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“Maddie sounded desperate for you to come hang out at her job so get your friends and take the train, so you don’t run into traffic.”
“I’m suspicious.”
“So am I, trust me.” He turned back to his laptop, reading whatever was on the screen.
What the hell did that mean? Tilting my head, I studied him for a moment before I snatched my phone off the couch, tossed it in my bag, and dashed out the door.
“Still can’t believe he let you out tonight.” Isaac snorted, tapping on the railing just outside the subway station as we exited to the street level.
“Eliza’s an adult and he only punished her because he wanted to still control his little precious girl.”
“Why are you determined to annoy me?” I shot him a displeased glint as we paraded down the sidewalk toward Abruzzo’s Jazz Club. “You’re lucky I even invited you after my party. And don’t talk shit about my dad. He could break you in two.”
Isaac threw his muscular, sleeve tattooed arm around me, murmuring playfully. “Tell me what Aiden did, baby girl. I’ll get him.”
I shrugged him off me. “He overstepped again…as always.”
Aiden scoffed. “And that prick attacked me.”
I stopped, resting my fists on my hips. “Excuse me? Attacked you? He defended m—”
“Who?” Isaac spat.
“Vinny Falz—”
“Hush.” I grabbed Aiden’s elbow, pulling him down the sidewalk. “Don’t talk about him. Not out here. Not anywhere around here.”
Isaac waved a hand in front of himself, keeping my pace. “He’s her godfather, bro. Don’t fuck with him regardless of who he is.”
“I didn’t fu—”
“Can we just stop talking about him for tonight?!”
The streets were packed with the night owl crowd. The sound of traffic blared through the atmosphere as impatient drivers honked and shouted out their windows as if it would make people move faster. A nearby street performer banged drumsticks on five-gallon buckets as another guy rapped in a portable karaoke machine next to him.
Hey, lady, check this out. I got you a—
“She’s not interested,” Isaac quickly dismissed a passing salesman’s fake Rolex pitch.
We came to a stop in front of the alley. There was a line outside the entrance this time, stretching down the wall of the building. I was right about the sign. It was undeniably magnificent at night. It lit up the entire brick corridor and its grand appearance was something straight out of a movie set in the 1920s.So inviting. I dug my phone out of my bag, texting Maddie.
We’re here at the back of the line outside.
I waited for a moment until I saw her typing a reply.
Antonio is on his way up to get you guys. He said head to the front of the line and tell the bouncer you’re waiting on him. Mario is his name.
I showed the guys the text. They followed closely as we passed the line. Several people yelled out that we were cutting or angry we’d skipped ahead of them. Aiden wanted to start a fight, I’m sure, but thankfully held his tongue.
“Hello.” I greeted the bouncer posted outside the elevator, arms crossed.
A scowl painted his face as he slowly met my gaze. “The back of the line’s around the corner.” He lifted his chin toward the street.
“Some guy named Antonio is coming to get us?” I remained polite. “I’m Maddie’s best friend. She's a waitress here.” I wanted to name drop Vincenzo so maybe he would drop the attitude, but I didn’t dare.
“Step to the side.”
The three of us moved out of the way, waiting patiently for Antonio to come get us. Just as I was about to lean on the wall, the tall, tattooed man I met last time emerged from the doorway. He whispered something to the grouchy bouncer before he spotted us.
