My uncle opens it without a problem. Whoever’s inside wants paying customers. But by the looks on the eight faces around the long oval poker table, they don’t want us here.
“We meet again, Franklin,” Justin smiles with a warning in his eyes. Three bouncers step out from the shadows, and the biggest one I recognize from the strip club, the gatekeeper there. He locks onto me, and I can tell he remembers who I am. My uncle knows him, too. “Is there a problem gentlemen? Boone, wasn’t that your name?”
The bodyguard snarls with that look people get when they’re looking at twins, confusion, and in this beast’s case—annoyance. The old man with a yellow linen suit drawls, “Down boys. We’re havin’ a party. Let’s hear what our ex-Congressman has to say.”
His title was demoted on purpose to get him angry. But Uncle Justin doesn’t take the bait. “Perhaps we can have a private moment of your time.”
Bushy white eyebrows stay put as Franklin leans back in his chair. “I seem to remember a bargain made over one Robert Miller. And yet do my eyes deceive me because here you are again, causin’ drama. Which I do not like. Didn’t you make a vow that you’d let me and my friends be?”
“It wasn’t in perpetuity.”
“Your promise came with an expiration date?”
My dad surprises me by speaking up, and his voice is different than I’ve ever heard it. “The promise was kept on both sides. This is a new situation, not related.”
“Related,” the old man says, eyeing the twins. “What an interesting word at such a time when I see you both standing before me lookin’ like you do.”
Dad takes a step forward, face rigid but displaying no fear. He’s protecting his brother, something I’ve never been around to see him do. I bet before I was born he had many a chance.
Uncle Justin says, “Let’s talk privately. I’m sure your friends won’t mind winning a hand for once.”
The old man stiffens at the suggestion that his game might be rigged.
Eyeballs flick around from guarded faces, suspicion now in everyone’s minds.
There are six people playing—four men, two women, none of them trusting or trustworthy, if appearances mean anything. Then the dealer. Then Franklin.
“Now don’t let this smart devil plant ideas in your head. That’s what he wants. You’re all intelligent people who know better.”
One of the women sets her cards down, tapping her nail on them as she says, “Why don’t you take care of business so we can get back to the game?” I notice she has few chips.
Franklin’s eyes sharpen despite his frozen smile. He takes his metal cane, stands up and tells her, “I think your invitation has been revoked.”
Her lips part and she glances around as each of the bodyguards takes a step toward the table. Exhaling through her nose with contained outrage, she gathers her chips, and throws him a silent question—are you going to take my money now, too?
“Let her cash out,” Franklin orders the man guarding the bank. They’ve set up an elegant table by the side wall to serve as one. Looks good, but is easily portable like everything else. Franklin makes sure everyone hears him as he adds, “I’m a fair man,” and uses his cane to help him walk to a door I hadn’t noticed before.
Boone crosses the room to watch over his boss. Uncle Justin stays back to enter the small room last.
“After you.”
Boone glares at Justin.
Doesn’t move.
“Boone,” the old man calls to him. “You want to leave me in here with these two? Think man, think!”
The bodyguard snarls but he comes into the room with my uncle shaking his head, purposefully smiling, cool and collected. This is all a dance. The players know their part. Anyone acts weak or anxious, they lose.
Never met a weak Cocker in my life, when the shit hit the fan and family was on the line. Natalie might not be family, but I am. And Dad knows now how much I need to protect and help this woman I care about, no matter what becomes of us.
Justin negotiates like an Archangel dealing with one of Lucifer’s right hand demons. My father adds emphasis to certain points when needed, garnering a steady glance from the old man.
“I don’t like messy things.”
“He’s not a thing. He is a human being and doing away with this ‘messy thing’ means murder. That happens, and I’ll know about it.”
Dad acts bored. “How many times do we have to go over this tiny detail? Don’t you have a game waiting for you?”
I speak up for the first time. “Doesn’t look good out there as the clock keeps ticking. Might not think they need you anymore.”
That does it. The threat gets him clicking his cane to the door. “Consider it done.” He pauses over his shoulder, eyeing Justin, “I hope to never see you again. And I mean that with the greatest lack of respect.”
Pale green eyes glitter as my uncle bows his head slightly. “Same.”
Grumbling under his breath Franklin loses his cool, barks, “Boone, open the door!” As we return to the table his composure miraculously returns on a self-assured smile. “Where were we?”
“Are your friends staying?” A man in a pinstriped suit asks.
“My friends were just saying how they’ll be leaving us alone.” He locks eyes with Justin, then my Dad and finally me. “For good.”
“If our agreement sticks,” Justin reminds him. “But I’m sure your friends will like to know that I hope you’ll carry out your end.”
Guarded eyes dart around again, and the old man takes the chance to save face. “I am a man who keeps his word.”
He dips his chin, “That’s why I came to you in the first place. Gentlemen. Last lady here. Have a good evening.”
We walk to the door, darkness growing as the lamplight fades. I don’t breathe again until we get outside and my fists release.
Sliding into the car, the doors quietly shut.
As we drive
