Diamonds & Hearts

by Rosetta Bloom

  “You’re just saying this to appease me. You don’t really plan to let me help. But I’m going to hold you to it, OK? If you do a job for Pauly, I’ll come with,” he said, throwing in a grin.

  I narrowed my eyes. He knew I hated when people said, “Come with,” without a proper object to follow. Come with me. Come with him. Come with the fucking deadly spider on the wall. Just give me some direction. I laughed at him. “You can come with,” I said, deciding to use his crap word play to my advantage. He was definitely not coming with me. Maybe he could come with some random person. Leave it up in the air like that, and that’s what you get. “By the way,” I added. “Do you remember what my name means?”

  “Hmmm,” he said, putting his hand to his chin. “Onyx. It’s a color, right?” he teased.

  I smacked his forearm playfully.

  He continued. “And sometimes a jewel. It is known in many cultures for its protective powers. In ancient Rome, the god of War was carved on Onyx amulets to offer protection. And of course, when dad was growing up in India, Onyx gave you protection from the evil eye, which is why you wear that necklace.” He inclined his head to the gold chain that dangled from my neck, a single piece of Onyx on it.

  He had a good memory for all the lies my father told us when we were little. He’d never heard the whopper my father had told me always when I would accompany him on jobs. He’d whisper to me in Hindi, “I’ll tell you a secret.” He’d always start that way, no matter whether it was the first or the twentieth time he told me. “There’s a reason I always bring you with me. It’s because, just like the jewel, you are my protection. Whenever you come, I am safe.”

  I’d believed him, believed I had some mythic power of protection, even though it was stupid. And of course, I hadn’t been there the night he got caught. Even though I was older then, even though my mother had found out about his thievery and kicked him out, told him he couldn’t take us on his heists and filed for divorce, part of me still felt it was true. Part of me still felt like it was my fault he’d been caught. He hadn’t had his Onyx to protect him.

  I breathed out, trying to clear my head. There was no point in thinking about our father right now. “The point is, I’m a protector and I’m going to protect you.”

  He shook his head and spoke softly. “You can’t protect me from cancer, Onyx. No one can.”

  I turned away from him, the truth of that statement was too hard to swallow right now. It didn’t matter how much you tried to protect someone, it didn’t always work. It hadn’t worked with Lily. It hadn’t worked with my mother or my father. Still, I wouldn’t give up on Lynx. He was all I had left.

  The silence lingered between us too long until Lynx said, “Y’know, take out would be great.”

  THE NEXT DAY AFTER school, I hightailed it over to Club Diamante. It was a bit of a hike, going into Manhattan, and heading up to the hundredth floor of the sleek high rise. I was dressed a bit frumpy for the club, a Hermes pencil skirt, high heels and a white blouse with a fringe. I’d worn my onyx earrings today and even thrown on a layer of lipstick before leaving the school. My students were into big name designers, even though I encouraged them to pay more attention to their work than fashion. They queried me about my plans, noting the outfit. I told them, (1) that the skirt was used from a thrift store and (2) that I had a meeting with an old friend at a fancy place that required a dressier look. After school, Keisha asked me if I was looking for another job. I told her the truth: I was getting a part time job to pay some extra bills. She seemed surprised, but grateful when I assured her I loved teaching and wasn’t going anywhere.

  I looked decent enough that I didn’t feel self-conscious. Club Diamante was for society’s high rollers, whether they be legitimate or criminal. When I stepped off the elevator, I took a few paces to the right, where a tall woman with perfectly coiffed black hair fixed in an austere bun stood behind an elegant black pedestal. She wore a red strapless gown that flowed to her feet like some type of 1920s film star. If you twirled her, the dress would have billowed through the air like a cloud. Of course, she was bespeckled with diamonds. Two tiny ones on her ears, a lovely necklace and a bracelet. About $90,000 worth of jewels. There’s a whole stash of hostess jewels in the back. The image is important.

  A different kind of business might be worried about theft, but nobody would be foolish enough to steal from Club Diamante. It’s members who skirted the law would get revenge in ways in which they’d only find pieces of you to take back to your loved ones. I shivered at the thought and considered turning back. Only, I knew I couldn’t. Lynx’s life was worth whatever the price.

  The hostess smiled at me and said, “Welcome to Club Diamante. Name please.”

  I smiled back, but felt a tad self-conscious, as I was underdressed and had my mother’s old attaché case tucked beneath my arm. “Onyx Neel. I’m here to see Mr. Giordanno.”

  She whispered into a headset that covered her right ear and draped down to her mouth. I heard an affirmative response come through, but waited for her to give me the go ahead. “He’s waiting for you in the lounge.” She paused and looked around for someone. “If you can wait one moment, I’ll get Stacie to walk you over.”

  I shook my head, and waved her off. “It’s alright,” I told her. “I know the way. Before she could open her mouth to protest, I was headed toward the lounge. Glitz and glamour. I’d loved coming here at 9, pretending I was older, pretending I belonged, pretending this could be real life. All this was just glitter and dressing. So many of the people that came in and out were pretending or had their heads in the clouds. People like my father, whose love of the chase and fondness of luxuries led to his downfall. Led to my mother and the rest of us just scraping by. I had almost gotten sucked in like my father at one point. Not just doing the occasional job for Pauly, where I helped out and batted my eyes at men in uniform if it looked like we might have trouble. But the kind of jobs that made you yearn for more. Only, I never got that deep. Mama again. She reeled me back from this place, even though I already should have been disgusted with it after what happened to my father.

  I made my way over to the lounge, where I saw a large Italian man sitting at a table. He looked like he walked out of a mafia movie: big nose, wide grin, swarthy mustache, and sausage fingers. His hair was jet black—dye, I’m sure, given he was the same age as my father, who would be 54, if he were alive. He was seated, but stood when he saw me, revealing the rotundness of his midsection had gotten a little larger. But he dressed better nowadays, an Armani suit, a black tie, with a stylish handkerchief for a flourish. When he opened his arms for a hug, I gladly nestled into his overprotective embrace. We hadn’t seen each other in six years, but it felt like he’d just hugged me yesterday.

  He released me and then stepped around behind me to pull out my chair. I nodded my thanks and sat, resting a hand on the black tablecloth, avoiding bumping the crystal plates and the silver dining ware. “I was surprised to hear from you,” he said, his voice booming, as he took his own seat. “It’s been so long.”

  “Too long,” I gushed, hoping to make what I was asking easier. Pauly was naturally loud, so I lowered my voice, so I did not draw attention. “How have you been?” I asked.

  He went on about his children, his daughter Gina, was the same age as Lynx, and apparently in medical school. I let Pauly talk, and order me what he thought I’d like. A wonderful pasta dish came out three stories into our conversation. I chewed on the delicate noodles, sipped wine, listened to Pauly’s stories dutifully, and chimed in about my life when it seemed appropriate. I hoped Pauly was in a good mood.

  When we’d finished our meal, he leaned in and said. “So, did you just want to catch up, or is there more?”

  I nodded. “I know you told me I could do some work for your anytime you needed. I was hoping I could get some behind the scenes work for you. Appraisals, certifying. I can help you get your product looking nice, properly documented so anyone in the world will call it legit.”
Black market diamonds required a certain amount of spiff if you wanted to convert them to legitimate diamonds, rather than pay people under the table with them. Due to my degree in geology and internships at a prestigious gem certification group, I had the necessary pedigree. I didn’t like lending my name to stuff I knew was hot, but being on the backend was a lot less risky than being on the front end.”

  He shrugged. “I can throw you some work from time to time if you need a little extra to supplement your teaching.”

  I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I’d need more than a little to pay Lynx’s bills. And I’d need the promise of more than a little to propose what I was going to suggest—a loan that I could pay back through future work.

  Apparently, my attempt at neutral failed, as Pauly patted my hand and said, “If you need a big pay day, I’ve got a project I was going to pass on, but if I could get you to help out, it’d be golden.”

  Golden. I bit back the grimace. That was the same word my father had used to describe the job that had gotten him sent to prison. “I’d like to stay behind the scenes, Pauly,” I told him, forcing myself to look pleasant. “But you’re right that I need more. I was hoping maybe you could loan me some money upfront and I could work it off behind the scenes.”

  “How much?” he asked.

  “A hundred and twenty-five grand.”

  He let out a low whistle and half laughed. “You always had cojones kid,” he said. “I remember when you were six and Raj brought you along on the job downtown. That cop came along and we were dead to rights caught, but you, you were perfect. Ran right up to him and told him your daddy was sick and needed help, and he came right over to Raj, offered assistance. I pretended to be a passerby and helped him heave Raj over one shoulder. Just straight cojones, to go up to the one person we shouldn’t and make him our ally. I’ve always liked that about you, kid.”

  I couldn’t help grinning at that. I’d remembered that bit of grift from childhood. It had seemed so fun at the time. Life as an actor, a life of pretend. But this story wasn’t a good sign. It meant his answer was no.

  “This job will net you a hundred and fifty grand, easy.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “What is this job, and why am I the one to take it?”

  “Because it’s in India. In Surat.”

  Instantly, I shook my head. “No way.” To this day, Surat, India, remained the diamond-cutting capital of the world. For that reason, security there was incredibly tight. And if you were caught, it wasn’t the American justice system. Technically, they believed in innocent until proven guilty, but there were exceptions, and just as America had prejudice against foreigners, so did Indians. I wasn’t interested in getting caught up over there.

  “You’re fluent in Hindi, and I heard you even studied there a couple of years back.”

  I shook my head again. “Pauly, I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’d be in over my head. Plus, stealing in Surat! Why not the White house? Break into the president’s limousine. It’d have a better shot at success.”

  He grimaced. “The job is not that hard, and it’s mostly legit,” he said. “I swear to you. Club Diamante is about power and prestige these days, not thievery.”

  I raised an eyebrow. Mostly legit. That was clearly lie, but that was how it always worked with these guys. It’s mostly fine. It’s just a little thing you’ll be doing and then you were sucked in. After my mother found out what my father did, she filed for divorce. She refused his money and we lived in some rough places. But, until he got caught for that las job and ended up in jail. I’d still see him, and he was like Pauly, in that he had this way about making things sound like they’d work out, that it was all good. But it never was. Not for my dad. And not for Pauly. Logic alone told me that people didn’t pay a hundred and twenty-five grand for simple, legit jobs.

  “You’re fabulous at identifying rough stones,” he said.

  He was trying to play to my ego, but he was also right. I was good at it. My father had taught me a lot, as had my degree. Even in trying to move on the right path, I couldn’t forget the first thing I really ever loved learning about: diamonds.

  “All I need from you is to go over there, identify some stones in the rough, and then bring them back.”

  I stared at him, uncertain what the catch was. “Why not go yourself?”

  “I’m busy,” he said.

  Lame excuse.

  “And,” I’d prefer someone who understood the language, and could help get them back without customs issues.”

  I blew out. Smuggling. Not what I wanted to be involved in. “I’m not right for this, Pauly.”

  He considered what I said for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, appraising me. Finally, he spoke. “What do you need the money for, kid? It’s not like you to want such a big amount.”

  I opened my mouth and said the words I’d practiced. “It’s not important why I need it. I just do.” I didn’t want Pauly doing any favors for me based on Lynx’s condition. First, it wasn’t his business. But second, and probably more important, I didn’t want Pauly involved with Lynx. My little brother was a lot like my father. Perhaps a lot like me, too. There was a lot about this life that was alluring, and I didn’t want him involved in it. I didn’t want Pauly lording it over him, either. If he got well. No, when Lynx got well, I didn’t want Pauly sitting there saying, “Hey, I did this for you. Help me out. Come use your Hindi to get yourself killed on some stupid diamond scam in one of the most security-conscious centers in the world.” No thank you on that.

  “The best I can do for right now is a couple of certifying jobs for a few of diamonds, but I have another guy I use, too, so I can’t divert all his business to you,” he said, looking like he was being honest. Though, guys like Pauly always managed to look like they were being honest. That was their gift.

  I leaned in a little closer. “Look,” I told him. “I could really use anything. How about a local job?”

  He started to open his mouth, to say no, but I held up a hand. “Think about it for a minute, alright?” I said, trying to look reasonable, like someone he should give some consideration. I stood “I’m gonna run to the lady’s room, and when I come back, we finish our conversation.”

  I went to the powder room, used the toilet, washed my hands and stepped out, intending to head straight back to the table to finish my conversation with Pauly. That’s when I heard my name. “Onyx?”

  I turned just in time to see a tall, fit man with tousled brown hair, a thick jaw, proud nose and handsome face staring at me from the bar. I recognized him instantly, even though I hadn’t known him particularly well. He looked a lot like Lily in certain ways. Same penetrating blue eyes, same high cheeks, but maybe a hint more melancholy in his eyes than hers.

  I walked over to him, and he gave me the awkward friend hug. Awkward because we weren’t actually friends. He was my dead best friend’s little brother. Ten months younger. Something apparently known as Irish twins, though I’d never heard the term until I’d met Lily.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Just saying hello to an old friend,” I told him. As I watched him now, it hit me again how handsome he was. I wasn’t sure how I hadn’t noticed before. Though, every other time we’d met, Lily had been there. And with her around, he was easy to view through the lens of goofy little brother. I’d somewhere registered that he was handsome, but I’d never really let that devil-may-care grin he wore now work its charm on me. But tonight, it was. He reminded me that it had been too long since I’d looked at a man and studied the way his suit on hung on him, the way it was a little too tight in the biceps, so you know he worked out. And he took care of himself, too. Clean shaven, hair tousled purposefully, and I was close enough to notice he was wearing some type of light cologne.

  “You look good,” he said to me. “I hadn’t seen you since...”

  The words trailed off, as no one liked talking about funerals. “I know,” I said, decid
ing to cut off the tension of that charged word. “How are you doing? How are your parents doing?”

  He gave a harsh laugh, and sat back down at the bar, grabbing the clear drink he had before him and slugging it back. I guess that was how he was doing. Poorly enough to swig shots of whatever that was. “No one is good,” he said, his voice bitter. “I mean, losing her, so suddenly, and not being able to pick up and call her... I don’t know. It’s ...”

  “Lonely,” I suggested.

  He nodded. “And my parents, they fill their loneliness with doing things they think she would have liked them to do. But you know, Lily wanted them to be better people, not to just pretend to be better people, and it just feels like they’re pretending, you know?”

  I patted his back. I didn’t know, not exactly. My mother had been real, and my father had never pretended. He may have lied about his job, but he didn’t pretend when it came to the core of his personality. “I’m sure it’s hard for them. And you, too. She talked about you a lot.”

  “You, too,” he said, which felt surprising, even though it shouldn’t have been. We were roommates. We traveled abroad together for that last, awful trip. I felt a pang of guilt. Lily wouldn’t even have been in India to get struck by a car if it weren’t for me. I suddenly wanted to leave. To turn tail and run, the way I’d basically done at the funeral. I could tell Mr. and Mrs. Harper blamed me for their daughter’s death. And being under that scrutiny when I was also suffering my own pain over her loss had been a nightmare. I was about to open my mouth to tell him I was going back to my friend, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

  “Onyx,” I heard Pauly say. “I didn’t realize you knew Ryan here.”

  I guess we were in the same boat. I didn’t realize he knew Ryan, either. “Yeah,” I said, caught off guard by his appearance over here. “Ryan’s sister and I were good friends. How do you know Ryan?”