Page 113 of A Quick Buck

Mickey and Erasmus had drifted over to their own little corner, probably to talk about weird assassin things. Junior was loud, as usual, but Alistair didn’t seem to mind. Noah sure as hell did, but he kept quiet, waiting patiently for—

“All right!” Roger announced as he came charging back into the dining room. “The tiramisu has been consumed, I am properly sauced, and I am ready to go fuckin’ party!”

“Don’t suppose you left any for the rest of us?” Mickey drawled.

“Fuck no, you asshole!” Roger cackled. He waved at everyone expectantly. “Come on, let’s go!”

Alistair stood and offered his hand to Noah. “Are we ready?”

“To go out and party with a bunch of gangsters? Ha, ready as I can be.” Noah grinned, taking Alistair’s hand and squeezing tight. “Here goes nothin’.”

“Junior, if you’d be so kind as to bring the car around?”

“You got it, Mr. Star.” Junior left the dining room first, and everyone else followed after him to the front door.

“Mr. Star,” Erasmus called out. “A moment?”

“Of course.” Alistair kissed Noah’s cheek. “If you’ll excuse me, dear. I’ll be right back.”

“Sure thing,” Noah said, adjusting his tie and straightening out his coat. He watched Alistair step aside with Erasmus and exchange a few quick words. He didn’t know what was said, but Alistair was nodding.

Alistair came back to take Noah’s hand to take him outside, but Erasmus stayed behind in the house.

“He’s not coming?” Noah asked. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the roar of Mickey’s Nova as he peeled out of the driveway.

“No,” Alistair replied. “He is not.”

“Okay. Should I ask why?”

“No.” Alistair smiled and kissed Noah’s hand.

“Got it.”

Noah watched the old 50’s pickup truck drive away after the Nova, assuming it was Crybaby’s, and he whistled as a slick black classic car pulled up front for them.

“It’s a 1941 Cadillac Series 61 touring sedan,” Alistair explained with more than a bit of pride.

“Ah, did you buy it brand new?” Noah grinned.

“Brat.” Alistair lightly cuffed Noah’s arm.

Junior had walked around to open the back door for them. “Here ya go, Mr. Star. Next stop, Kiss the Rod.”

“After you, dear Noah.” Alistair ushered Noah forward.

Noah climbed into the lush backseat, waiting for Alistair to join him before snuggling in close. “Feels like we’re going to prom.”

“Oh?” Alistair patted Noah’s thigh. “Should I have gotten you a corsage?”

“Yeah, totally. But don’t worry. I’ll still put out.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

Junior shut the door and took his place back behind the wheel, easing the car out toward the street.

Driving through the bustling city streets of Moultrie was eerie. It hadn’t been that long since Noah had been here last, but it felt like it had been ages. He barely recognized where they were going except it was somewhere near downtown. When Junior pulled up to the curb, Noah peeked through the window to get his bearings.

Judging by the lack of skyscrapers, they were in the older part of the city, maybe even one of the historic sections. The bright neons of the downtown strip were only a few blocks away, so they weren’t too far from where he used to go to party.