“What am I hearing, Vincenzo? What will you do?” He forced my answer.

“I…I will go to her, apologize, beg her to come home.” Those words were daggers to my heart. They hurt worse than bullets.

He doesn’t know she is here!

“Good boy.” He reached a hirsute hand out to mine and clasped it with a prizefighter’s grip. Shivers ran up my spine. I could see Maryanne down on the dining room floor – alone!

Pull it together, get to her now.

The wine saved me. “Mr. D., your favorite.” I reached for the opened bottle and poured, he smiled. None for the lunkheads or myself. I finished the pour and he tasted. A broader smile came. Now was my chance. “Excuse me, I must attend to the club.”

“Of course Vincenzo, of course,” he sipped again. Was I out? Was I free? “Good wine every time here at The Topaz. You really have done a bang up job. Fix this thing with her.” He sat back and crushed the fine leather. I stood and backed away slowly, my brain already running for her table.

“Come back with my envelope soon.”