value on living than having sex with me.
Hard to believe, right?
So I’m out of the picture, and that’s fine, since I recently discovered I’ve fallen in love with one of my employees.
Callie Carpenter.
No, I haven’t told her. I wouldn’t know how. She’s completely oblivious to my feelings.
Beautiful women are clustered around us, staring at Callie. They’re the girlfriends of ugly mobster men, hardened criminals who are afraid to make eye contact with me.
I make them nervous.
Why?
I’m the guy who killed their mob friends.
Frankie De Luca waves as I pass by. He’s here with his wife, Angie. The De Lucas don’t know it yet, but this is their last day to live. That’s because Sal hired me to kill Angie tonight. Sal doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to snuff Frankie too. Sal won’t approve, because Frankie’s a huge earner, but Sal’s my friend. He’s too close to the situation to understand, but it’s in his best interest for Frankie to go away too.
As we close in on the tent, two young women emerge, laughing. They glance in our direction and stop short.
We stop, too.
The four of us are twenty feet apart, staring at each other.
“She’s looking at you, pretty boy,” Callie murmurs.
“Which one?”
“The blonde. Recognize her?”
“Dani Ripper.”
“Standing with her girlfriend, Sophie Alexander.”
“Sal’s niece,” I say.
“Sophie’s pretty,” Callie says.
“Yowzer!”
“But Dani’s gorgeous, don’t you think?”
“Not compared to you.”
“Seriously, Donovan? Because people say she could pass for my sister.”
“Not your twin sister.”
Callie gives me a funny look, then says, “Why are they staring at us?”
“The same reason we’re staring at them.”
“We’re sizing each other up?”
I nod. “Think we can take ’em?”
Callie laughs, which causes Dani and Sophie to laugh.
Dani waves and hollers, “Hi, ya’ll!”
“Ya’ll?” I say.
Callie smiles, waves back, and whispers, “I know what I want for my birthday!”
“Dani Ripper?”
“In the flesh.”
“Odd way to put it.”
“That’s how we talk, here in the south.”
“Ah. You’re a southern belle now?”
“I am if she is…ya’ll!”
We watch them turn and walk away.
And keep watching them.
“Nice ass,” Callie says, under her breath.
“
She grins like a politician at a fundraiser.
I say, “Women actually talk like that?”
“Oh please,” she says. “Don’t you agree? Nice ass?”
“Which one?”
“Both.”
“I don’t check out women’s posteriors,” I say. “It’s rude.”
She groans and rolls her eyes. “You are so full of shit!”
“Think they’ll turn around?” I say.
“I guarantee it.”
We watch Dani’s hips sway hypnotically as she walks.
Sophie turns first, sees us staring, and laughs. She says something to Dani. A few steps later they stop and Dani sneaks a peek. They laugh again.
Callie says, “I want her, Donovan.”
“Me too.”
“I saw her first.”
“Doesn’t matter. I saw Gwen first, but she’s with you.”
“Tell you what,” Callie says. “You can have Sophie.”
“Any other day, I’d be proud to have Sophie. Though I doubt Sal would approve.”
“Nothing wrong with Sophie,” Callie says. “Solid eight, wouldn’t you say?”
“I would.”
“Dani, on the other hand…”
“Ten.”
Callie nods.
I ask, “Have you ever been with a woman as hot as Dani Ripper?”
“Not in the biblical sense. Have you?”
I wait till she turns to look at me.
We lock eyes. Then I say, “Not yet.”
She smiles and looks down. Then says, “Anyway, Dani’s into you, not me.”
“That’s crazy. She’s gay.”
“She only thinks she’s gay. Less than a month ago she was married, remember?”
“Till her husband got killed.”
“Till then,” Callie says.
“Then Sophie showed up.”
“Sophie got lucky.”
“How so?”
“She was there to pick up the pieces when Dani was vulnerable.”
“Is that how it works?” I say.
“Sometimes.”
We’re both quiet a moment.
“This thing between Dani and Sophie,” Callie says.
“Yeah?”
She pauses, gives me a look.»It’s temporary.”
2.
“YOU CAME!” SAL says with great enthusiasm, as we enter the main tent.
“Sal?” I say. “Marie? This is Callie Carpenter. Callie? Sal and Marie Bonadello. Our gracious hosts.”
“Thank you so much for inviting us!” Callie says.
