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“Yeah, especially with such shitty bouncers,” I agree, following her over to a booth. The nice thing about The Cellar is that everyone minds their own business, actually triesreal hardto mind it. The kind of information you might overhear in a place like this could earn you a one-way ride.
So I know, when the noise of the conversation rises, that everyone in here tonight is going to be real damn careful not to hear my questions.
“Vinnie Esposito,” I begin, and Rachel puts her face in her hands—carefully, so she doesn’t disturb her makeup.
“Don’t do this,” she mutters from behind her palms. “I don’t need this shit tonight.”
I don’t like doing this, and her reaction makes me feel worse. Rachel was the girlfriend of one of my old crew members back in the day, and when he got iced, I looked her up to make sure she was okay. She wasn’t. She was a total fucking mess, so I helped her out with some bills and shit while she got back on her feet.
Then, when she asked me to bankroll a new business, I agreed. And The Cellar was born.
She bought me out a year ago, and she was proud to do it. I was proud of her, too. So I don’t like suggesting she owes me anything, because she doesn’t.
But Ineedthis information.
“Tell me,” I go on doggedly.
She sighs and takes her hands away from her face. “He was here Saturday night,” she says briefly. “He had a fight with Julian Castellani, and then he got thrown out. The end.” Her face is serious. “Listen, Leo, the pigs were crawling all over here after it happened, and business is already on the downturn. I don’t want any trouble from the Espositos,orthe Castellanis—oryourbunch, either.”
I understand her position, God knows, but there’s still so much more to the story that I need to know. “What was the fight about? Who started it?”
She shakes her head. “No one knows, exactly. Julian and Vinnie were talking, making nice with each other.”
Something fierce runs through me, and I have to shove my fist under the table before I punch it. Rachel doesn’t seem to have noticed, at least.
“Then all of a sudden, Vinnie jumped up and tried to leave. Julian grabbed him—tried to calm him down, but Vinnie was spooked about something. He tried to punch Julian; Julian dodged. Then I guess he got sick of dodging, and took Vinnie down.”
“No video?” She gives me this look that tells me I’m an idiot. “Okay. Anything else you can tell me?”
She shakes her head. “It’s a mystery. Actually, when he came into the bar, before he went over to Vinnie, Julian told Gertie he hopedRomeomight stop by.” She gives me a meaningful stare. “After his shift ended.”
Shit. “What did she tell him?”
“Nothing, of course—but Leo, I’m serious. I don’t know what your game is, but it’s dangerous for me, for everyone else working here. And then you go and threaten the DA’s son? Not cool.”
“Threaten the...” I pause. “You’re telling me that scrawny little shithead I just kicked out was the DA’sson?”
“Yes.”
“And you let him inhere?” My voice rises, and I try to stifle it, as several patrons in the vicinity shift uncomfortably in their seats. “Are you fucking kidding me, Rachel?”
“Raven,” she snaps. “MistressRaven to you. And yes, I let him in here. I have an open-door policy until and unless someone proves to be an asshole. You’re getting pretty close to the line yourself, there, buddy.”
She has a point. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was the DA’s kid. But hewasan asshole.”
“You don’t get to make that call. Not here.”
“I get it. I’m sorry.” Rachel nods curtly, so I go on, “Did Julian leave the same time as Vinnie?”
“No. He hung around a while. Gertie was getting him plastered for another hour or so. You know she’s a sucker for a pretty face.”
She’s not the only one, unfortunately.
Rachel leans in, dropping her voice even lower. “He’s booked in again this Friday. So how much longer do I have to put up with you?”
“Not much longer now.”
That’s what I tell her, and that’s what I hope, because I need to accelerate my plans.
