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I’m not sure. But it’s hard to stay away from him. He’s hard to stay away from. Even though I know it’s wrong.
I read Mateo’s text.
Should we check Saints tonight?
I am eager to find out who the girl is that Tamarius mentioned.
Yes. Tonight works.
* * *
Mateo and his driver pick me up in front of my apartment again. He seems better rested than the last time I saw him. He greets me with a kiss on the cheek before I get into his car, and he follows back in behind me.
On the ride, I tell Mateo about my conversation with Charles Castille. He agrees with what I took away from the meeting. We both think Castille is probably a dead end.
We pull into the parking lot of Saints. It’s still early, but the club looks on the verge of being busy. It turns out it’s a gentlemen’s club. I’m more nervous coming here than Mission Billiards the other day.
I’m nervous that I might find Gina in a place like this. But I’m also trying not to judge her if I do.
Mateo and I walk under an awning up to the front door. The bouncer at the door waves us in and the woman at the entrance just nods at us without asking for payment.
Then it hits me. I almost feel stupid for not putting it together before. “SinnersandSaints,” I say to Mateo. “This is one of yours.”
He notices someone across the club and waves them over.
A man the same height as Mateo strolls over toward us. He’s also very fit, but not as thickly muscled as Mateo. Leaner, but still muscular. His hair is the same color as Mateo’s, but longer. By his looks, he must also be a Barone.
Mateo shakes hands with him, then introduces him to me.
“This is Damien,” he says as I shake Damien’s hand. “My younger brother.”
“Younger, smarter, better looking,” Damien says after shaking my hand.
“Also, lazier and less trustworthy,” Mateo adds. “He supposedly manages this place.”
Damien shrugs.
“I’m Klein,” I say.
It’s funny to see Mateo in this older brother role. It feels a lot like the Mateo I get little glimpses of when we’re alone.
“What brings you all the way down here?” Damien asks.
“We’re looking for someone Klein might know,” Mateo answers. “Don’t worry, we’ll be out of your hair before long.”
Damien walks Mateo and I over to an empty booth. I’m looking around at all the dancers and waitresses, basically any woman in the club to see if she might resemble Gina.
After a few minutes, I see someone that looks somewhat familiar. A waitress halfway across the club, who just dropped off some drinks at a table and is walking back to the bar with a tray in her hand.
“That woman there,” I say, pointing her out to Damien. “Can she come over and talk to us?”
“What do you want with her?” Damien asks. He looks skeptical at the thought of bringing one of his employees to be questioned by us.
“I just want to ask her a question,” I say.
Damien looks at Mateo for confirmation.
“She’s not in any trouble.”
