“Stan? Who is it?” A woman’s voice calls from inside the house.
“No one. Don’t worry about it.” To me, he says, “Hope you don’t mind if I don’t invite you in—boxes are still getting unpacked, you know.”
“Of course, of course. What brings you to Jersey?”
He jerks his thumb in the direction of the interior. “Wife liked the neighborhood here. Said the schools were better for the kids.”
I sincerely doubt Stan’s kids go to public school. I doubt his kids are still school-age.
“You know, Al wouldn’t like it if he thought your organization was pushing into our territory, you hear what I’m saying?”
“Yeah, sure. I know what you’re saying. But don’t worry—I’m just living here. Not doing any business.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Just living here. Our business remains in New York.”
I give him a long look, letting him know I’m watching him, then I nod slowly. “Make sure it does.”
He looks back at me, steadily. It’s a pissing contest but neither of us are going to swing. Or shoot. We both know what this is.
I turn to walk away, and he mutters “Stronzo” as he shuts the door.
I call Al as I drive away. “Yeah, just visited Stan. He says he moved to Forest Hill for the schools.”
Al snorts.
“I know. I warned him not to conduct business here.”
“And?”
I shrug even though Al can’t see it. “He says he won’t. I guess we’ll see.”
“You meeting with your informer with the FBI any time soon?” Al asks.
“Tuesday.”
“Good. See if he’s heard anything.”
“Yeah.” I end the call and drive home.
I have a date to get ready for.
And of course, since Sophie mentioned sex as part of our negotiation, it’s all I have on my mind. I know I’ll have to work for it. I’ll have to work just to get a second date. She’s not that into me.
But she will be. I’ll make sure of that.
Sophie
Freshly waxed, showered, and with new sexy panties on, I’m ready for my date with Joey. I don’t want to be excited about it.
I really don’t.
But I keep remembering what it felt like to be bent over the massage table by him. To have him slap my ass hard before he pushed into me. It was disrespectful, but I didn’t feel disrespected.
I didn’t know I’d like it rough, but I do.
A lot.