Page 38

B oyd

After having the best shower of my life with Sarah, I get dressed, just like I do every day.

It’s a lot better getting to watch her get dressed while I do; my dick is already semi-erect again by the time I force it into my pants. That’ll have to wait. Sarah glances nervously as the clock once we’re dressed.

“I guess Mafia guys don’t keep a regular schedule,” she laughs. “No nine-to-five to worry about?”

“Some do,” I shrug, walking into the living room and sitting down on the couch. I reach for the remote and turn on the television. “Not really an issue for me.”

“Oh, because you’re higher up?” she asks, looking at the television in confusion before she sits next to me on the couch. “You set your own hours?”

“No, I’m a Bodyguard Capo, so I normally have a fairly strict schedule,” I say, flipping to the news and getting comfortable.

Sarah moves closer and I put an arm around her.

She doesn’t say anything while we watch the news, but I can tell she’s getting a little anxious.

I’m enjoying it, because she hasn’t quite figured it out yet.

Why I’m lounging around my condo and not really doing anything at all right now.

After the news is over, I turn off the television.

“Alright,” I say, moving my arm and stretching out. “Time for more coffee and another cigarette, I think.”

“Then we have to go to Salvalagio?” she asks.

“Maybe.” I get up from the couch. “If I feel like it.”

Sarah follows me outside and pulls out her vape. She tries to take a puff, but nothing comes out. She shakes it a few times and groans.

“Well, I hope we’re leaving soon, because I need to stop by the store,” she says, turning toward me as I light my cigarette. “We are leaving, right? I assume you don’t sit in your condo all day. This doesn’t seem like a normal day for you at all.”

“No?” I ask, taking a drag from my cigarette and blowing the smoke into the wind. “It’s a perfectly normal day for a guy who has been sidelined since Erica’s coup. Like I said, sometimes I go to Salvalagio, if I feel like it. But all I do is sit on my ass there, too.”

“You’ve been fairly busy lately,” she says, tilting her head in obvious confusion.

“Yes, because Massimo told me to look after you,” I explain. “You were my first assignment since Erica’s coup. And when the Mafia Prince Killer showed up in Las Vegas, the boss gave me a crew. But now that it’s back to business as usual, I don’t have shit to do.”

“Damn, Boyd. Seriously?” She blinks a couple of times. “I mean, you said you were on the sidelines, but I didn’t realize it meant you were literally doing nothing.”

“See, I told you you’d see that I’m rarely in any danger of getting shot at these days,” I chuckle. “Massimo said he’d get me back on the streets, if I took good care of you. I’m sure he’ll get around to that, once we deal with this fucker.”

“Or I go home,” she says, looking down. “Then you won’t have an assignment anymore.”

“This is way more than an assignment now.” I tilt her head so that she’s looking at me again. “Even Massimo knows that.”

“And my podcast isn’t the only reason I’m staying,” she admits, exhaling sharply.

“Does that mean you like the view from here better than Salvalagio?” I joke, gesturing over the balcony.

“Maybe,” she says, a grin tugging the edges of her lips. “But it might get a little boring when you actually have something to do. I’ll also starve, unless I start having beer for breakfast and ketchup for lunch.”

“Right, it’s been a while since I’ve bought groceries,” I say. “We’ll take care of that while we’re out. I’m going to swing by Salvalagio so I can put in an appearance, but I don’t plan on staying long unless there’s an update.”

“Okay.” She nods, still grinning. “I’ll get my things and check out of my room.”

“I like the sound of that,” I say, tossing my cigarette and pulling her into a hug.

We finish getting ready and head toward Salvalagio. Sarah points out a store that sells the disposable vapes she likes, so I turn into the parking lot and find a space.

The store looks like a head shop. Reminds me of the places I frequented when I was younger, before they legalized marijuana in the state.

A thin guy with dreads behind the counter offers to help, but we decline.

Sarah walks over to a row of disposable vapes and looks at the selection.

I wander around for a few minutes before finally walking behind her.

“Do they not have strawberries and cream?” I ask. “We can go somewhere else if they don’t.”

“No, they do, but I’m considering sour apple or cranberry grape this time,” she says, pointing them out.

“Whatever you want.” I shrug and pick up a watermelon one. “You were able to quit smoking with these things?”

“Worked for me,” she replies. “Why? Do you want to try one?”

“Maybe,” I say tentatively. “I do need to quit. Been meaning to for a few years, but there’s always some bullshit getting in the way and stressing me out.”

“Let’s find you something a little stronger,” she says, taking my hand. “Those are better for people who smoke training cigarettes.”

I laugh under my breath as she leads me to a different selection. I’m a little hesitant, but I buy one anyway and open it once we get back to the SUV. Even I have to admit it has a kick, and I feel a slight buzz when I take a puff that fills the SUV with an enormous cloud, blinding us both.

“Fuck!” I mutter, rolling down the window.

“Yeah, don’t have to hit it that hard,” Sarah laughs.

It’s a new experience, but I get the hang of it on the way to Salvalagio.

Once we arrive, Sarah goes upstairs to pack her things.

I head to the war room to see if there’s any news about the Mafia Prince Killer.

I’m not expecting anything, but I spot Massimo and Dante in the middle of a conversation when I walk in.

“Big Boyd!” Massimo calls out. “How was your date?”

“It was a date,” I grumble.

“Come on, big man. At least tell me if she liked the hot air balloon,” Massimo says. “Lea said she would.”

“She did,” I confirm. “And you don’t have to worry about her hanging around Salvalagio anymore. She’s going to stay with me the rest of the time she’s here.”

“Then I’d say it went great ,” Dante remarks. “Big Boyd with a lady. Been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Massimo answers before I can.

“Didn’t come here to discuss my personal life,” I grunt. “Are we any closer to catching this fucker, or still sitting on our asses?”

“Absolute silence since the last murder,” Dante sighs. “But I guess that fits the pattern. Cops didn’t find anything useful at the crime scenes. Same as the other cities. Fucker is like a ghost.”

“So, still business as usual until he trips a sensor?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

“Yeah,” Massimo confirms. “Which… means you don’t really have anything to do.

I’ll get that shit figured out soon. There’s so much to do with my dad retiring.

And I’m trying to make all the appointments for the baby, but now that I see how much work this job entails, I’m beginning to see why my dad wasn’t very involved in our lives when we were young. ”

“No disrespect to the ex-boss, but I think you’ll be a much better father than he was,” I say.

Massimo sighs and nods. I can see the stress he’s under. He’s tense. He’s showing his age more than he has recently, but I’m sure the lack of sleep has a lot to do with it. It won’t be any easier once the baby arrives.

“If you need me to do anything, I’m here,” I assure him. “Not doing anything else, except looking after Sarah, and I know you didn’t mean for that assignment to last this long. That’s partially my fault.”

“Appreciate that, Big Boyd,” Massimo says. “And I’ll keep my word. As soon as I can get around to it.”

We talk for a little longer, then I leave the war room and head back to the lobby where we agreed to meet. Sarah is already waiting for me, a big smile on her face, suitcase sitting on the floor beside her. I walk over and grab it before she can.

“All set?” I ask.

“Yep!” she chirps, looking around. “I’m going to miss this place. The casino more than my room.”

“You don’t have to worry about counting cards for money while you’re with me,” I say, leading her toward the exit.

“I don’t need to do that anyway, thanks to the new sponsors I got for my podcast,” she says, following behind me.

“But if there are no new developments about the Mafia Prince Killer soon, I’m going to have to start a new series with those stories you told me or I’m going to lose a lot of listeners. ”

“We can work on it together,” I suggest.

“Oh, wait, speaking of, let me grab a newspaper,” Sarah says, turning away from me.

“Why?” I ask, raising a brow.

“I was reading a story last night while you were talking to Massimo,” she says. “Something about missing tourists in Las Vegas. Since I’m here, maybe I can do a podcast about that, too.”

“Missing tourists.” I shrug. “Happens all the time here. Sometimes they don’t want to be found.”

“Still makes for a good headline,” she calls back as she steps into the concierge area. “And headlines are content!”

I sigh and wait for her to return. I’m learning way more than I ever wanted to about the world of podcasting.

True crime podcasting, at least. Hard to believe anyone other than reporters make a living talking about the shit we do.

I guess it hasn’t been much of a living for Sarah recently, but her podcast seems to be doing better since I handed her a couple of exclusives.

“Got it. They had to dig it out of the trash.” She holds the newspaper up and examines it. “Still looks okay.”

“Glad you got some reading material,” I rumble. “But since I don’t have shit to do today, I’m taking you straight back to my place after we get something to eat.”

“Oh, really?” She grins, moving closer to me. “Got plans for me?”

“Damn right I do,” I growl, slapping her ass.

“I was going to do another podcast today, but I guess that can wait,” she says, rubbing the seat of her jeans. “As long as you make it worth my while.”

“You can count on it,” I chuckle, pulling her toward the exit.

She might not have much time for podcasting while she’s living with me.

Especially if I stay on the sidelines.

I don’t mind it as much as I used to.