by Kelly Wood
“Somebody needs to get the boys,” Frank said, referring to his sons.
“Already done. I take care of my own,” Antonio said.
Two steps forward and one back, Franky thought. The boss finally acknowledged he had a name and then Franky had to go and insult the man.
____
Franky stood smoking a cigarette while he thought over the previous night. His hand was wrapped and hanging in a sling. It’d take some time to heal, but the doc said it was a pretty minor wound. The door had almost stopped the bullet itself, so Franky’s hand just became its resting place. Not even a broken bone.
He watched the front entrance to the country club. Costa, his wife, and the girl had gone in an hour before. With Franky’s hand out of commission for a while, Antonio had sent him on this mission.
Franky tossed the cigarette, not bothering to stub it out. Surveillance was boring but had perked up a little at the sight of Costa’s guest, Gracie. Frank learned her name last night, too. He learned a lot.
After the doctor had arrived, Antonio had demanded Costa’s presence. The fight that ensued in the office had been epic. Franky thought Antonio’s yelling was going to shake the rafters and bring down the hotel. Costa never raised his voice back so Franky couldn’t hear his replies. Costa’s calm exterior had kept Franky on edge the whole time. Antonio and Costa went around and round, with Antonio pointing his finger for the attempted murder at Costa. Costa denied, of course, but Franky tended to believe him. If Costa had ordered the hit, neither he nor Antonio would be left standing.
Still, the boss didn’t trust him. It was Franky’s job to follow Costa, make sure he didn’t set up a meeting with Milano, that he wasn’t pulling a double-cross on Antonio. Franky pulled at the neckline of his monkey suit. Antonio had insisted on it, saying he needed to blend in with wherever Costa went. And Costa only went upscale.
Franky perked up out of his reminiscing when the front door opened and Gracie emerged alone. She walked toward the golf course, oblivious of everything around her. She stopped at the edge of the tree line along the first fairway. Leaning against the trunk with her cheek against the bark, she looked like an angel. Her blonde hair hung past her shoulders in soft waves. Franky’s hand itched to touch it. He bet it would feel like silk.
Franky debated the merits of going to talk to her. He wanted to. He wanted to with everything in him, but the boss had sent him on a mission. His job was to watch Costa. If he tried to talk to Gracie and Costa left without her, the boss would finish the job from last night himself. This was his opportunity. His chance to prove himself. It was too great an opportunity to waste.
But, she wouldn’t be a waste, would she? He could still see the club from where Gracie stood looking out over the greens. He could even see the parking lot and Costa’s car. What would be the harm?
No. What if Milano showed and Costa left with him. Franky might miss it. Might miss his chance to prove to Antonio to let him into the fold. Based on the events of last night, if Franky played his cards right, now would be the time to make his move. The powers were shifting. One of the families was going down, leaving only two in Vegas.
Franky ran his hand through his hair in frustration. It was too long, shaggy. He may be dressed in a monkey suit, but he stood out here, like this. What would Gracie see in him? She was polish and class. He still sported bruises from his old man and a bullet hole as an accessory. What he needed was a haircut. A haircut and time to let the bruises fade. A couple of weeks, maybe? He could wait that long. A suit that actually fit and didn’t choke him would be good, too. He could look at it as an investment.
Franky was a patient man. Two weeks was nothing. He made a mental checklist. Haircut. Suit. Healing. Learn Gracie’s likes and dislikes. That would be easy enough, too. Since he was following Costa, he would get to study Gracie.
This time when the door opened, Costa and his wife stepped out. Franky faded behind the tree, peeking out. Costa motioned for Gracie to join them. Gracie looked out once more over the course and touched the tree before joining them.
Frank practically skipped back to his car. A plan. Two weeks. In two weeks, he was going to meet Gracie. She just didn’t know it yet.
Chapter Twelve
Gray whirled around and took my arm, propelling me off the treadmill. My ears rang as the wall of glass made another popping sound. The ringing faded as the sound of rushing water filled the space. Thousands of gallons of water surged over us. My feet swept out from under me. Gray lost his grip on my arm. I flailed my arms, trying to find purchase, but my wet fingers slid off anything that I touched. I bumped along, hitting anything in my path and bouncing off of it only to be swept on. Each time I tried to breathe, water filled my lungs, leaving me coughing and gagging. The smell of chlorine burned my nose.
The wave washed me across the room and into the far wall. My shoulder took the impact as the water twisted me around. As quickly as it pushed me against the wall, it receded. I was left in a puddle, coughing up chlorinated water. Someone started slapping my back, forcing the water from my lungs. I coughed out water, choking as it came up. Someone called my name from far away. Water in my ears created a faded sound effect. Someone ran toward me, splashing more water in my face. I put up my hand to stop them. Passion grabbed ahold of it and lowered herself to my level. Her shoes and legs were wet, but the rest of her was dry. She had been out of the path of the initial flood.
An alarm blared louder as my hearing cleared. It wasn’t my ears ringing after all, but a warning system in the hotel. The doors flew open and security guards flooded in followed by Frank. Frank scanned the room, his eyes landing on Passion. A look of relief crossed his face. Gray stopped slapping my back after the last bit of water came up. I leaned against him in relief.
I refused a trip to the hospital, having spent way too much time in them lately. Frank insisted on an ambulance. The EMTs checked me over thoroughly. Other than some scrapes and bruises, I came out of the ordeal unscathed. We were finally released to leave after giving our statements to the policemen who responded to the call. Frank’s security team always close behind them.
Gray and I trudged through the hotel to get back to our room, leaving the mess behind. Lights flickered and machines dinged. The gambling went on around us. Nobody paid any attention as we left a trail of water. My shoes slurped and stuck to the carpet with every step. I wanted to take them off, but the thought off walking barefoot on the germ-covered floor gave me the willies. Gray halted our soggy parade by touching my arm.
“You may want to take care of that situation over there.” Gray pointed his finger toward the penny machines. I wasn’t up to take care of any situation.
I followed his line of sight.
An older woman was jumping up and down in front of a one-armed bandit, waving her arms in the air and screaming with an older gentleman standing next to her. The man I did not recognize, but the woman I knew very well.
“Grandma! What are you doing?” She stopped jumping and turned our way.
“Regan! I was hoping to run into you!” she said. She ran up and bussed my cheek with a loud kiss.
“Why didn’t you call me and tell me you were coming? What are you even doing here?”
“Oh, poo. I dropped my phone down the garbage disposal and then accidentally turned it on. Oops!” Grandma said. She hugged me and then pulled away. “Regan, you’re all wet. It’s very unbecoming.”
I ignored her comment, focusing on the cell from story. I didn’t believe it for a minute. Grandma may be old, but she was not clumsy. If her phone ended up in the garbage disposal, it was because that’s exactly where Grandma wanted it.
“I don’t think I buy your phone story. Does Mom know you’re here?” I asked.
“Of course not, I couldn’t call, remember?”
Oh, heck. She was on the lam. Gray was right. This was a situation.
“Why are you jumping up and down on a bad hip?” I wrapped my hand around her forearm, preventing her t
rying to escape me.
“I just won $2000! I love Las Vegas. I should move here. We old geezers need the heat to mummify us and the constant air conditioning to preserve us. I think I’ll do that. Come on, Norm. You’d let me stay with you, right?” Grandma grabbed the old man’s hand and started to leave. I tugged her back into place and blocked her exit with my body.
“Wait, Grandma. How did you get here and who is Norm?”
“I flew here, duh. I’m staying with Norm. I met him online.” Grandma raised her eyebrows suggestively.
My stomach rolled. I didn’t want to picture my elderly grandmother getting frisky with anyone, but especially not Norm. Between the two of them someone may smother to death from all of the loose skin.
“Grams, you have to come with me.” I turned to her companion. “Sorry, Norm.”
Gray covered his mouth with his hand to hide his smile. Norm shrugged his shoulders and moved on, waving over his shoulder to my grandmother.
“I’ll call you, honey!” Grams waved and yelled to Norm’s receding form. I looked to Gray for help, but he continued to contain his laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I asked him, my tone sharper than I intended.
“This is where you get it from.” Gray waved his hand to my grandma.
Grams insisted on collecting her winnings before going to my room. It took Gray and I ten minutes to find a payout station hidden amongst all the slot machines. People glanced our way, but no one commented on our sogginess. By the time we got Grams to the room, I was chafing in places I didn’t want to think about from the wet clothing. I quickly showered and threw on a pair of gray pants and a floral top. I left my long hair to air dry for now. I’d regret it later when it was frizzy and the back of my shirt was soaking wet, but I needed to call home. And quickly.
I stared at the phone, dreading the call to my mom. The phone stared back mockingly. My grandma kept her on pins and needles. The woman acted helpless and feeble, but then destroyed anything and everything around her. She was a pot stirrer of the largest order. If she had the chance to cause a ruckus, she took it just to revel in the joy of the chaos. My sisters and I all received some of her spunky attitude. Individually, we were a lot to handle. All of us rolled into one, with a devil-may-care attitude and blue hair, made her almost unstoppable. I’m not talking old-lady-slightly-tinted blue hair, it’s punk-rock-band-lead-singer blue hair.
The burning in my lungs reminded me to breathe again. I let out the breath I’d been holding and took the plunge. I scrolled through my contacts, skipping over ‘Mom’ and going straight for the P’s. A new plan forming. Maybe I could call Peyton and then Peyton could call Mom? Brilliant! Mom was usually mad at Peyton anyway, so what was one more issue? The phone rang once before she picked up.
“What do you want?” Peyton asked.
“Did you know that Grandma is in Vegas?”
“Grandma who? Blue hair?” Peyton yawned into the phone.
“Yep. Blue hair.” Hey, we have to keep them straight somehow. Besides, our other grandma would give you the bird if you tried to remove her from the nursing home. She was more than happy to stay locked up there.
“That sounds like something she’d do. Keep her busy and out of trouble. I’ll call Mom and have her head your way to bring Blue Hair home.”
“That’s it?”
“I don’t have time for the ‘you do it, no you, beg cajole plead, fine I’ll do it’ conversation. I’ve got two small kids and one growing inside of me that keeps kicking my liver. This one is going to be the death of me, I just know it. Now, go zip-line on something or go shopping... JUST DON’T BREAK ANYTHING!”
My phone beeped in my ear letting me know the call was ended. I bet Peyton wished for an old-school house phone that she could’ve slammed down in my ear. I couldn’t blame her for her moodiness, she was either pregnant or breastfeeding for the past five years or so. Her only adult conversation was when I called needing something. I tried to tell her I was only helping her practice for having teenagers, but she didn’t buy it. She was deprived. She needed a night out with a meal that required real silverware to eat, in an adults-only establishment, with a nice, cold beer. As soon as my mom rescued Blue Hair, I’d recommend that she offer a night of babysitting.
Grams was passed out face down on my bed, snoring. The travel and gambling excitement had worn her out. Her make-up was smeared around her eyes, and her hair had seen better days, too. Peyton and I had referred to her as Blue Hair since we were toddlers. She fell asleep one afternoon while watching us and we went to work painting her face and hair with our finger paints. Our parents had been mad, but Grandma’d just laughed it off. She didn’t even run to the bathroom to wash it all off right away. Instead, she’d grabbed a camera and started taking snapshots with us. She’d dyed her hair a variation of blue ever since. She must’ve been overjoyed to see a little piece of her rebellious spirit skip a generation into us.
Grandma let a little air go from both ends before rolling over. Now that she was on her back, the snores increased tenfold. I had no idea how to keep her under control. She was a wily one. I’d pay Passion to do it, but Grandma would have them both at Hot to Trot trying on corsets and leathers. That really only left me with one option.
Gray.
He was the only one. He’d been a little reluctant but, in the end, he admitted he would enjoy spending time with Grams. It wasn’t like I could take her to the library with me and I had to finish my research before my meeting with Frank. Plus, I knew Mom wouldn’t be able to get here before the end of the day. It was a four-and-a-half-hour flight here from Chicago and a two-hour drive to O’Hare before that, plus packing and finding a ticket.
I gave up and went to the living room to wait for Gray to return. He’d gone to his parents’ to pick up more clothing. A knock at the door interrupted my channel surfing.
I opened the door to Gray’s smiling face. He was in his standard black T-shirt and jeans. He looked so cute I wanted to pinch his cheeks, but I settled for just a quick kiss. He let out a low whistle as he entered the suite, dropping a bag inside the door.
“Thanks, stud.” I winked at him over my shoulder.
“That was for this room. I didn’t pay attention last night because Uncle Frank was here. I’ll get you next time.” He winked at me and swatted my rear end before plunking down on the sofa. “Who’s paying for this?”
I looked around the suite, taking it all in like it was the first time I was seeing it. To me, it was just a room. Yes, some were nicer than others, and this one seemed to be the nicest of all. I took it all in and really payed attention. The door opened to a huge room with separate dining and living spaces. In one corner stood a bar sporting a mini-fridge and snacks. To the left and right of the doorway were hallways leading to the two bedrooms and bathrooms. Across from the door was a wall of glass that could be opened up completely to the balcony, which had a ten-person hot tub.
“Huh, I didn’t realize dancers made such good money here,” I said.
“They don’t.”
“I’m sure the hotel is giving her an employee discount then.” I plopped down on the couch and snuggled in close to him.
“Umm hmm.” Gray lounged back with his feet on the coffee table. “Where’s Grandma?”
“Here.”
I startled at the sound of Gram’s voice. I thought she’d be passed out for hours yet. I let my eyes take her all in. One side of her hair was matted down and greasy while the other side stuck straight out. Her make-up was still smeared under her eyes and her hot-pink lipstick was blotchy in places. The smudges accentuated every line and crevice in her face, which for her age, weren’t many. I could only hope to age that well.
“Why are you sitting on your tootie and not giving me a proper hello?”
Gray stood and headed for Grams. but it was not fast enough for her. Grandma has a weakness for bad boys. He leaned down and kissed her crêpey cheek.
“You’re my hot date for today,” G
ray said.
Grams swooned and fanned her face with her hand. She batted her lashes at Gray. “So, my granddaughter thinks I need a babysitter, does she?”
“Just think of me as a tour guide.” Gray offered up his arm to her. She preened as he led her back to the bedroom. “Go get yourself gussied up so we can hit the road.”
My grandmother actually giggled as she went back into the room. It sent a shiver up my spine. I covered my eyes with my hand and tried to pretend I lived a normal life.
The front door opened with a bang and Passion came bounding in wearing her tiny workout outfit from earlier.
“Don’t you ever wear clothes?” I asked.
“What? This is way more than my uniform for work.” Passion bounced to the sofa and sat on me. I tried to push her off, but she wiggled into a ball and put her head on my shoulder. Little sisters, while always annoying, had a way of doing whatever they wanted without any consequences. I gave up my battle and let her stay.
“Let’s ditch out and go to the pool,” Passion suggested.
“The pool is destroyed,” I pointed out.
“There are two other ones, silly.” Passion looked up at me with puppy dog eyes. She got away with murder when we were kids because of that look.
“I can’t. I have to go to the library.”
“Ugh, you can be so boring.” Passion swatted at me.
“Don’t you have work today?”
“Not today! The director gave us a one-day break before the show opens. I’ll be doing six shows a week after that. I want to do something fun.” She emphasized the word fun with a poke of her finger into my cheek. “Why don’t you ditch today, too? It’s just an interview. How much do you possibly need to know?”
“I’ll make you a deal. Let me go to the library for an hour or two and then you can have me for the rest of the day. Deal?” I stuck my hand out to shake on it but pulled it away as she reached toward me. “Wait! One condition.”
Passion eyed me but didn’t say anything. After a moment, she relented by raising an eyebrow.
