“So I’ll get them to hire more cleaners. What do you think about the titties?”
“You want to invest in this place?” I ask him, looking around at the other strippers gyrating in place. “What does Julia think about that?”
“She’s not the boss of me, Hunter. I’m in charge of where my money goes.”
“It’s not your money, though, is it? It’s the famiglia’s money. You talked to Toby about how much it’ll cost to bring this place up to our standards?”
“Who gives a shit about that? You come here to look at titties, not look for fire escapes.”
“I’m going to catch herpes just sitting on this chair. It’s a fucking dump, Ernesto.”
“Like your future bride.”
I’m on my feet in seconds, leaping across the table, sending the stripper staggering off to the side. I grab my brother by the collar and yank him upright. “Insult her again, and I’ll use that stiletto heel to put your eye out.”
“Temper, temper,” he says with a grin. “No insult intended. I’m just toying with you.”
I loosen my grip but only a little. “You told me to come here. Said you had something urgent to tell me. Get it out of your system so I can go hose myself down and get back to work.”
“My wedding’s on Saturday. Wanted to give you an invitation in person, that’s all. Got it right here in my jacket.”
He reaches in, and I’m ready to move fast if it’s a gun he draws.
It’s not. It’s an envelope. I let him go and take it from him.
“Am I dancing for you or not?” the stripper asks, sounding like she smokes fifty a day.
“Go get yourself a drink, bitch,” Ernesto says, tossing her a twenty-dollar bill. He turns back to face me. “Why not give in gracefully now? You know I’m going to inherit. I’m the oldest. I’ll be married, and she’ll be pregnant before you even get out of the starting blocks.”
“I’m getting married tomorrow, Ernesto.”
His smile vanishes like it’s been slapped off his face. “What?”
“Didn’t know that, did you?”
“Bullshit. You can’t arrange things that quickly.”
“You moved yours from Christmas Eve. Guess we can both move fast when we need to.”
He sits back down heavily. “Then I guess it comes down to whoever gets their bride pregnant first.”
“I guess it does.”
He sticks a hand out toward me. “May the best man win.”
“I intend to,” I reply, shaking and watching him try to grip my fingers tighter than I can grip his. He fails, letting go with a laugh.
“You want to stay and watch her reveal her cooch? She’s got a stud in it. Will have another one by the end of the night too.” He snorts an ugly laugh.
“You happy to fuck her?”
“What, because I’ve got Julia at home, I shouldn’t sleep around? Look at us, Hunter. We’ve got the world to play with. Money to burn. No one fucks with us. You should lighten up and live a little. Stop letting that temper get the best of you.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t sleep with her because of Julia. You shouldn’t sleep with her because you will catch something.”
“I’ll take my chances, thanks. Once I buy this place out, they’ll all line up to suck my dick to get a pay rise. I’m just starting the process early.”
“And I’ll put bleach all over my skin when I get out of here. Enjoy your fuck session. I’ll see you at the wedding.”