Page 7 of Hidden Ties

“How come I haven’t seen you in the Underground recently?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck so he could get an eyeful of her tits.

He decided on telling her the truth; it was no secret why he was no longer allowed to step foot in the illegal casino set above the legal one in the Casino Hotel. “Boss won’t let me.”

“Oh, that’s right.” She smiled seductively, going for the belt at his waist. “I hear you’re a very bad boy who likes to count the cards.”

Watching the hot cocktail waitress from the Underground seductively pull his long belt free until she backed up in front of the lamped window, Sal stalked in front of her until his lips hovered over hers. “How about we take this into the bedroom?”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” She smiled before going in for a kiss.

But before her lips could touch his, he flipped the light switch off on the lamp, knowing the wandering eyes next door would go rampant throughout the night.

And he would let them …

“Sal! Sal!”

The hit to his shoulder, along with his screeching name, had his eyes opening to the flashing red and blue lights. Quickly, he got to his feet to peek out the darkened bedroom window. He couldn’t see much, as his bedroom was on the opposite side of the house to Valerie’s, but he could see enough.

“I think you’re about to be arrested!” she cried nervously through tears.

“What?” Sal looked back at her like she was crazy. “No, I’m not.”

It would be a cold day in hell before any Caruso ever got locked up behind bars in Kansas City.

“Oh my God.” Samantha stood up to hurriedly grab her things in the dark. “I’m getting arrested!”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he muttered under his breath. The poor woman wasn’t bright. When they’d made it back to the bedroom last night, he had quickly remembered why he had put off calling her. “No, you’re not. Just stay put,” he ordered before she could run out the back door. That was the last thing he fucking needed for his neighbors to talk about, knowing everyone on the street was up, looking out their windows like he was.

Oh shitttt.

Still half-asleep, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, not knowing if he was dreaming or not when he watched the snooping Jane being arrested.

Before Sal knew it, he was in his dress pants, undershirt, and shoes and stumbled to the living room to turn on the lamp, then moved to his front door; he just couldn’t help himself …

He put on his glasses. It was time for him to play the nosy neighbor.

Payback’s a bitch.

FOUR

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Stepping outside into the cold night air, Sal couldn’t help but to look up toward the night sky to the moon. It had become a habit since he’d been a young boy, and tonight was no different.

No full moon.

Finally, Sal looked down, instantaneously catching sight of the big officer who was on the Caruso payroll. Technically, they all were, but he knew Officer Daniels by name. If the Carusos ever needed to scare someone straight with a cop, Daniels was who they called.

“Officer Daniels.” He nodded curtly, expecting him to notice him, but it wasn’t until Sal removed his glasses that he did.

“Oh, hey, Sal. Didn’t recognize you there.” But it wasn’t the only reason he was shocked to see him. “You live around here now?”

“Mmhmm,” he said nonchalantly, slipping the spectacles back on. “So, what’s going on?”

Officer Daniels rested his hands on his belt. “Turns out your neighbor might be the reason for all the commotion at the Horseshoe.”

“Is that so?” He tried his best to peer through the cop car, but the flashing lights weren’t letting him see the glorious sight of her sitting in the back. The front doors, however, were open, as the cops had just been about to get in before he approached. So, he did know one thing …

She could hear, and knowing her snoopy ass, she was listening.