The minute Alan stopped in front of them, Sean and Marty stepped between them, and Ned was out the of the limo in a flash, shoving Alan back as Ivan said, “It’s all right, guys.”
Ned studied the young man and realized with a shock that he had to be Ivan’s brother because, even given the disparity in their ages, they were obviously both Littlefields.
Alan shot them all a surprised look before turning back to Ivan with a shake of his head.
“Wow, I’m impressed, Ivan. As I recalled you always hated having bodyguards. And here you are with three still hovering around you. If it wasn’t such a typical Vegas-type of thug scenario, it’d be downright laughable.”
Andrea studied Alan curiously. She, too, realized it was Ivan’s brother because their shared DNA was unmistakable. They both had those astonishing gray eyes; both had raven black hair; both were blessed with chiseled, handsome features, though Alan’s was a softer, thinner version than Ivan’s.
Andrea didn't speak, knowing instinctively she shouldn’t interrupt the two of them right then. You could have cut the tension with a knife as the brothers stared at each other.
“You’ve certainly come a long way, Ivan. If rumor has it right, you’re just about the top dog in Vegas now.”
Choosing to ignore that remark, Ivan said simply, “Long time no see, Alan. Where the hell have you been? I looked everywhere for you, for years.”
“Did you?”
“Didn't you think I would?”
“Frankly no, and in answer to your question, Ivan, I bummed around the country for a year after I left the army, playing in small clubs and even some bowling alley lounges, and then settled in Denver. No need to ask you how you’ve been. Like I said, from what I hear, you practically own Vegas.”
“Playing? Playing what?”
“Guitar mostly. And singing.”
“I didn’t know you played the guitar.”
Alan shrugged. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Ivan. But I bet there’s not too much I don’t know about you. You make the tabloids practically every issue. And like I said, everybody in Vegas says you walk on water.”
“That’s hardly true. But I’d like to know what else you’ve heard, Alan, and from whom?”
Alan shrugged. “Lots of stuff, from a lot of people since I got into town. Just the mention of my last name sets them off.”
For the first time, Alan looked at Andrea. Ivan followed his gaze and said, “Andrea, this is Alan, my brother. Alan, this is Andrea, my wife.”
“Hello Andrea,” Alan said politely, flashing a dazzling white smile as he took her offered hand.
“Nice to meet you, Alan.”
“So, your wife,” Alan said with a chuckle. “Looks more like your daughter, Ivan,” he said bluntly. “God, I never thought I’d see the day some girl would snag you.”
Trying to hide his anger at Alan’s callous and derogatory remark, Ivan said caustically, “Andrea didn’t snag me, Alan. It was quite the other way around, as a matter of fact. I was the one who pursued her.”
“I can understand why,” Alan said with another quick grin.
“How long have you been in Vegas? To have heard so much gossip about me, it must have been awhile. Were you ever going to contact me?”
“Actually, I just arrived in Vegas a couple of nights ago and, like I said, gossip about you isn’t hard to come by. I was just getting settled. I was gonna look you up today, as a matter of fact. And if you’re thinking that I’ve come to touch you up for a loan, you’ll be pleased to know I’ve got a job already. Ain’t that a kick in the pants? Bet that’s a shocker to you, seeing as how you always considered me such a no-good slacker.”
“I never said that, Alan. Have you been in touch with Mother?”
“No. Have you?” Alan shot back.
Ivan ignored the obvious barb.
“I was wondering if you knew the contents of Grandfather’s will as it pertains to your inheritance.”
“Not really. I always assumed whatever money was left me I couldn’t touch until I was at least twenty-five. I seem to recall Grandfather saying what separated a callous boy from a knowledgeable man was years of life experience. Remember him saying that, Ivan?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I also remember him telling me, right before I—ah—checked out the last time, that I probably wouldn’t become a man until I was at least twenty-five, so I assume he made that official in his will.”
Ivan studied his brother’s face. He accurately read Alan’s flash of pain with those memories. It made him want to apologize for the past verbal indiscretions of both his grandfather and himself, but he simply said, “You should contact Mother.”
“Guess whatever stipulations grandfather made for you will probably not apply to me, right? I mean, you were his real heir. I was always just the afterthought, or late life mistake, as Mother put it. But hell, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want the Myerson money. Never did. I want to make my own way, always have. And so far as you calling me a slacker, well, you did say it years back, not in so many words, but in different ways.”
Ivan sighed. “Sounds like we’re picking up the fight right where we left off all those years ago, Alan, and I don’t want to argue with you. Let’s just say we’ll never agree on everything, shall we? How about I respect your viewpoint and you respect mine?”
“You will? All points of it?”
Their gazes clashed as Ivan nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, that’s a shocker. But that suits me. I don’t want to argue either. Actually, I just wanted to see you again; kind of reconnect.”
“Glad to hear that, Alan. I want that, too,” Ivan said sincerely as he offered his hand, smiling.
Alan took it grinning.
“Damn, it’s good to see you again, bro.”
Their eyes, so alike, met and held steady for a moment in such a way that Andrea could tell they were both struggling with their emotions. Suddenly Alan reached out and pulled Ivan into the circle of his arms.
“What the hell, man. Give me a hug. I know we put each other through a lot of crap, Ivan, but I remember a lot of good things. Like how you used to pick me up when I fell off those damned monkey bars? Remember that?”
Ivan slapped his back in an awkward display of affection as they parted and he said, “I do remember that.”
For the first time since he’d entered her life, Andrea saw a side of Ivan in that revealing moment that surprised her. She saw him fighting back a flash of tears. Her heart melted and she wanted to insert herself into the circle of their family love but knew it was inappropriate.
“I really did look for you, for years. I was beginning to suspect something had happened to you.”
Alan managed a sad smile, thinking to himself something did happen to me, Ivan.
Out loud he said, “I figured you looked, Ivan. Sorry for that snide remark before. You know me. Always the wise guy. The truth is, I just had to get away, to somehow shape my own life, you know? Start over my way.”
Ivan nodded. “Yeah, I can understand that. Guess I did the same thing—started over, I mean. And I have you to thank for that actually, because knowing you found the courage to do that gave me the incentive, also.”
“Is that right? Good to know I did something right.”
“Well hell, that’s enough about the past. Tell me about this job you’ve got, Alan. Where are you working?”
As Alan became animated, the difference between the two of them became more apparent to Andrea. Alan was obviously into expressing himself graphically, with facial expressions and exaggerated hand movements, the complete opposite of Ivan who was always so careful to contain his emotions and rarely gestured, just letting his words and those mesmerizing gray eyes speak for themselves.
“It was the damnedest thing, Ivan. I was just walking around, making my way to your casino by the way, when I walked into the Roman Spa and bam! My whole life changed.”
Alan was so into his explanation he
didn’t notice the way both Ivan and Andrea tensed as he continued with a laugh.
“Hell, I had a hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket. And I was planning to spend that and only that when I tried my hand at roulette and well, I lost that pretty fast. Then Mr. Cothane, the owner, just appeared out of the blue to offer me a line of credit.”
Alan averted his eyes from Ivan’s as he admitted, “One thing led to another and we—ah—wound up having a talk about paying off my marker. Anyway, he offered me this crazy job. Can you believe that?”
“Yes, I can,” Ivan said tersely. “Let me guess. In the lounge?”
Alan frowned. “How the hell did you know that? Yeah. He saw my guitar case and asked me if I could sing; said he needed a lounge singer. He asked me to audition for him and I did. I know you don’t know it, but like I said, I’ve been singing ever since I got out of the army. Had a regular lounge act with a friend of mine for awhile and we drew the crowds. We called ourselves The Bro’s. And just recently I had a gig in Palm Springs at a new club a friend of mine from the Army opened.
“So anyway, Mr. Cothane asked to hear me sing and when I did, he offered me a job. Ain’t that the craziest thing you ever heard? He said something about you and him having some kind of misunderstanding that left him needing a singer. What was all that about? Did you steal away his lounge singer?”
“How much are you into Cothane for?” Ivan gritted.
“Don’t sweat it man. Like I said, we made an agreement. I can pay him off with some of my paycheck each week. I start tonight by the way. I’ve got this routine worked up that you won’t believe. These chorus girls come out first and present what Mr. Cothane called a T&A show,” he explained with a ‘sorry for the language’ look at Andrea.
“And then they part and there I sit, me and my guitar, but backed up by a full orchestra. It’s going to be quite a show. So, will you two come see me?”
Andrea had paled, her silent thoughts pleading, oh Alan, shut up! Can't you see Ivan is becoming furious? That every word you speak is like waving a red flag before a bull?
As Alan continued with his exuberant account of his job, Andrea’s heart plummeted and she silently prayed, please God, don’t let this come between them before they’ve even had a chance to get back together.
“We need to go somewhere more private to discuss this, Alan.”
“Discuss what? I don't have a lot of time before I have to go rehearse, so let's just get it out here and now.”
“Discuss why you can't work for Cothane.”
“Nothing to discuss, Ivan. I am working for Cothane! So, I repeat, are you two coming to see me?”
“No,” Ivan said bluntly. “We won’t come see you, Alan, because we don’t go in the Roman Spa. And I don’t want you working there, either. Tell me what you owe the bastard and I’ll pay it.”
Andrea inwardly cringed as she recognized the hurt look that crossed Alan’s face and then the stubborn set of his jaw, the same stubborn look she knew so well; had seen so often on Ivan’s face. In that regard the brothers were exactly alike.
She knew Ivan had pushed the wrong button in Alan just as Alan had in Ivan, not only with what he’d said, but the way he’d said it. Both stood with clenched fists, glaring at each other.
“I don’t want your damned charity, Ivan. I’m working at the Roman Spa whether you like it or not. I’m not a minor anymore. I don’t need permission to do whatever the fuck I want! Your feud, or whatever the hell it is with Cothane, has nothing to do with me.”
“It has more to do with you than you know, Alan. He hired you to goad me. It’s a long story and I don’t intend to go into right now while standing on a public street, but get this straight, you could work for that bastard for the next ten years and never pay off that debt, because that’s the way he hooks people in. He’ll keep stringing you along. With added interest, whatever you owed in the beginning will escalate to enormous proportions. You don’t want to work for him. He’s a lowlife.”
Alan’s pain at Ivan’s disappointment in him once again made him lash out cruelly. “Takes one to know one, they say.”
Ivan flinched at the remark, as did Andrea. She wanted to slap Alan’s face, but knowing better than to mix in between the two of them, she bit her tongue and remained silent.
“How much do you owe him, Alan?” Ivan persisted.
“You haven’t changed a bit, Ivan. You’re still determined to be king of the hill; still thinking you can lord it over me like I’m stupid or something. Well, I’m not. So quit deluding yourself into thinking you are so damned superior. God, you remind me more of Mother every time I see you.”
Andrea was shocked by Ivan’s reaction to that remark. He grabbed the front of Alan’s shirt, shook him like a rag doll, then drew him into his mouth to hiss, “I’m tempted to knock some sense into you, you little fool. Don’t you ever say that to me again!”
Cursing, he released Alan who stumbled back, declaring hatefully, “I don’t need your advice or your damned charity, Ivan. Okay, so you’re a big wheel in Vegas now, with private goons protecting you and the whole bit, but that doesn’t mean you run my life, too. I’ve been on my own a long time and making it just fine without your help. Hell man, I’ve been to war and back, so I can fight the Littlefield battles all by myself. Maybe the best thing I ever did was to get the hell away from Mother and you.”
Andrea saw how much that hurt Ivan. She felt his pain as she witnessed him struggling to contain his anger.
More rattled by what Alan had said than he would ever admit and plagued by old hurtful memories, Ivan snaked a hand through his hair, the thought storming through his mind—I don’t want to run him off again! How can I make him understand?
“Alan, look, you don’t know what’s really going on with that man, or the way he uses people. You’re in danger, and if you stay at the Spa I won’t be able to help you. Come back to the house with us and I’ll explain. Where are you staying?”
“Cothane comped me a room,” Alan answered sullenly.
Ivan exhaled a disgusted sigh, knowing Cothane, as notoriously cheap as he was, would only have comped Alan a room in order to keep him close enough to monitor his every move.
“I don’t know what else to say, Alan, other than to repeat that you are in danger if you stay there. Come stay at our house.”
“Yes, we have plenty of room,” Andrea piped in, hoping to soften the conversation, to interject some semblance of sanity between the brothers.
Both looked at her then, as though they had just realized she was still there, both dismissing her without comment.
“I’m sticking close to the casino since I’ll be singing there every night,” Alan said stubbornly. “Besides, I wouldn’t wanta tie up your fancy limo running me back and forth, Ivan.”
“Alan, let’s not do this. I know what I’m talking about. Trust me on this. You’re making a big mistake getting in bed with a viper like Carl Cothane. He’s dangerous.”
Alan blanched. “Was that remark a slam, Ivan?”
“God, no! I didn’t mean it like that. Alan, don’t rehash all that garbage. Be reasonable. Let the past go.”
Alan let out a string of foul curse words before gritting, “Look at me, Ivan. Really look at me. What do you see? Not a kid. Not a snot-nosed punk teen unable to fight his own battles, but a man. Like I said, I’ve even been to war and back. Something you can’t even claim, Ivan. I’ve stepped over the bodies of some of my buddies and kept going. So I think I’m big enough to live with whatever mistakes I might make by ‘getting in bed with Cothane’ as you put it.”
Ivan drew a deep, resigned breath. Andrea clutched his hand, hoping in some small measure to offer her support. Her gesture got Ivan’s attention only briefly, his mind was so tangled in the past. He was seeing a little brother who had once looked up to him. Muddying the memory of those times he had protected him was the bitter truth that many times he had failed him.
Shaking himself out of the lethargy, I
van masked his feelings.
“Yes, I see that you’re grown, Alan. I know you’ve been through a lot and I appreciate it. So have it your way. But if you run into any kind of trouble, just give me a call, and if you change your mind, you’re welcome to stay with us for as long as you want. Anybody can tell you where our house is.
“Just keep your eyes open, especially around that weasel Albert. He carries a stiletto and he gets off on using it. And whatever you do, don’t trust Cothane. Don’t let him fool you. He isn’t your friend.”
“You mean he isn’t your friend.”
“No he’s not,” Ivan admitted. “And that makes him your enemy as well, Alan. Think about it. Why do you think he was so quick to extend credit to you, or to offer you a job out of the blue without even knowing if you were qualified? He wanted to rope you in. He’s got an agenda, believe me, and it won’t be to your advantage.”
Wanting to say more, fighting the urge to drag him back home and protect him, even if it would be against his will, Ivan instead offered his hand again.
“Regardless of what you may think of me, Alan, I’m happy to see you and damn glad you came home in one piece. And whatever happens, you’ll always be my brother and all you have to do is give a shout out and I’ll be there for you.
“By the way, thanks for what you did over there in that godforsaken war, for me and all of us back home. I admire that and I’m proud of you”
Taken aback, Alan stared at his brother’s hand.
“You mean that, Ivan?”
“I mean it.”
“Well thanks, bro,” Alan said with a sheepish grin as he took Ivan’s hand. “So you won’t come see the show tonight? Aren’t you even a little curious about how well I can sing?”
“I am, but I don’t think it would be wise for me to go to the Roman Spa, Alan. You were right about one thing. There is bad blood between me and Carl Cothane. Sorry. If you were singing any other place, I’d be in the front row. Good luck.”
“Well, guess that’s that.” Alan nodded his head at Andrea. “Nice meeting you, sister-in-law. Congratulations on your marriage. Is that the right thing to say to a new bride?”
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