooze Moreno. “Glad you could join us. Come have a seat.”
He checked out the room as he walked over to the green felt-covered round table in the center. There was a small bar near one wall with a few high stools next to it where Meg rested her feet and doodled while the scumbags ogled her? The rest of the room was sparsely furnished. A leather couch against the opposite wall and a cabinet were the only other pieces besides the card table and wooden folding chairs. Chris sat in the chair Moreno indicated right next to him.
He motioned for Meg. “Can Katie freshen your drink before we start?”
Chris smiled at her shaking his head. “No, all set for now. Tina got me a refill.”
He took a small sip then looked directly at Moreno. “I am wondering what the stakes are. I’ve only got about three hundred on me. I wasn’t prepared for a game tonight.”
“That’ll do for starters,” Moreno said grinning. “I used to allow IOU’s but had a few people unable to pay. Makes for quite a messy situation, you understand.” He gazed pointedly at Meg. “Much of it will depend on how good a poker player you are.”
“Haven’t played in a while,” Chris confessed. Not since he’d been here at least. But he knew how to read people and could bluff with the best of them. He should be able to hold his own.
