Chapter 26
Jonny made a swift retreat to the outdoor bar before Cheryl could protest or ask any more questions he didn’t want to answer. He placed his drink order and enjoyed the warm sun on his chest. The huge rectangular bar serviced the pool and the beach, with most of the crowd gathered by the poolside DJ.
“I need to talk to you.”
Graciela was at his elbow, and he couldn’t help his sigh of exasperation.
“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not interested. And would you please drop the phony accent? It grates on my nerves.”
“Fine, be a fuckwad, but you should check that ego, lover boy, ‘cause this isn’t about you and me,” she said in her best Brooklynese.
“All right, what?” He played along hoping to speed things up.
Graciela glanced over her shoulder, then leaned into him. “There’s a lot of talk you’re pissing off the wrong people.”
“Story of my life.”
“No, I mean you’re the topic of everyone’s conversation.”
“Who’s everyone?”
“People who matter.” Graciela paused for effect. “People who say you’re on the run and hiding out because things are hot in New York.”
“Stop talking in code.” The bartender placed his drink in front of him and he downed it then motioned for another.
Graciela loved to be the center of attention as she dished the latest juicy story.
“You’ve pissed off Frank Barnett, and Carlos has his own problems.”
The bartender placed another drink in front of him and he raised it to his lips. “Like?” His heart beat at an irregular pace, but he struggled to concentrate.
“Like somebody running drugs through the club. Selling the shit right out in the open.”
He squinted at her over the glass. “And Carlos knows about this?”
“He does if he knows what business his nephew Alejandro is in.”
Carlos knew his position on drugs in the club, how guns and bloody bodies were bad for business, but Carlos had a soft spot for family.
She bit at her bottom lip. “I’d be real careful if I were you.”
His hand grazed the still-tender skin under his eye as he struggled to suck in the humid air.
“Doesn’t mean you and I can’t get together later. Maybe go to Mansion.” She let her finger trail down his bare chest and flirt with the waistband of his trunks. “You know, the place with those big stalls in the ladies’ room where you used to slam me against the wall and tell me I was the best fuck—”
“Stop talking shit.” He turned to block any view Cheryl might have, then yanked her hand away.
“Fine, just stay healthy.”
Jonny dragged in a deep breath and picked up their drinks. He wouldn’t share this with Cheryl but trying to act normal after that strange conversation would be difficult. He hadn’t detected any issues with Carlos earlier, but tonight at the club he would examine him closer. Maybe he’d missed some sign, or maybe Graciela was spinning her usual drama queen shit.
Paranoia clutched at his gut and snaked through his nerve endings as he weaved his way to their cabana. The same couples he’d passed on the way to the bar now seemed to be staring at him, while the warm sun and tropical breeze became hot and steamy.
“What happened to the people who were next to us?” He handed Cheryl her drink.
“I don’t know. They left.”
He checked the cabana on the other side of them, finding it empty too.
“Jonny?” She sat up on the lounger.
“Yeah?” He spun around and spilled some of the ice onto the lounger.
“Everything okay?”
He flicked the ice cubes onto the sand, sat down, and forced a smile, hoping it appeared more natural than it felt.
“Are you going to tell me how you met Graciela, the Spanish model?”
“Her accent’s as fake as the rest of her. She’s from Bensonhurst. She came down here about ten years ago, shaved five years off her age, and got herself shot up with silicone.”
“Unbelievable. Is she even a model?”
“Sure. If you consider posing for a magazine that sells sex toys and being photographed by an ex-porn star named Dick Dragon.”
“I guess South Beach is the place to reinvent yourself.” Cheryl laughed, but she seemed off, or maybe he was projecting his own tension.
“Are you all right?” He drained the rest of his drink.
“Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing.”
She searched his expression, and he swooped in for a kiss. He opened his mouth over hers, and the warm taste of the sweet Brazilian rum made him deepen the kiss. He wanted so much for her, for them.
He broke the kiss off and let his lips rest on hers. “As long as you’re with me, everything’s fine.”
He wanted to salvage the rest of their beach day, but he couldn’t enjoy the breaking waves or the bright blue sky anymore. He dissected every word of his conversation with Carlos earlier, but he couldn’t remember anything odd. He also replayed his encounter with Graciela. They’d had a few hook ups in the past which meant nothing to either of them, so she had no reason to lie to him. Nothing made sense. Exhausted and frustrated, he suggested they go back to the condo and was surprised when Cheryl appeared relieved.