He stood. Maybe pacing like Tommy would help him get his mind on the task at hand.
“Tommy needs to go deep undercover with the Klan and see what he can learn. If they believe that he is really one of them, they’ll bring him in on whatever this plan is,” Lorenzo said.
“How exactly is Tommy going to convince them to trust him?” Dred said.
Tommy was probably the most likely to pass as a racist. He had blue eyes, even though his mother was Black and his father was Italian. Tommy looked White, and Lorenzo had faith in his ability to play the role he needed to play.
“I can do it, Boss. I’ve heard enough racists bumping their gums. I can recite it from memory.”
Lorenzo had no doubt that was true. “Who are you going to say you are?”
Tommy smiled. “I’m going to say I’m a farmer from out West and new to the city. I’ve heard the Klan has started up here, and I want to help. I’ve had too many coloreds thinking they’re as good as me and I’m tired of it.” Tommy nodded.
The Klan members Lorenzo had encountered didn’t seem that bright, so they’d fall for it. “Be careful. I’ll get Malone to bartend while you pursue this plan. But the minute you feel like things are going south, you get out of there.”
“I’ll be close by, watching. I’ll handle it if the situation gets sticky.” Dred stood and walked to the door.
“I’ll be with her, watching Tommy’s back,” Jeb said.
“No, you won’t. I work alone.” Dred’s voice had taken on a deadly calm.
“Try to stop me,” Jeb said.
They stood face to face, both refusing to relent.
“I need both of you there. Just keep a distance. You’re good, but I don’t suggest you try to take on the entire Klan on your own.” Lorenzo walked over to Tommy and clapped him on his shoulder. “Stay safe, my friend.”
“Will do, boss.” Tommy nodded again.
“I want to see all three of you back here as soon as the Klan meeting is over. We can counter any strike they’re planning.”
All three nodded.
Jeb moved away from the door and Lorenzo left. His heart pounded. He trusted his crew. They’d get the job done and neutralize the threat. Jeb and Dred had specialized training unlike any he’d ever seen. They’d keep Tommy safe or kill every member of the Klan within reach to get him out.
As Lorenzo walked out of his office he smelled the salty pretzels cooking in the kitchen. He loved offering his clients hot, fresh pretzels. They really were the best, and savory food made them drink more. Servers darted about carrying trays, clearing tables, taking orders. The club was packed. Everyone was impeccably dressed in fringe, sequins, suits, bow ties and shiny shoes.
Lorenzo looked at the stage—and almost tripped over his own feet when he saw Evelyn. He had to reach out and grab the bar rail to steady himself. He stared at her, not able to hide it. How did this doll, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, keep getting more and more beautiful? It shouldn’t be possible.
The cream dress hung on her curves so sensually his body reacted immediately. He tried to stand with his legs farther apart, to hide his growing desire. The sequins seemed to accentuate her full breasts, slender waist and wide hips. He wanted to do things to her she would never forget...
“Mr. De Luca, you’re needed at the front door.”
Lorenzo turned to see a hostess, her brows knit. She looked frightened. Lorenzo groaned internally. What now? All he wanted to do was stand there and watch Evelyn. Her voice filled the room as the band started one of her original songs. She sang about losing everything she cared about in order to learn that what she’d thought was important really wasn’t... So much pain in her voice.
With Lorenzo’s long strides, he crossed the large club in seconds. He could see through the windows that a crowd had gathered.
“What’s going on?” he asked Sam, his doorman tonight. Sam was tall and wide. Lorenzo had to step around him to see the crowd.
“Mr. De Luca, we are at capacity, but this guy is demanding entrance. He said you would want to know he was here.”
Lorenzo’s eyes fell on the man in an off-the-rack suit. A cop—and a dirty one at that. This cop was on the Ricci family’s payroll.
“Do we have business?” Lorenzo’s voice rumbled low with annoyance.
“Not yet, but I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say, since I’m the only one who can ensure this beautiful club and that beautiful singer of yours remain unharmed.”
The man stepped back out of Lorenzo’s reach. As if he knew Lorenzo’s gut reaction was to pummel the man for his thinly veiled threat against Evelyn. Lorenzo realized that he wasn’t even reacting because of his club, but solely because of her.
Sam’s arm prevented Lorenzo from getting to the man. “Sir, let me... We don’t want you going to jail tonight, but I wouldn’t mind taking a load off in a cell.”
Sam started advancing on the detective. The man backed up a step and opened his suit jacket. He had a small gun in his waistband.
“You might want to rethink that. Besides, I have information you need and I will tell you everything I know for a price—oh, and I won’t kill the both of you.”
Lorenzo would have had the gun out of the man’s hand before he could even aim it at them, but he decided he’d let the man talk first, before he handled him. It was always best to get your enemy talking before you shut them up.
“Well, let me invite you in,” Lorenzo said, without a shred of kindness in his voice.
He gave Sam a look. Sam nodded almost imperceptibly.
Lorenzo’s hands balled into fists as he led the man into the club and back to his office. Evelyn’s voice still filled the air with sweet harmony.
Lorenzo took a deep breath and opened the door to his office. “After you,” he said.
The man walked in and made himself comfortable on top of Lorenzo’s desk. The shades were still drawn from earlier. Good. If Lorenzo did have to put his hands on this man, he didn’t want his customers to be witnesses.
“What information do you have, Mr....?”
“Detective Brown,” the man said, taking a cigar from his pocket and a lighter.
“Detective Brown.”
“The Klan is going to make a move on you unless you agree to their terms. They have a price on Miss Laroque as well, for incentive.”
Lorenzo stood silent by the door, staring at Detective Brown with such vehemence he struggled to keep his fists at his sides. “And what are those terms?”
“You have to join their ranks, and you have to segregate your club and serve only White customers.”
Lorenzo laughed. “I don’t like ultimatums. Now, let me inform you of something. You might want to be careful, coming into my establishment and threatening me.”
“I’m aware of who you are, Mr. De Luca. You can try all you want to act like you’re above being a criminal, but you’re not. That’s why I wanted to come and share this information with you, see how I can help you make the right decision. Your family is powerful, and the Klan just wants to help keep it that way. You don’t want them as enemies. They’re not as refined as you and me.”
Lorenzo frowned. He wouldn’t describe the detective as “refined” in any way—from his store-bought cheap suit to his sheer stupidity. He was aware that he relied on the dirty cops on his father’s payroll to ignore his speakeasy, but deep down he hated corrupt police officers.
“Here’s what I’m going to do, Detective Brown. For your generosity, I’m going to let you walk out of here with both of your legs, if you can do one thing for me.”
The detective’s expression didn’t change, but Lorenzo could tell his breathing had picked up in speed.
“Go on.”
“You are to leave my club and never show your face here again. If I do see your face again, Detective Brown,
I won’t be so generous.”
The detective shook his head. “You’re a fool. You’ll regret not taking me up on my offer.”
Lorenzo took one step toward the man.
Detective Brown got up and walked around Lorenzo, giving him a wide berth.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to take you up on your offer. I just don’t like being threatened in my place of business,” said Lorenzo. “I’m actually working on getting word to the Klan that I want to talk. Maybe you can do me a favor and share that with them? Ask them to come by on Monday evening for a chat about how we can move forward in a way that will benefit my family and the Klan.”
“I can share that with them. I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”
The detective left without saying another word.
Anger pulsed through Lorenzo like a tornado.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Evelyn
A cloud of darkness seemed to shadow Lorenzo’s remarkable features. His grayish green eyes darkened and focused on Evelyn. She wanted to shrink under his unyielding gaze, but she held her head high and took a deep breath. She wasn’t even sure why she’d sought him out.
Evelyn had just finished her first set when she’d seen Lorenzo enter with a shorter man. Lorenzo had seemed angry when he and the man had disappeared into the office. The shorter man had left just moments before, and Evelyn found herself at Lorenzo’s office door.
Evelyn asked, “What happened?”
Lorenzo’s eyes softened some, and the set of his jaw slackened. She had to fight the urge to go up to him and place her hand on his cheek—Lorenzo, the man who’d humiliated her and rejected her.
“Nothing. Sometimes the best action is inaction, but that doesn’t make it easy.”
“Oh...”
She walked over to him, needing to be sure he was okay. She hadn’t seen his emotions so close to the surface before. He usually held himself in check in a way so that it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
His lips parted—not like he was going to say something, but for another reason. She licked her own lips, possibly for the same reason. He brought his hand up and placed it on her cheek. The feather-light touch sent chills down her back. She had been so worried about him, but he was so tender in that moment she almost forgot why she was angry with him.
When Cook cleared his throat, Lorenzo pulled away from her. She couldn’t face Cook—not with her emotions burning her cheeks. She needed a moment to collect herself.
“Everything is fine, Evelyn. You should get some rest before your next set.”
His voice gave nothing away to show he was feeling as confused as she was. He was dismissing her again. Feeling foolish, she walked to the door.
“Is it possible for us to talk about the fundraiser after you finish singing? We have to get going if we’re to help the families that are having a hard time in the city.”
Evelyn couldn’t be cruel. She enjoyed helping others, and she wouldn’t allow her pride to keep her from doing what needed to be done.
Without turning to face Lorenzo, she said, “Yes, I am available after the set.”
“Great. Everyone will meet in my apartment for breakfast right after you’re done singing. I’ll see you there.”
Unable to help her disappointment that she and Lorenzo wouldn’t be alone, she nodded and turned to leave his office. She hated how her emotions were all over the place where he was concerned. How had she gone from not being able to see herself with anyone, let alone a White man, to hoping for moments to be alone with him?
“Night, Miss Evelyn,” Cook said as she passed.
She didn’t want to talk because if she did she was certain her voice would quiver, giving away her fragile state. She nodded, her gaze glued to the ground.
Once in her dressing room, she shut the door and let out a breath. Tears welled in her eyes and she let them fall. She would need to rein in her emotions or she would have to find other employment sooner than she’d thought. Lorenzo certainly seemed to be able to turn his on and off.
But she wasn’t made like that. When she did allow herself to care for someone—which was extremely hard to do, given what had happened to her friends and family in Greenwood—she couldn’t just pretend that there was nothing between them.
After a few moments, the tears slowed. She wiped at her cheeks and walked over to sit at her vanity. She pulled out powder, mascara and rouge from her makeup bag. She busied herself putting her face back together, even if her heart was in pieces.
A knock came just as she’d finished trying her best to cover up the splotchy patches of red on her cheeks and the streaks of mascara from the trail of tears. Her eyes were still red and a little puffy.
Sighing, she got up and crossed the room. “Who is it?” She wasn’t going to open the door if it was someone she didn’t want to see her upset—like Lorenzo.
“It’s me—Cook.”
She opened the door but couldn’t meet his eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“Well, technically, no, but I wanted to make sure you were okay. Whatever happened with the boss man seemed pretty intense.” He walked in and stood by the table. “Boss is a good guy, but he seems not to know exactly what to do about you. He’s never been like this over a dame—I mean a woman before.”
The big, burly man smiled, and Evelyn could see he was missing some teeth. He reminded her of Santa Claus, right down to the rosy cheeks and big belly. His beard wasn’t white, it was gray and brown, but he had a jolly temperament that Evelyn found endearing. His cooking made her feel at home too. She wanted to introduce her grand to him.
She groaned loudly, remembering that her grand should arrive any minute. She would know immediately that something was wrong.
“Everything all right, Miss Evelyn?” asked Cook.
Evelyn smiled. “Yes, I just forgot my grandmother is going to come see me sing tonight. She should be here any time now.”
“Did you tell Jeb or the boss?”
“Lorenzo knows, but I don’t think he told Jeb.”
“I’ll go tell whoever’s at the door. I think it’s Sam tonight. He’ll make sure she gets the best table and free drinks of her choice. I’ll bring her out a nice spread too.”
Evelyn touched Cook’s arm. “Thank you so much.”
The man reddened even more, which Evelyn hadn’t thought possible, and left the room. Evelyn shut the door behind him, trying to think what she could do about her eyes.
She walked to her vanity again and stared at her reflection. She closed her eyes, unable to look at the puffy redness any longer, then put one more layer of powder on and hoped she could blame her appearance on being on stage under the spotlights. She didn’t like lying to her grandmother. She actually hadn’t ever lied to her before. Thanks to Lorenzo, she would have to figure out something to say.
Deciding there was nothing else she could do, she left the dressing room and headed to the stage.
Benny was walking toward her. “I was just about to come get you,” he said.
“I beat you to it.” She tried to smile, but the action didn’t ring true with how she felt.
“Are you okay?” He tilted his head, as if trying to get a better look at her.
She avoided his eyes. “Yes, I’m wonderful.”
“We can wait a little longer if you need to lie down or eat something.”
She had no appetite at all. “No, thank you. I’m okay—really. And I’ll feel even better once I’m back on stage.” She looked at him in an attempt to sound convincing.
Benny smiled and took her arm. He tucked it around his own, and they strolled on stage together.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Lorenzo
Lorenzo slumped in the chair. When Evelyn had appeared in the doorway, he’d almost lost his resolve to stay away from her. He’d stood frozen in pla
ce, not allowing himself any closer to her for fear of what he might do.
He hadn’t anticipated her coming to stand right in front of him, inspecting him. The genuine worry on her face had leveled him. And before he’d known what he was doing, he’d cupped her face, touched her soft skin, and her intoxicating sweet smell had enraptured him.
After Cook had interrupted them Lorenzo had been able to gather himself a little, and even though sending her away was the last thing he’d wanted to do, he’d done it anyway.
“Boss, Evelyn’s grandmother is here. Would you like to greet her?” Cook said, standing in the doorway.
Lorenzo smoothed his hair and walked toward the front of the club. Evelyn was in her zone on stage. She probably hadn’t noticed her grandmother waiting by the door to be seated.
Lorenzo approached with hesitation, since Delphine didn’t like him and hadn’t bothered pretending when they’d met so briefly.
“Delphine, welcome to Blues Moon. We have a special table waiting for you. I wanted to come to greet you personally. I know Evelyn will be very excited when she sees you.”
“Mr. De Luca, thank you for sending your fancy car and driver to retrieve me. Have you thought about what I said when you visited our little town?”
“Yes, I have, and I believe you were right.”
Lorenzo held out his arm for Delphine and led her to her table. She’d told Lorenzo how dangerous an interracial relationship would be. She spoke from experience, she’d said, and in no uncertain terms she did not want that for her granddaughter. She also didn’t approve of Lorenzo’s less than scrupulous methods of making money.
“It’s a shame you won’t be able to visit us again.”
Delphine’s smile wasn’t sweet. And her words pierced Lorenzo even though he had no intention of returning to West Eden. He hated knowing he couldn’t even if he wanted to.
“It is a lovely place. And I am still humbled by Evelyn bringing me. As I told you, some of my customers live there and have spoken privately to me about it. I’m glad I finally got to see it. But I don’t want to keep you. Please let my staff know anything you need and order whatever you like. Your bill is on the house.”
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