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I picture myself standing behind the DA, repeated on a hundred TVs at the store Andre works at and start to feel a little self-conscious. Another text from Andre pops up,
I’m DJing tonight, you should come out!
I’ve known Andre since high school. We tried dating early on, but then we realized we were better off as friends. We drifted apart during my years in law school, because I basically had my head in a book for three straight years. Occasionally, we still check in with each other online, though.
It’d be nice to see him again, but it’s also been so hectic lately. I’m looking forward to curling up on the couch, streaming some shows, and just falling asleep.
I reply to Andre,
Good for you! I’d love to come out, but I don’t know if I’m up to it tonight.
God, that feels so pathetic. Andre’s been DJing for years. Based on his social media, it looks like it’s starting to really take off for him. I immediately feel guilty for being a shitty, unsupportive friend.
Come on! Last I knew you were still in your 20s, not a Golden Girl.
Andre keeps taunting me by text as I head out of the office building.
We used to hit the clubs so much. Just stop by for a bit. You should be celebrating!
He’s right. We used to go out every weekend. And we’d go to the after parties until the sun came up. Andre knows a different side of me. A side I never show to the people I work with now.
I respond as I head home:
Alright, I’ll stop by. Send me the details :)
After all, it’s just one night out. What’s the worst that could happen?
2
MATEO BARONE
You can’t fuckingtrust anyone. I never need to be reminded of that. But here I am again anyway.
I meet Enzo in the back office of Sinnersjust after 11pm.
“He’s out in the club,” Enzo tells me.
“You wait here,” I say.
I know Vinny is not worth my time. But it’s been a rough week. It feels good to be in a situation I can control.
I walk down the hall from the office toward the club. I pass through a door hidden behind heavy black curtains and into the upstairs VIP area. It’s empty except for a guy and two girls sitting together on a couch along the back wall.
I look out over the balcony into the club. The music and lights work their magic on the crowd, pumping up the energy of the room as it begins to fill up with people eager to drink and dance their problems away. It’s early, but the floor is already packed.
I see Vinny snaking his way through the crowd. He’s only been managing Sinners for about six months, but he’s been working for us in other areas for a few years.
Enzo says he caught him skimming off the door. Enzo also says Vinny has been letting guys deal in here and taking a cut of it. That’s the reason I decided to take care of this myself.
I never fully trusted Vinny. He always wanted to move up in the ranks but never wanted to put in the work. But it’s hard to find someone to manage Sinners. Even though we have bigger operations for money laundering, between the door and the bar we can clean five to six figures in a weekend.
That’s why we keep the rest of the club clean. No dealers or any other reason to risk more attention than we have to. For this type of operation, you need someone dirty enough to oversee the laundering, but clean enough not to get greedy. It should be a family member, but my siblings aren’t high on my list of people I can trust anymore, either.
I watch Vinny as he approaches the bar. He stops and talks to a man who puts his arm around the woman he’s with.
She’s fucking stunning. And I don’t think it’s just the club lighting. Her long black hair shines just as much as her skin-tight dress. I have to remind myself I’m here to punish Vinny. Not a stranger who happened to get lucky with a beautiful woman.
Vinny turns away from the couple and heads back through the dance floor to the other side of the club. The couple follow him as far as the dance floor before melting into the crowd. I step back from the balcony and head down the stairs.
