Neal ignored her phone the first time it buzzed, but the persistent texter was not going to be ignored.
“Go ahead and answer it,” Dominique said. “You’re not a prisoner here. You agreed to come with us willingly.”
Right. It wasn’t entirely clear she’d had an option, but it was true she’d agreed to accompany Dominique. Now, riding with her in the back of a plush limousine, complete with a full bar and a tray full of fancy snacks, anyone looking in would assume they were allies at least, but more likely friends. She was fine with the veneer because it would give her access, but she wasn’t fooled about what was really happening here. Dominique wanted something and she would only be courted until she was no longer useful. She turned her phone over and folded her hands. “I’m good. Thanks.”
Dominique handed her a glass. “You’re a whiskey drinker, right?” She shuddered. “I figure you picked up that nasty habit from Siobhan.” She leaned in uncomfortably close. “She thinks everyone should be like her, am I right?”
Neal had started drinking whiskey because of Siobhan, and she remembered fondly the first bottle of single malt scotch she’d received as a gift from her employer. It had been aged eighteen years and after tasting it, she swore she’d never go back to the rotgut liquor of her college days. She’d never admit any of this to Dominique, but her purpose here was to gain information, and one thing she’d learned from Siobhan was that sometimes you have to play a role to get what you wanted. “She does know what she likes, that’s for sure.”
Dominique squeezed her arm. “You’re so diplomatic. Not what I expected. Of course, she never let you speak to us, so I had no idea what to expect.”
Neal let the comment lie rather than point out that this was the very first time Dominique had ever treated her like anything other than a wall ornament. Better simply to change the subject. “Where are you taking me?”
Dominique’s smile was feral. “To the future, Neal. To the future.” She rapped on the glass and when the driver lowered it, she said. “We should be there by now. Step on it.”
The car pulled to a stop a few minutes later, and Dominique’s eyes brightened, and she clapped her hands. “Finally,” she said. “Are you ready?”
Neal forced a smile. “I’m always ready for a new adventure.”
“So full of surprises.” The driver opened the door and Dominque stepped out. Neal stared at him for a moment, and he didn’t flinch under the inspection. She’d half expected to recognize one of Mikhail’s henchmen, but he didn’t look familiar.
Dominique motioned for her to follow, and they walked down the sidewalk together. They were in Deep Ellum, not far from downtown. This area had been gentrified with shops, nightclubs, offices, and apartments, while keeping its warehouse district feel. Neal was surprised they were someplace so familiar. She’d expected something a little more cloak-and-dagger for the show Dominique was putting on.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” Dominique put a finger over her lips. “Don’t worry. It’ll be worth it.” She stopped and rapped on a large metal door, marked only with the number 509. Seconds passed and Neal was beginning to think this excursion was a waste of time when the door eased open. Dominique pushed it the rest of the way and then beckoned for Neal to follow. She regretted handing over her gun, but no way was she going to back out now that she’d come this far. She stepped inside and looked around for the person who’d let them in, but they were all alone in the foyer of the building. The floor was marble tile and the walls were lined with the kind of wallpaper you’d find in your great-grandmother’s house. She sniffed the air, half expecting a musty scent, but it smelled like fresh cedar.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“So impatient.” Dominique grabbed her hand and led her down the hall. She stood in front of a bookcase and reached for a volume of Shakespeare. Like in an old movie, the shelf began to move, turning until it revealed a hidden passageway. Dominique pointed inside. “Isn’t it charming?”
Neal nodded and followed her into the secret passageway. They walked about a hundred feet until they came to another door. Neal could hear noise now, conversation and music, but she couldn’t make out any words. Dominique rapped on the door and it opened immediately. Neal instantly recognized the man who stood on the other side. It was Celia Mancuso’s husband, Tony.
“What’s she doing here?” he asked.
Dominique shoved her way past him. “I decide who enters and who leaves.” She looked back at Neal. “Come on. We have work to do.”
Neal faced Tony head-on as she walked by, determined to let him know he didn’t intimidate her. Siobhan had always thought Celia married beneath her and he probably knew that and attributed whatever Siobhan thought to her as well. Fact was she didn’t give a shit who Celia married. It wasn’t her business and as long as Don Carlo had blessed the marriage that was all that mattered to her. But if Tony was here with Dominique, then Siobhan had been right about him not being worthy of joining the Mancuso family. Was Celia part of this enterprise as well?
“This is the new family business,” Dominique said as if in answer to her silent question. “We’re taking the best of what was and combining it with all of the things Daddy never let us do. Allow me to show you around.”
A few turns in the room allowed Neal to take in enough—blackjack and poker tables and decked out bars in each corner—to realize she was in the middle of what was essentially a speakeasy and illegal casino. It wasn’t like most of Don Carlo’s businesses were legal, but they at least masqueraded as legitimate. This place wasn’t even trying, and its eyes wide shut mystique only lent to the sketchy aura. “I think I get the idea.”
“Trust me. The private rooms are spectacular.”
Mildly curious about what constituted spectacular, Neal followed Dominique to a door on the far end of the great room. It opened into a hallway lined with more doors and Dominique selected the first one to the right. As she walked inside, the lights came on, dim, but enough to illuminate the features inside. A large four-poster bed was on one side of the room, and the dresser next to it was lined with sex toys, ranging from vibrators to whips and a tray lined with coke and pills. She mentally added brothel and drug den to the list of activities available at this establishment, and when she spotted a young girl walking down the hall, she lost her shit.
“Don Carlo is rolling over in his grave right now,” she said, the words spilling out before she could filter them.
“It’s true, he never approved of making money off what he called ‘carnal pleasures,’ but he was talking about prostitution. That’s not what’s happening here.”
“Right.” She pointed to where she’d seen the girl. “You’re telling me you don’t provide the ‘entertainment’?”
“Oh her. She’s decoration. Nothing more.” Dominique placed a hand on her hip. “I never took you for being judgy, but you must’ve picked that up from Siobhan.”
Neal winced inwardly at the continued snipes at her boss, but if she was going to get Dominique to continue to confide in her, she knew she needed to play it up. “I’m my own person.”
“Then judge for yourself. This place,” Dominique waved her arm in a sweeping gesture, “is a pleasure center. We provide the setting and guests make their own fun. We charge memberships and members can bring guests for an extra fee. You would never guess what people will pay for a safe, private space to be uninhibited.”
It sounded rational when she said it, but Neal wasn’t convinced Dominique had shared everything. How many members would she need just to pay the rent, let alone provide the booze and gambling stakes? She decided to toss a log on the fire. “Siobhan thinks you siphoned off the family fortune. Is that what you used to buy this?”
Dominique’s eyes flashed and Neal felt the impact like a slap on the face.
“Don’t talk to me about family. And don’t believe the lies Siobhan has told you.” She pointed at her chest. “I am the firstborn child of Don Carlo Mancuso, and I’m the only one authorized to conduct the family business now that he is gone. You think I haven’t heard the rumors? Well, I can promise you they are nothing more than that. Siobhan is not his daughter, no matter how much he loved her. She was an orphaned child, worthy of pity, but nothing more. She has already taken more than she deserved in terms of my father’s attention and resources, but he’s gone now and there’s nothing for her here anymore.”
Neal considered her next words carefully, not wanting to risk sparking Dominique’s anger, but also wanting to put this conversation behind them. She shrugged like it was of little consequence to her who was running things. “Not my family, not my problem.”
“It could be. Your family, I mean.”
Whoa. Not the response she’d been expecting. She studied Dominique’s face looking for a smirk, a wink—some hint of sarcasm, but she saw only a sincere and pleading expression reflected back at her. Was it possible that the death of her father had caused Dominique to grow a heart?
Doubtful, but she had to know more, and she could hear Siobhan’s voice whispering in her ear, urging her to play along. She turned in place to take in the room and then faced Dominique again. “I have to admit it looks like you have a good thing going, but one play place isn’t going to rebuild your empire. And if you’ve aligned with Mikhail, then your days are numbered because he’s got more enemies than friends.”
Dominique laughed. “Please. You think this one club is it? This is one of a dozen already in place with more to come. And you don’t need to worry about Petrov. He is a tool to be used and then discarded when the time comes. Trust me. Siobhan may have been sitting at the right-hand of power all these years, but I learned as much or more from my father than she did.” She gestured for Neal to join her on the couch. “Now, let’s discuss your role and compensation. I know for fact you’ve never been paid what you’re worth.” She pointed to Neal’s watch. “Tokens are meant to keep you satisfied in the moment. I’m prepared to show you what real value means.”
Neal looked down at the Rolex Siobhan had gifted her for Christmas last year. She’d never thought a timepiece would make her feel special, but it had. Maybe it had been a token, but she’d believed it had been a reward for loyalty and an affirmation she was part of the inner circle.
Yet, in all these years, she never promoted you, never brought you into the family.
It wasn’t her decision to make until now.
She had influence greater than anyone else in Don Carlo’s orbit. The difference is she needs you for more than making sure she doesn’t get shot or run over or blown up.
The back and forth continued and she could almost see the cartoonish angel and devil arguing out her destiny while she waited to see who won.
“Are you ready?”
She tore her attention away from her inner conflict, back to Dominique. “Ready?”
Dominique sighed. “To find out how much I value your participation in this new enterprise.” She reached into her tiny handbag and pulled out a folded piece of paper and pressed it into Neal’s hand. “Take a minute with his. I’ll be right back.”
Neal stared at the paper in her hand, certain whatever it contained would be life-altering for whoever read the contents. She waited until she was sure Dominique had left the room before slowly unfolding the note.
You’re worth more than they ever paid you, but I understand why they never wanted you to feel that way. I spent a lot of time wondering what would be beyond your wildest dreams and then I added a healthy sum to the total. You decide if I got it right.
Neal read the rest three times through to be certain she wasn’t seeing things, but each pass was the same. So. Many. Zeros. But it wasn’t just the amount that had her attention. She recognized the first line of Dominique’s note for the bait it was, but the hook wriggled into her thoughts and tore at the unquestioning loyalty she’d given to Siobhan and Don Carlo.
They saved you. They saved your family.
It was true. They had saved her at a time when her world had come crashing down around her, but was a lifetime of service too much to pay?
You’re becoming a made member of the family.
Again true, but what family was left and who was the true heir to the dynasty? Was it Siobhan or Dominique? Apparently, Dominique and her sister, Celia, had already moved to reestablish the Mancuso name in the underworld of Dallas. Yes, they were engaged in pursuits Don Carlo would not have approved of, but he was old school and times had changed. Siobhan had skipped out with an undercover agent who’d sworn to take the family down without giving her the courtesy of telling her where she was going or how to get in touch other than the cryptic note and cash at her apartment.
You’re worth more than they ever paid you, but I understand why they never wanted you to feel that way.
Unease curled its way up her spine. Dominique wasn’t wrong. Everyone wanted something from her. Siobhan. Royal. Ana. And she wasn’t sure who to trust. She needed some distance from all of them to clear her head. She glanced around, but Dominique hadn’t reappeared. There were probably cameras all over this place, so she feigned a leisurely pace around the room and then ducked into the main hallway and out the door. She didn’t have a car or a plan, but she knew exactly where she needed to go.