A Bookie's Odds (6 page)

Though her father insisted business was fine, she worried. There were a few thugs in the neighborhood who were intending to go into the same business as Marco Santiano. However, unlike the older man, they wanted to offer more than a few loans at higher interest rates. They also wanted to provide protection to business owners…after proving how unsafe things could get without it.

The business had been calm earlier, with a few regulars dropping by to enjoy a quick beer and chat with her father about current events. As the day progressed, more and more customers arrived to have a drink or two before they headed to whatever party they planned to attend. By evening, she expected the bar to be filled with those who wanted to get out of the house and socialize but had no other plans.

Georgia smoothed the front of her dress and patted her hair in place before stepping forward. William gave her the once-over, starting from her one-inch heels and slowly working his way up. He finally reached her eyes, and she saw the appreciation in his.

His gaze reminded her of the glint in Nicholas’s eyes when they were dancing the previous evening. Her cheeks burned from the memory.

“I haven’t seen you since my graduation party,” William said. “You’ve definitely grown up.”

“I hope so. That was…how long ago? Fourteen years? I was only eight.”

“Back then, you were a skinny ’ninny.” He gave her the once-over again before shaking his head. “Who knew you’d grow up to look like this.”

“Why don’t you two sit, and I’ll get you a drink,” her father said, before stepping behind the bar. He had sent his bartender home to eat while business was still calm.

William stepped over to the table vacated by the previous couple and pulled a chair out for her. With a smile, Georgia moved toward the offered chair.

“You used to hang out with a little white girl. She had a mark on her face.”

Her smile faded as she glanced over her shoulder. “Her name’s Celeste, and she’s my best friend.” She tensed, ready to order him out of the bar. It didn’t matter what he looked like; one word against her friend and he was out of there.

“It’s a rarity for people to keep in touch after they grow up. Except for my family and your father, I didn’t stay in touch with anyone from the neighborhood after I left for college.”

Georgia exhaled the breath she had been holding and sat down. Once she was settled, he took the seat across from her.

“You work in the bar with your pops?”

“She looks after the books.” Georgia turned toward her father and raised an eyebrow. He showed no shame from the lie he told. “She’s good with numbers.”

“I occasionally tend bar.” She figured she needed to toss in the truth before a bolt of lightning struck the building and flames consumed everyone inside.

“Now that you’ve graduated from college, I bet you’re ready to settle down,” William commented.

“Not yet. I figured I’d work a little. I mean, what’s the use of getting a degree if I’m not going to use it.”

“I’m sure she’ll go out, now that she doesn’t have to worry about studying,” her father added. “When she was in school, her nose was always in a book.”

It wasn’t like she had much choice. Afraid she would abandon her studies and settle for someone who did not have a promising future, her father scared off anyone who showed the slightest interest in her when she was in high school. In college, she was so busy with her studies she barely had time to hang out with Celeste, much less nurture a relationship with the opposite sex.

William chuckled. “I was the complete opposite when I was in school. Your father practically had to glue my pants to a chair to get me to study. By the time I graduated from high school, I was so sick of school I enrolled in the service.”

“But Daddy told me you were a lawyer.”

“While I was in the service, I heard quite a few stories about men discriminated against for being the wrong color. My desire to change things was stronger than my distaste for studying. When I was discharged, I went on to study law. I passed the bar two years ago.”

“See, I told you he’d a good head on his shoulders.” Her father approached the table and winked at her.

Georgia shook her head. The man had no shame. She wouldn’t be surprised if he already had the church reserved and the preacher on call for the wedding.

She glanced at the bottles he set in front of her. “Cola?”

“No man likes a tight skirt.”

“One drink won’t make me a lush.” She pushed the bottle away from her.

“You’ll live.” Her father pushed the bottle back toward her and held up a bottle of beer. “To young people going places.”

William held up his bottle and tapped her father’s. Both men glanced at Georgia. After a second, she picked up her cola bottle and joined in the toast. As they drank their respective beverages, the telephone behind the bar rang.

Her father excused himself. She watched as he greeted the caller. His smile faded to a scowl. With a sigh, he held out the handset. “Georgia, it’s Nicholas.”

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. Nicholas never called her. Since she and Celeste usually did not go more than two days without seeing each other, he simply waited until she dropped by the brownstone to talk to her.

William stood with her and waited until she reached the bar before he sat back down.

“Don’t forget you have company,” her father mumbled.

“Yes, Daddy.” Georgia took the handset. She waited into he returned to the table before she put the phone to her ear.

“Hey, Nick, what’s up?”

“Is Celeste with you?”

“No, we left her at the club last night, remember? She said she was getting a ride back with your father.”

Nicholas muttered an expletive.

“What’s going on?”

“Pops called here looking for her. She told him we were giving her a ride.”

“She’s not at home?” Georgia realized it was a stupid question. Obviously, her friend wasn’t home if they were calling around to look for her. However, the knowledge of how ludicrous she sounded did not stop her from asking, “Where the hell is she?”

“I don’t know.” Nicholas’s voice cracked.

Georgia gripped the side of the bar. She had to keep it together and think. It was possible, in the excitement of the evening, everyone got the messages crossed. It was unlike Celeste to lie and be deceptive. She was usually reliable, except when it came to…

Before she could catch herself, she let out an expletive. Her father’s head snapped in her direction. With a sigh, she turned her back on his disapproving glare.

“What is it?” Nicholas asked.

“I caught Gianni and Celeste together last night.”

“Caught them doing what?”

“Getting ready to be friendly with each other. They stopped when they saw me.”

“Are you sure?”

“I know what it looks like when a couple’s about to kiss.” Though she had promised she would not say anything, Georgia felt justified in breaking her word. Celeste had obviously broken hers and done something stupid. “Celeste told me they’d been seeing each other for a while.”

“I’m calling Gianni.”

He abruptly disconnected the call. Georgia dropped the handset on the cradle. She knew he would call her back when he got news.

“What’s goin’ on, girl?”

Georgia turned back to the men. “Celeste is missing.”

“What do you mean, she’s missin’?”

“She’s run away.”

Dread filled her as she thought about the couple. Gianni was not the man for Celeste. The woman was kind and caring, while there was ugliness inside the man. He was sneaky and conniving and would end up breaking her friend’s heart.

Georgia jumped as the phone rang. She snatched up the handset and yelled, “Well?”

“I let the phone ring twenty fucking times.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“’Cause I promised her I wouldn’t tell.” Her voice grew louder in response to his. She realized Nicholas was upset, but to blame her… “How the hell was I supposed to know she’d run off with him?”

“I gotta call Pops.” Nicholas sighed.

“You’ll call me if—”

The line went dead.

Georgia knew women did foolish things in the name of love. Earlier that summer, a sixteen-year-old down the street had disappeared for a weekend. She slinked home on Monday after the man she had run off with kicked her out because his wife was due home.

Though Celeste had always dreamt of being swept off her feet, Georgia had thought Celeste would be more sensible. If she had known her friend would lose all common sense, she would have never agreed to keep the secret.

Georgia hung up the phone and returned to the table. Her father stood, his brow furrowed. Celeste had spent as much time at their apartment as Georgia had spent at the Santiano house. He’d watched her grow up, and Georgia suspected he cared for the other woman as a second daughter.

“We think she’s run off with Gianni,” she announced as she sat in the chair William held out for her.

“You mean that hood who hangs with Nicholas?”

“Yes, sir. I found out last night they were seeing each other.”

“Celeste knew her father didn’t want her marryin’ a thug.” Both men sat down. “This is gonna hurt him.” He shook a finger at her. “Don’t even think about followin’ in her footsteps.”

Georgia rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious, young lady.”

“Daddy, I don’t have any plans on marrying anyone anytime soon.”

“Then that means you’ll be free to have lunch with me tomorrow,” William said.

It was a bold move, yet one that should be commended. As a colored, William was not going to get ahead if he was meek. When he saw what he wanted, he needed to go after it.

“She’d love to.” Her father’s chest poked out. He beamed as if she had landed a prince.

“Daddy, I can answer for myself.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“Give me a chance to open my mouth.”

“Hurry up. He doesn’t have all day.”

Sometimes the man made it hard for her to remember he was her father. She bit her tongue as she mentally counted to ten.

While she forced back her retort, Georgia considered the younger man. He was well-spoken and seemed like he’d be a good conversationalist. Though she was not in the market for a man, she figured there was no harm in one date.

“Thank you, William. I’ll have lunch with you.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up at ten thirty?” Before she could ask why so early, William stood. “I hate to drink and run, but I’ve a few errands to run for my mother.” He reached for his back pocket.

Her father rose from his seat. “No, this one’s on the house.”

“Thank you, sir.” William shook hands with the older man, then inclined his head toward Georgia. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Georgia watched him stroll out of the bar. She had to admit he looked just as good going as he did coming. She continued to stare until her father cleared his throat.

“Aren’t you glad I insisted you come down here today?” he asked. “I expect it won’t be long before women are lining up outside his door. You doin’ right by gettin’ you hooks into him now.”

She pulled her eyes off the other man’s rear. “Daddy, please. It’s just one meal.” She stood up. “Don’t start making plans.”

Agreeing to one date did not mean she was ready to rent a limo to take her to the church. She had dreams to fulfill, and none of them included marriage.

****

To say his father had been upset was an understatement. The man had gone from worried to livid within fifteen seconds of hearing the news. He spent the next five minutes, before he abruptly ended the call, vowing severe pain when he got his hands on Gianni.

The man was out for blood. Not that Nicholas blamed him. If anyone should have known better it would have been Gianni.

As with Celeste and Georgia, the two men had met in school. However, unlike the women, they had not gotten along at first. They had been rivals, each trying to best the other on the playground. But when an older boy who bullied the younger children turned his attention to Gianni, the boys learned they were stronger as friends than foes.

From the day the two first graders sent the fourth grader running back to his classroom in tears, the boys had been practically inseparable. They spent much of their school years plotting and executing one harebrained scheme after another. And, because of their loyalty, if one was caught he did not rat out the other. Even when Gianni had been caught behind the wheel of his father’s wrecked car, the twelve-year-old had not told anyone it had been Nicholas’s idea to go for a joyride.

Of course, their parents knew better. Unless one boy was home, in bed with a fever, when mischief occurred, it was assumed both were involved. Therefore, Nicholas had also been punished for the car incident.

“Damn,” Nicholas mumbled as he reached for the handset.

He had been unfair to Georgia. Considering his loyalty to his friend, why should he expect the women to be different? Instead of yelling at her, he should admire her for not gossiping. Besides, when the situation called for it, she revealed what she had seen.

“Sugar.” James Collins answered on the third ring.

“It’s Nicholas. May I please speak with Georgia?”

“Have you found your sister?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“Georgia’s up in the apartment.”

“Thanks, sir. I’ll call her there.”

Nicholas disconnected the call and dialed the number for the apartment. The phone rang twice before she answered.

“Hey,” he replied to her greeting.

“Have you heard anything?”

“Not yet.”

“So you’re calling to yell at me some more?”

His shoulders slumped. Yeah, he had been a jerk. “No, I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

“You think?”

He shook his head. “You’re not going to make this easy on me.”

“Why should I?”

“’Cause it’ll be a bit awkward at lunch tomorrow if you’re not talking to me.”

“You’re so full of yourself.” She snickered. The sound was reassuring. She wasn’t too upset at him.

“I’ll be by at noon. How about we go to Miss Yvonne’s?”

She had never turned down an opportunity to visit the restaurant that served Caribbean cuisine.