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Gator tried to call her again, but Sylvie couldn’t bring herself to answer the phone. She felt embarrassed and frustrated. Instead, she called Chelsea, tears streaming down her face as she recounted the events of the day.
Marvin had indeed seen Gator at Café du Monde. He immediately connected the dots, realizing that Sylvie had been on her way to meet the biker. A surge of jealousy coursed through him, and he vowed that he wouldn’t let the “alligator man” take Sylvie away from him, no matter what it took.
* * *
Gator finishedthe coffee he’d ordered while he was waiting and stood up to leave. As he turned to go, he spotted Bruno. Gator couldn't help but think about the coincidence of seeing both Marvin and Bruno in the same place at the same time. Was it fate, or just a bizarre twist of luck?
He caught up to Bruno and said, “Hey, man.”
Bruno's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Gator, but he quickly recovered his composure. “Gator, I’ve been wanting to catch up with you,” he said, his gaze scrutinizing Gator's expression as if attempting to decipher his thoughts. As he spoke, he leaned in slightly, his body language conveying a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Gator raised an eyebrow, curious why Bruno was acting strange. The sound of the bustling café faded into the background as the two men locked eyes.
Gator leaned back against the wrought-iron railing and said, “I can talk now if you'd like. I’ve just been stood up, so I have time on my hands.”
Bruno's eyes darted around, as if he was searching for someone. “I wish I could, Gator, but I’ve got some pressing business I need to attend to. Can I call and meet again soon?”
“Sure.” Bruno was still looking around when Gator said, “Lost someone?”
“Nah…not really.”
Not really?Gator sensed Bruno's urgency and noticed the direction of his gaze. Was it related to Marvin? “OK…here…here’s my number,” Gator said as he pulled out his cell phone to swap contacts.
“No need,” Bruno interrupted. “Baptiste gave it to me yesterday.”
“Really? Where?” Gator asked, puzzled.
“At the club.”
“The club? You were there?” Gator’s surprise was evident as Bruno nodded, still distracted and seemingly following the same path where Gator had seen Marvin disappear.
“Yeah.”
“Hmm...what for?” Gator asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Looking for you.” That caught Gator off guard.
“Really? Me? Why?”
“Sorry, Gator, I gotta go. I’ll call, okay?” Bruno patted Gator on the shoulder and rushed off, leaving him with more questions than answers.
As Gator walked to where he’d parked his Harley, he decided to drive past Sylvie's place. Perhaps he could drop in and find out more about why she hadn’t shown up for their date. He was worried she might be in some sort of trouble and if she was, he was sure he knew where it had come from.Fucking Marvin.
The sound of the big V-twin reverberated through the streets, echoing his determination to uncover the truth, but as he approached Sylvie’s house he slowed to an idle to see whether anyone else…Marvin…was about, before calling in.
Shit…should I be showing up unannounced?He shook off his doubts, parked his bike, and walked towards the house.
He reached her door and hesitated for a moment before knocking gently. The door opened. Sylvie looked disheveled. Her eyes were red. It was obvious she’d been crying.
Gator's heart ached for her. “Hey, Sylvie. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said softly. “Obviously you’re not. You want to talk about it?”
Sylvie looked at him and her lips were trembling as she tried to find the words. “Gator, I... I didn’t expect to see you. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the café. I had some... issues with Marvin.”
Gator's expression darkened.That motherfucking son of a cunt.“I saw him near the café, and I also ran into Bruno, a cop I know. He was acting strange too. Are you in any trouble, Sylvie?”
Sylvie hesitated before admitting, “I don't know, Gator. It’s all so confusing. Marvin won’t leave me alone, and I don’t know why Bruno would be looking for you. I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess.”
Gator reached out and gently wiped away a tear from Sylvie’s cheek. “Hey, don’t worry about it. We’ll sort it out, alright?” His voice was warm and reassuring, offering her a sense of comfort she desperately needed.
