Stefan frowned. Then, leaning forward, he said, “I have a message I need delivered to someone.”
“I hear FedEx is good for that.”
Stefan didn’t even try to keep the annoyance off his face. “The type of message I’m talking about needs to be deliveredin person.”
“Calm down, buddy,” Grove said. “I was just messing with you. What kind of message are we talking about?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“There are all kinds of messages. A guy does something you’re not happy about but not irate, you send an ‘I didn’t appreciate that’ message. Get me? Maybe someone’s trying to steal your business or maybe your girl. In that case, you send an ‘I know what you’re doing and don’t do it again’ message.”
“The latter.”
“So, a message you’re expecting the receiver to comply with.”
“Exactly.”
“How much?”
“How much what?”
“How much do you want him to understand? Are we talking sleep it off at home understanding? Or a couple days in the hospital understanding?”
“Again, number two.”
“When does this need to happen?”
“As soon as possible.”
Grove took another bite of his pancakes. Chewing, he said, “Depending on logistics, I could probably squeeze it in before the weekend. That soon enough?”
“That would work. Thank you.”
“I need a name, address, and three grand.”
“Three?” The job in New York had cost him twenty-five hundred. He’d expected Chicago to be cheaper.
Grove shrugged. “It’s my price. You don’t like it, find someone else.”
Stefan had been living off the money he’d made from selling the house he’d inherited from his mother. He still had about a hundred thousand left, but he’d burn through that fast at prices like this.
Then again, money would no longer be a problem when he and Sara were back together.
“Fine. How do you want it?”
Grove handed Stefan a business card that read:
Grove’s Elite Furnishings
Rudy Grove, President
We accept PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle
Stefan pulled out his phone and initiated payment.
Chapter 9
That evening, Stone arrived atPatroon’s and found Dino in the bar.
