Chapter Fourteen
“Donny has to go downtown today to sign the contracts, but he gave Vassago news on Joey’s Penito’s death to pass onto us.”
Gorgon had gathered everyone late Monday morning for an emergency church.
“Guy by the name of Dirk Reid. Vassago knows about him, and he found out more information from Digger. You all remember Digger, Donny’s nephew from Brooklyn.”
Vassago stood. “Dirk Reid isn’t the guy’s real name, but it’s the name he’s known by in circles back in the old neighborhood. He’s an assassin, and doesn’t care whose side he’s on as long as he’s paid. That’s why di Stefano likes to use him. Nothing to trace back to key people in his organization.”
“Is he after Pete Magano, too?” asked Mastema.
Pete Magano was the one signing the contracts with Donny this afternoon at the firm where Liz worked. A nasty shiver of fear raced through Rahab as he pictured Liz, working in the same offices where this Dirk guy might be trying to get to Pete and Donny. Would he dare try such a move in a crowded law firm? Either way, Rahab didn’t like the images floating through his mind.
“Digger believes Dirk is long gone from this area,” said Vassago. “But that still leaves Pete. Digger hasn’t been able to determine who di Stefano will use to kill Pete, but he’s convinced Pete has a hit out on him. It wouldn’t make sense to kill one of the men set to sign those contracts and not the other.”
“How did di Stefano find out which of Vito’s men his businesses passed to when he died?” asked Phenex.
“Likely one of Mad Dog’s followers told him,” said Gorgon. “They all knew Vito’s men, the same as we know most of Donny’s.
“Donny’s life might be on the line as well, then,” said Tannin.
Vassago snorted. “He lives with that possibility every day. Don’t worry about him. If you saw his home, you’d understand why he’s so protected.”
“Tell us about it,” said Rahab. “What makes it so special? ‘Cause we have a kickass security system, too.” He was really asking because he wanted to know whether that impenetrable protection Donny always bragged about followed him into law offices downtown.
“Maybe there’s something else we can do here?”
“Not unless we lived next to the Rocky River like he does,” said Vassago. “Or wanted to go to extremes. Donny’s home literally sits on a bluff overlooking the river, and it’s surrounded by woods.”
“So are we,” said Rahab.
“Yeah, but we don’t have the entire property wired with sensors, infrared cameras, and sirens that go off if anyone trips one of those sensors. He can’t take a walk in his own backyard without turning off the sensors on that grid.”
“He has grids?” asked Mastema.
“Yeah. He only has five acres, but there’s literally a motherboard that controls the entire system. He can turn off certain areas of the property so his dog can go out and take a piss without setting off a siren inside the house.”
The entire group laughed until Gorgon had to repeatedly bang his fist on the table to bring the room back to order. “Okay. We get it. Donny lives in a fucking fortress that’s making us all drool with envy right now. Back to the business at hand. The local cops have Dirk’s name, not that it will do them any good. Digger made sure it got leaked to them. He also provided a picture and what little background he has on the man, but like Vassago said, since it’s an alias, it won’t lead the cops anywhere useful.”
“So we’re still in the dark about who might be here right now, looking to take out Pete Magano or even Donny,” said Tannin.
“Yeah. Pretty much. But Donny wanted us to know who killed Tony Penito. The contracts are due to be signed in a couple hours.” Gorgon cut his gaze toward Rahab. “And Rahab will be there later to pick up Liz from work, so maybe he can give us confirmation that signing happened.”
“Will do,” said Rahab.
“What does Donny taking over Vito’s businesses mean for us?” asked Phenex.
“Not a thing. Scotty’s Place isn’t part of those negotiations.”
“The reformed Outlaw Dogs MC won’t be harassing us anymore,” said Vassago. “That’s what it means.”
“Three cheers for that shit!” said Rahab, banging his fist on the table. The other joined in for a few moments, and once the room quieted down again, Gorgon dismissed them.
Rahab decided to leave now to go downtown. He’d wait for Liz to be done if need be, but he wanted to be there with her. He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that some bad shit was going to go down, and she’d be in the middle of it. Since it wasn’t like him to get premonitions, it scared him.
As he was about to leave the conference room, Gorgon stopped him. “Hang on a second.”
“You’re not gonna give me shit about Liz again, are you?”
“Fuck you, Rahab. I haven’t given you shit about her to begin with.”
Technically, no. But Gorgon had given him shit about disappearing from the club Friday night.
“I just want to make sure you understand the long-term implications of fucking this particular broad.”
“She works for the same firm that represents Donny. Other than that, what is there?”
“We might need them one day as our attorneys.”
“Okay. So, I’m sure there are plenty of paralegals there to work on shit for us. She’s not stupid. She wouldn’t do anything to screw up her job.” And as he said the words, Rahab realized it made it sound like he planned on being with her long-term. What the fuck was going on with him and this woman?
“She’s not the usual broad you go for.”
“I don’t have a usual broad. When was the last time you saw me fuck one of them for more than a week?”
“Never.”
It was one thing to acknowledge that Liz had crawled under his skin. It was quite another to admit that to one of his Brothers. That’s what was bothering him this morning. His obvious feelings for Liz. Why else would he want to get downtown and make sure she was all right?
“Fuck.” Rahab ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck, Gorgon. What the fuck am I doing?’
Gorgon grinned. “I’d say you’re falling for this girl.”
“No. Not me.”
“Yeah, asshole. You. Same way I did the second I laid eyes on Legs.” Chloe’s stage name was Legs, because hers were long and she used them to full advantage when she danced.
“When’s her baby due again?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“So what? Fuck you.”
“The baby is due in May.”
“I’m gonna go downtown now.” He needed to get out into the fresh air, even if it was fucking cold outside.
“Okay. Let us know when the contracts are signed.”
“Yeah. I will.”
And then I’ll try to figure out what the fuck is going on inside my head.
****
While Liz was thrilled to see Rahab show up hours before she was due to leave for the day, it was also awkward to have him there. Russell knew him, of course, and so did a couple of other attorneys who’d had occasion to go to the club for business reasons, but no one else in the office did.
Liz apologized to Russell, who waved a hand in her direction and told her not to worry about it. But he did remind her she needed to be in the room during the contract signing, so he also asked her to make sure Rahab had a place to hang out in the meantime.
After introducing him to the other paralegals and secretaries, she found a conference room that wasn’t being used and set him up in there with water and snacks. “Why did you come so early?”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me?”
“I am happy to see you. Just wondering if something happened to bring you here now instead of at five.”
Was that a quick flicker of fear on his face?
“Nothing happened. Just bored at the club and wanted to see you. Do I really have to sit in here until it’s time for you to go?”
“Yes. I’m working on stuff for clients. It’s private.”
“There’s an empty desk across the room from you. I saw it.”
“I don’t think anyone would be comfortable with you sitting there all afternoon.”
“Guess not. It was really stupid of me to come here, wasn’t it?”
“No. Not at all. I’m beyond flattered. Really. But I have to get back to work. Donny and Pete will be here in less than an hour, and I’ll be in the room when they sign.”
Rahab pulled her close and kissed her. There was nothing she could do under his powerful grip, or in the presence of the spell he cast on her. Then again, Liz was fine with that. It was a welcome respite in a stressful day.
“That’s better,” he said. “Now I can get through the next few hours.”
She laughed softly. “You’re a charmer when you want to be.”
“And you are the sexiest woman here.”
“Oh, you’ve been checking them out then, have you?”
“Of course I have. I’m a guy.”
Her laugh was louder this time. “All right, Rahab. You sit here and check them out while they walk past, okay?” She handed him a piece of paper. “This is how to work the phone system. If you need me, here’s my desk extension. But I won’t be able to hear my phone ring while they’re signing the contracts, so here’s Denise’s extension. Call her if you need anything while I’m busy.”
“You mean like if I need a blowjob, Denise will come in here and give me one?”
“Yeah. Right. I’ll make sure she knows that’s part of her duties today. Behave yourself, or they won’t let you come back.”
“I’m teasing you. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your job.”
“I know that.” She kissed him again. “I’ll see you soon.”
Liz went into the conference room where the signing was to take place before Donny and Pete arrived. She wanted to talk to Russell alone for a moment. “I really am sorry.”
“Please don’t be. The MC members are always welcome here.”
“Yeah, but not to hang around while we work.”
“No, that is a bit unusual. I hope you explained to him why he can’t do that.”
“I did.”
“Why is he here so early?”
“He said he wanted to see me.” She briefly considered sharing her uneasy feeling about Rahab’s presence here so early with Russell, then decided not to. Since she couldn’t pinpoint it, she’d only sound like a dingbat.
Once Donny and Pete arrived and were shown to the room, Liz concentrated on the task at hand. The contracts were signed without incident, and neither man had any additional questions. Both looked slightly anxious to her, but she could understand why. With Tony Penito being killed recently, they were probably happy to have this done.
As they rose to leave the room, Russell handed her the signed contracts, and Donny walked over to her. “Thought I saw Rahab down the hall.”
“Yes. He’s here early to drive me home from work.”
Donny smiled. “Very early, unless you’re leaving soon.”
“He was bored.” What else could she say, after all? “I’m betting you’re relieved the contracts are signed.”
“Yes. Thank you again for being so diligent about those corrections.”
“My pleasure. I’m glad everything is settled.”
All that fuss for nothing. Now she could let Rahab know it was a done deal, and Vito’s businesses were safe from Roberto di Stefano. There was nothing else to worry about. And, she had another evening with Rahab to look forward to.