* * *
JUNE 1986
Adam eyed Carlos and Dan fondly from where he sat in a private booth at the back of the Neptune Club. The two were standing alone at the bar among an array of broken glass.
Mercedes shifted into Adam’s side. He pulled her close just as two more shot glasses smashed with a thunder, followed closely by manic giggles from Carlos and Dan.
“Stop throwing glasses on the floor! We have to pay to replace them now.” Paul pinched the glasses out of his friends’ hands and placed them on the bar top.
None of them were quite sure how they had managed, in all their heisting, to steal the Neptune Club from Dorian Blake. But they had. Adam had taken ownership right out from under his nose. It was their biggest win to date, and as much as they said they weren’t trying to draw attention, Adam knew that he, at least, most certainly was.
Trouble would soon follow, but for now he was just enjoying the high. The neon green strobe lights pulsed throughout the club with “Spirit in the Sky” by Doctor and The Medics humming softly. With no one else in the club, this was just for them to enjoy.
“I still can’t believe we did that,” said Paul. “I can’t decide if that’s the smartest or stupidest thing we’ve ever done.” He joined Adam and Mercedes in the booth, his the only face not filled with wonder, just caution.
Carlos and Dan were both close behind, each sliding into the booth at either end. Dan banged a bottle of scotch loudly onto the table as he said, “Another round, my friends!”
They had broken all the shot glasses, so Carlos served scotch from tall glasses at four times the strength recommended.
“What a steal!” Adam shouted as he toasted.
“The repercussions of this should be interesting,” Paul noted, the alcohol choking his words.
“Who cares?!” Adam laughed. “Let’s just enjoy it, okay?”
Mercedes retched as she downed hers. “No good.” She spat the contents back into the glass and climbed across the table to leave. “I need tequila and lemon,” she said before disappearing behind gossamer curtains to the back of the club.
At that moment, the front doors burst open, causing Carlos to jump in surprise. Adam squinted to see through the strobe lights at the interruption to their victory party.
It was the shiny business shoes that Adam noticed first, and then he knew exactly who he was dealing with. Through the doors entered Dorian Blake with a posse of guards holding rifles at the ready. Dressed in a full suit, Blake adjusted his cufflinks and waited at the entrance, seeming uncharacteristically relaxed.
Adam thought it would take much more to get Blake’s attention, but he had asked for it. Patting the table, he signaled his friends to stay low. He then climbed over the table to exit the booth.
Still drunk, Adam fumbled to draw his gun as he approached Blake, who in turn approached him.
“No need for that,” Blake smiled. “This one is a friendly visit.”
Adam stopped patting his pockets for his gun and shrugged, he couldn’t find it anyway. He figured if Blake wanted to fight, he would’ve started one the second he walked in.
“Let’s have a drink.”
With caution, Adam followed him to the bar. They sat adjacent on the black bar stools while one of the remaining club girls poured drinks.
“So, you must be Adam Vandemilio,” said Blake, natural charisma and charm oozing from his voice. In the neon lights, Blake’s manufactured smile looked whiter than snow.
“In the flesh.” Adam winked. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Blake thanked the waitress and took a sip of his drink.
Glancing over his shoulder at his friends, Adam made sure their faces were hidden by the pulse of lights.
“Did you come to congratulate me on my new digs?” Adam said.
Surprise assaulted Blake’s face and he nearly choked on his drink. “Well, you are ballsy, aren’t you?”
“Pulled one over on you, didn’t I?” Adam downed his entire glass in a show of power and slid it forward to request another.
“You’ve got my attention, that’s for sure,” said Blake. “I’m glad you’re proud. Right now this is just a friendly warning.”
