Free Ties That Bind by Elizabeth Blair Page B

you?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Still of that same opinion?”
    “No, sir. Mitch has this place more secure than the White House.”
    “I didn’t pay him to say that,” Mitch laughed. “Relax, Teddy. You’ve got the job already. He’s just making sure you aren’t going to sleep with his baby sister.”
    Teddy’s face flushed a deep crimson. “No, sir. She’s, well, a bit forward for me. I’m a pretty simple guy.”
    “And if that changes?”
    Teddy stood straighter. “Then I’d be the first to step away. You gotta understand, Mr. Vinetti, I watched my brothers die on the battlefield beside me. There’s moments in your life when you try and fail and, well, others when you know ahead of time it’s a stupid situation to begin with. I watched twenty-two men die beside me because someone in charge sent us into a stupid situation. I don’t do stupid situations and, no offense, but getting involved with your sister would be a monumentally stupid situation.”
    Jimmie sent a grin Mitch’s direction. “Yep, I like him.”
    “Thought you might.”
    “Do you drink, Teddy?”
    “Not on duty.”
    Jimmie laughed. “I’m not testing you. I was inviting you out for a drink. If Mitch doesn’t show his face in public soon people are going to think I’ve knocked him off. And that is a stupid situation I won’t get in.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Jimmie sipped his drink from the corner of the room, watching as Mitch went from table to table shaking hands. It had been this way since they pulled into the neighborhood- people calling him out by name and catching up as if they were old friends. He leaned forward to get Teddy’s attention.
    “Is he from this neighborhood? Do you know?”
    Teddy shook his head. “No, he’s a Brooklyn boy like me. He stayed here for a while though. It was being overtaken by some Russians. They’d turned the abandoned buildings into heroin dens or something. People were afraid to leave their homes and cops were getting shot every night. It was like a mini Detroit.”
    “So, he shows up and everything’s clean somehow?  How does that work?”
    “Clean is a relative term,” Mitch interrupted, sinking into a chair. “It’s safe.”
    Jimmie poured him a drink from the bottle and clinked glasses. “Well, whatever you did it worked.”
    “I just put pieces into play, nothing more. Bought some buildings, had them demolished or refurbed by union guys and then sold them back to the local bankers.”
    “And the Russians?”
    Mitch grinned. “Let’s just say we came to an understanding rather quickly and they moved on.”
    “You still have businesses here?”
    Mitch shrugged. “Money flows but nothing permanent, no. Why?”
    “I tried to buy a few properties here recently. One of the reasons I chose this place tonight actually. Money didn’t motivate anyone.”
    “Not surprising,” Teddy offered. “Mitch just got them cleaned up and the last couple of years your dramas have given you a rep for trouble.”
    Jimmie glared at him. “Did you mean to say that out loud?”
    Teddy looked from one man to the other. “No?” he asked uncertainly, causing both men to laugh.
    Mitch waved to a nearby table. “Bobby, come here for a second, will you?”
    “You having a good evening, Mr. Kerlin?”
    “Yeah, I want you to meet someone. This is James Vinetti and he’s looking to do some investing on this side of town. You think you can help him out?”
    “Sure. Any specific properties or just in general?”
    “This one actually and the two nightclubs at the other end of the strip.”
    “Well, this one is family owned and operated and has been since the 1910’s. It’s an institution. But I can guarantee you a table any time you like. The two nightclubs, though, that I can arrange. What are you looking at?”
    “Two-thirds?”
    Bobby stretched out his hand. “Done. I can have the contracts sent over tomorrow morning.”
    “Don’t you want to know what I’m