Entangled With The Dominant Mafia
pte
ma
o scheduled for seven thirty, I take
joining the club. People go there to have wild s
should
ck dress I'm wearing and wonder whether it's too formal
isper before turning
r, my phone starts to ring. I answer the call and position the
ing." "Hey, swe
tone a little ligh
the knitting contest. Your mother is a wh
and as I head out of my apartment building, I chu
test." From the chopping sounds, I assume Mom'
rk
has been super busy si
he nearest subway station. Unless it's for wo
rspective about people. I never had trust issues until I met To
ear sizzling in the background before
ease, I lie, "Yes. I'm ac
o glad to hear tha
h
off the topic of my love life, I say, "I'm al
ave up and accepted her friendship. It took a while to get used to
cation with her boyfrien
m asks, "We're still seeing you for
n't miss it f
e vacation time I requested
ask him about
but I have to go." "Sure. I
bway to the heart of Manhattan, and as I near t
going to have a con
are security measures to e
s Paradiso are in large gold letters across the wall, and a red
, and I watch as a woman who seems to be in
th surrounding her as
u. If you feel uncomfortabl
alk toward the bouncer. The man's eyes settle on me
e a butler when he says, "Ev
iss Blakely. Seeing it's your first time visiting Paradiso, just fo
up. "How did yo
to a camera above the doorway.
. F
utch the strap of my handbag as I take in the gra
ee someone dressed in bla
ith a skeleton face the person is wea
intimidat
their identities, but damn, they cou
ould you like to take a seat with me, so we
over my lips. "Please."
ble. There are couches and tables where peo
between the tables. It giv
wall, and servers move bet
sional, and it helps ease m
" the woman assigned
it down on a black leather couch
, and not knowing what to say,
e to Pa
ll if she'
nk y
es first. Whatever you choose to do will rem
s a better chance
a conversation with a ma
equirements for age, p
mfortable, I grip my handbag tighter
for a server to come closer. "Wo
A martini w
ace where you can explore and live out your fantasies. There are cameras everywhere, and we h
ther people, wondering wh
estions?" she asks.
request change during the course of the evening, just
leaves, and feeling more anxious,
members again and fi
ting it on wherever there's an empty
e a martini, and I
take a couple of sips, and just as I pop t
Here
ies, his salt and pepper h
I stand up and say
his mouth, and he looks
e. It's nice
n it's clear he's not going to talk first, I clear my throa
his your first time coming here?" "Yes
virgin
ghty
ach other before I take
couch and glances around, and I
ro body muscle, so there's a good
nough to ask, "What do you l
fore he answers, "I never miss a chance to go camping.
do bugs and
l. I love spending a weekend in a cabin u
unding impressed with me. "So,
d you?" "I'm
again while I finish
nic attack, but instead
good
at me again, he looks a little bewildered as h
d, and it makes me fe
as first-timers," I say, ho
ea
't made a run for it yet. I'm
s at a server an
lass and asks, "Would you like
eas
gain, Doyle asks,
. My smile wavers as I answer, "Just to have a conversation. And you?"
d people, and dating ap
f the staff members who's standing with his a
y take security
taff, it's clear as daylight the man spends a lot of
mething familiar about how he moves, but then the server pulls my at