Page 18 of Time Served in New York
Hammer barked out a laugh. “Shit. She’s good.”
“Yeah,” I grumbled. I took a deep breath, knowing I’d wear her down someday and smiled at my friend. “So you’ve got a plan, huh? Anything we can do?”
“Help me find her when she runs away?” Hook asked uncertainly.
I nodded, knowing the man was more than half-serious. “I’ll put trackers on her again.”
“I can help with that,” Hammer assured us.
“We sound like a car full of psychos,” I admitted with a chuckle.
The car we were in came to a stop on a busy street, and we started piling out. Once we’d regrouped on the sidewalk, Hook asked, “So what’s so special about this place where we’re going?”
“My boys own it. We’re in their territory now,” Stamp explained. “There’s a woman inside who’s gonna help Hook find the perfect ring.”
When we got close enough, the door was opened by a burly man whose face lit up when he saw Stamp. He let the door go and grinned before he pulled him into a bear hug. “Valentine! It’s good to see you, old friend.”
“Carlo! It’s been a while.”
“The boys told us you were coming up for the wedding, but I had no idea you’d be here today.”
“Guys, this is my old friend Carlo Robono,” Stamp said. When he started to introduce all of us, Carlo waved him off and opened the door again. “Get in out of the cold. Let’s go to the back room and get a drink. You can introduce your friends then.”
Stamp nodded and walked into the store, and I followed a few steps behind him. It was a bright and airy shop with glass display cases placed strategically amid antiques and other pricey items. There was a stunningly beautiful woman standing behind the far counter, and when Stamp called out to her, she broke out into a huge smile.
“Valentine!” she said as she rushed around the counter. She motioned toward a woman standing off to the side, and she walked forward to take our coats. Once she had them piled in her arms, she disappeared through a door I hadn’t noticed before.
The woman who had come out to greet Stamp stepped out of his arms before she smiled at us and said, “You must be Valentine’s Texas family. It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”
“Marla, Carlo, let me introduce you to the guys.” He pointed at each of us, and I nodded and smiled after he said my name.
“Why don’t the rest of you go with Carlo and get comfortable while I help . . . Hook, wasn’t it?”
Hook nodded and smiled before he said, “Yes, ma’am.”
Marla put her arm through his and started leading him away as she asked him to describe his ‘one true love.’
“You’re never gonna believe this, Marla, but Hook’s true love is Paola Moretti,” Stamp called out as they walked away. I saw Marla’s mouth drop open as Carlo hissed, “What the fuck?” with a look of disbelief. Stamp shook his head as he laughed at their reactions. “It’s a long story, man.”
???
BUG
I slipped my phone into my pocket and told the guys, “I think we’re gonna need to speed things up here, gentlemen. Our ladies are three sheets to the wind already, and Maylee’s pretty sure they’re not gonna last much longer.”
“These two gentlemen are the last ones,” Mario, the man who’d been in charge of everything since we walked into the exclusive store, said after he glanced down at his clipboard. “Would you like me to have William refill your drink once more?”
“Sure,” I said as I lifted my rocks glass and took one last sip before Mario took it away.
“If more shopping trips included an open bar, we’d never bitch about going with our women,” Boss said agreeably as he handed his glass to Mario.
“He’s getting way too up close and personal for Preacher,” Santa whispered as he watched our friend glare at the same man who’d measured me. “And I thought it was funny when they measured Boss.”
“That wasn’t fucking funny at all,” Boss grumbled. “You could have warned me.”
“Have you never watchedFriends?” Hammer asked. Boss stared at him with his eyebrows raised in question and leaned forward as he slowly listed out the characters from the show. “None of that rings a bell?”
“That was one of the most unrealistic shows on television,” Stamp scoffed. “Do you know how much an apartment the size of theirs would go for in the city? Seriously?”
