Page 134 of After 5
“Looks like Gian-Carlo is complying with the agreement.” Jake alerted us of the situation. “Brodie is checking the old man and his twiggy witch.”
He had picked up Brodie’s nickname for Mahlia. I suppressed a smile.
“Where’s the seer?” Ace asked from his position at the Grab-N-Gas across the street.
“Good question.” Jake responded into the microphone attached to his earpiece.
WherewasVictory?
“Jen, let’s go,” Jake said to me. It was time for this barn dance to begin.
“Wait for my signal,” I said to Darryl, then cut my eyes at Daphne.
He acknowledged my request with a quirky grin. He was having too much fun. “Your uncle told me outthinking the enemy was the key to a successful victory.”
“My uncle?” I arched an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, the one who thinks he’s General Lee and likes to sit in your outhouse. We had a good talk. He enjoyed Mamma Bea’s moonshine.”
“Um…my uncle likes to live in the past.”
“Yeah, he seemed to be stuck on Gettysburg. I told him it was too bad we lost, but it worked out for the best.”
Crap on a cracker.
“He insisted the fight wasn’t over, and if he could get inside the head of his enemy, things would turn around.”
I mulled over General Lee’s words. “Wait for my signal.”
Darryl saluted and pulled on the protective glove he wore for Daphne.
I took the flight of stairs down to join the others.
“Gertie, get ready,” I spoke to her through my communication device on the way down.
“Roger that,” came her response.
Gian-Carlo satat one of the cocktail tables wearing a dark suit, black silk shirt, and stony poker face. He was old school. Used to the way things were done in a mafia family. There were no earbuds dangling from his ear, or communication devices to call his goons. Every order handled by him.
Mahlia leaned against the bar. Her key returned and present in the open neck of her Alexis Virginia Lace white button-down. I swear the bitch was stalking my Pinterest boards. Where were Gian-Carlo’s other slaves? I expected Mortas and Toches, or at the very least Mitchell to be here.
Gian-Carlo shifted in his chair when he saw me, and Caiyan’s key gleamed in the V-neck of his silk dress shirt.
“Ah, there you are Jennifer Cloud.” Gian-Carlo’s words rolled off his tongue when I entered the room. His tone reflected years of practice grooming his grandchildren into the perfect pawns.
“OK, you have us here. Where is Victory?” Jake asked.
“Interesting choice of locations.” Gian-Carlo waved his hand in the air. “Makes me curious as to why you chose this place.”
“Cut the crap.” Marco stepped forward. “Where’s Victory?”
“How nice of you to join us, Marco.” A wicked smile creased Gian-Carlo’s face. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you. Don’t worry. The seer will arrive momentarily. I had to make sure you came with the box. You know…you show me yours and I’ll…” he didn’t finish the sentence.
I looked over at Jake, and he nodded. This was my show. I reached into the pocket of my backpack, retrieved the Victory key, and held it up for everyone to see. The key sparkled as it rotated on the titanium chain suspended from my hand.
“She has the seer’s key,” Mahlia gasped. Probably disappointed she couldn’t march over on her stilettos and snag the key out of my hand.
“You figured out the puzzle of Elma’s box. She always liked to make the simple things difficult.” Gian-Carlo pressed his lips together. “Make the call,” he said to Mahlia.
