“Yeah, you’d think he’d slip up and take a little extra. They’re all willing. He uses that charm to get as much information as possible, whether it’s informants or witnesses. They’re all enthralled with that nice-guy magnetism and give him what he wants.”
“According to him he doesn’t want anything permanent, with witnesses or anyone else. He seems happy being able to choose a new flavor whenever he wants.”
“I’ve tried a lot of flavors in the past,” the first one ruminated, “but I have to tell you once you find the right one you don’t want any other kind. Nothing tastier.”
His smile told her he wasn’t talking about ice cream. She hoped his wife knew how lucky she was. It wasn’t luck overhearing this conversation. It was more evidence that everything between them was strictly business. She wanted to throw up.
“Maybe Shaunessy should give this one a try,” the tall man said. “She looks like the kind that wouldn’t get boring if you had it over and over.”
She appreciated the comment but then they all laughed. “Shaunessy sticking with one flavor, ha. Never happen.”
They laughed again then walked off. She should go find Chris, but right now he was the last person she wanted to see. Did he think she was a fool? Could he see how much she’d grown to care for him or had she managed to hide it? Well, she’d make sure he knew from now on things were only professional between them.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood behind the partition but he eventually found her. “There you are. I thought you might have gotten lost. Ready to go?”
The smile she gave him was forced but he bought it. They entered the empty elevator and she took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you tell me Dave was a cop?”
His sheepish grin turned charming, the one his colleagues had talked about. “I didn’t want you to react any differently to him when you were at work. I did it for you. And to protect Dave. The fewer people who know the better.”
“You didn’t trust me, I get it.”
“Meg,” he placated touching her elbow gently, “Of course I trust you. I wouldn’t have asked you to help me if I didn’t. I’m just doing my job.”
She shook off his grip forcing her smile to go wider. “I know, your job.”
He looked at her again as if he was trying to gage her mood. She merely nodded her head exiting the elevator when the doors opened on the ground floor.
The conversations of the past hour swirled though her mind. Doolittle had talked about how close they were to bringing Moreno in. All indications showed the criminal was building up his empire with some major acquisitions. They calculated everything would come to a head in the next week or so. She couldn’t wait.
To finally be free of her debt and her demeaning job, to be able to see her family and let them know she was all right. It was about time. But most importantly, she would be away from Chris and his charismatic charm. She would convince herself it was all pretend. That her heart wasn’t shattered into a million pieces. Yeah, ‘cause the power of positive thinking had workedsowell for her in the past.
Chapter 17
Meg settled the tray on the small bar counter inside the back room. The people there now were extremely important to Moreno. As Chris wasn’t invited in tonight he figured Moreno must be ready to talk some deals. She hoped they allowed her to stick around to perhaps get dates and times. If she was extra friendly they might ask her to. She knew she could count on dough boy for support. He’d always been her biggest fan.
She served the drinks making it a point to lean over him so her breasts brushed against his shoulder. Letting her hand rest on his back for a second longer than normal, she whispered as seductively as she could manage with him, “Anything else I can do for you tonight, Mr. Barone?”
“Oh, honey, there are lots of things you can do for me,” he drawled, his eyes travelling over her legs and up to her chest. “But for now I need to concentrate on these cards. Why don’t you sit on that stool and let me keep my eyes on you.”
She glanced at Moreno who gave a tiny nod of acceptance so she took the few steps to the counter and leaned against it. Her long legs were exposed and Barone had a clear view of her ass. Hitching one hip onto the stool, she started doodling on her napkin. The little cartoon sketch of a dough boy could easily hide some of the shorthand notes inside it.
Within ten minutes of the cards being dealt they completely ignored the fact she was there and began discussing some big shipment of guns that was coming in through the Keys in a few days and being trucked to a warehouse near the bay. They mentioned dates and times for a few other transactions and she made sure she got everything scribbled onto her napkin. But they hadn’t actually given any exact locations. She knew this was imperative or the other information would be useless.
Barone threw down his cards and sighed as he lost yet another hand. It was typical but he seemed more upset this time. “I need something a bit more stimulating to distract me while I play,” he whined gazing at Meg lustfully. “Perhaps you would sit over near me, darlin’ and keep me from thinking about how much I’m losing.”
She tucked the napkin under her tray and moved the stool right up next to Barone. Leaning her bottom against it, she smiled as sweetly as she could at the fat man. “Whatever you’d like, Mr. Barone.”
“You don’t usually give me what I’d really like, Katie darlin’,” he purred as his beefy hand reached out skimming down her leg. It slid back up. She kept smiling, knowing it could be worse. And it got worse as Barone cupped her backside squeezing a few times in between looking at his cards.
The others had started discussing business again and Moreno was explaining to his associates the precautions he’d taken at the warehouses for security. She tried to take it all in knowing she couldn’t write it down sitting where she was, but she had to seem like she wasn’t paying any attention to them.
After another few hands Barone looked at his cards disgustedly then again at her. “I feel I need even more stimulation right now. But you never accommodate this, darlin’. Perhaps you could run off and get either Nina or Marietta. They’re alwaysveryaccommodating.”
Meg froze. Now wasn’t the time to leave. Moreno was right on the verge of discussing the location of the warehouse he was using to store his gun shipment. She gazed at the man whose smile had turned lecherous.
“I am wondering if Katie has loosened up enough to share her attributes with us. What do you say, my dear? Mr. Barone would like to see a bit more skin. Are you willing or should we find a replacement?”
No, she couldn’t do this. But then she remembered Tina’s broken arm, bruised face, and the hole in Eddie’s head. Her resolve hardened. She only needed a little more time and she’d have the important locations--and hopefully the information would be the downfall of this piece of scum. She nodded at Barone, pasting on another smile, though this one was not as big as usual.
