“A beautiful, loving wife, and I’m surprised you haven’t heard who I married... hey, what the hell are you doing in St. Louis anyway?”

“Tying up some loose ends,” he grins. “You going up?” he looks at the buttons for the floors and back at me.

Why the hell is he here? I haven’t seen him in years.

“Marcus, it’s good to see you and that fucking stunt you just pulled was classic, so forgive me when I ask how the hell you knew where I lived... and for the love of God please tell me you’re here to see me, and not my father. I can’t take any more secrets from him.”

He gives me an inquisitive look and places his hands in his pockets. “Your dad lives with you? Isn’t that fitting? I know you were fucked up over him being in prison and all, but wow, you guys live together? You taking care of him ‘til he gets back on his feet?”

I laugh and shake my head; not volunteering any more personal information until I figure out exactly what’s going on with this guy. What does he want?

“I’d invite you up, but my wife’s probably asleep, and I try to keep some sensitive subjects away from her, such as Jameson Industries.”

“Oh yeah, she knows you were a porn star?”

I nod.

“Right on. So she probably wouldn’t like me much if she found out I had my hands on your dick?”

“Marcus, this isn’t a joke. I’m tired, just tell me what you want. You obviously didn’t show up here to reminisce ‘bout old times.”

He digs in his ear as if it’s a distraction that gives him time to think then looks at his finger, digs again, and glares into my face.

“Are you okay? Do you need some money?” I wonder if he’s broke? Most of Paul’s former porn stars get hooked on drugs and end up living on the streets. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t like the rest, although, when I look him over he’s dressed well, and those badass Martin Dingman Arlo shoes cost a fortune. I know, ‘cause I want a pair myself.

“Star, we’re friends, right?”

I never know how to answer that question. “Call me Cove,” I finally say.

“Cove,” he laughs. “Sorry man, I know your real name. And I see by your fingers that you’ve had a nice talk with David recently. He get what he wanted from you?”

A drop of water from the tip of his bangs lands on his cheek and slides down his face. I watch another fall to his nose and a few more drip onto his shoulders. He swipes the hair to the side then wipes his face with his hands and smiles.

“What do you think he wanted from me?” I ask cautiously.

“You sure you’re not going up? It’s cold in this elevator and I have a feeling you make a decent living from your wine bar, so your place must be big enough for us to sit and talk without disturbing your wife. Right?”

I try to think quickly but realize I don’t have much of a choice here, he’s the one with the knife, but then again maybe I do have a way out. It’s too confining to sit in my car, and I’m sure as hell not getting in his, but the lobby should suffice. I push the first floor button and apologize for not taking him to our place. “Sorry, you’re right, our home is a good size, but I don’t want to take a chance of waking my wife. Trust me, you don’t want to see her when she’s angry.”

He nods, never letting go of the smile on his face.

As suspected, the lobby’s vacant and private at this time of the night. We take a seat on the large sofa that’s been placed in the room more for decoration than functionality. His back is to the front door and mine to the elevator. I watch a few cars splash through puddles as they pass in front of our building.

“Well, Marcus. What loose ends do you have in St. Louis and how do you know I saw David? My fingers could be broken for many reasons. And why did you seek me out?”

He sets his foot on his upper thigh and places his arm on the sofa back, leaning in a relaxing manner. His eyes set on mine while he speaks. “Cove, I’m not the type of guy to fuck around, not like Paul, or David. I learned a lot from them, but they were both pussies. So, let me get to the point of my visit. I’m sure you’re aware of David’s untimely death.”

“Suicide.”

“Yes, well... shit. You know better than that.”

“Is it in the news already? How’d you hear about it?” I ask in fear of what will be said about the Scarlett.

“We had a meeting this evening and he never showed.”

“David was in town for something else, and unless you tell me what the meeting was for, I won’t believe otherwise.”

“Yep, your wife’s inheritance. He did have two reasons to be in town, now didn’t he? Money, and money.”

“So you already knew I was married. Tell me how you have information about my wife’s inheritance?”

“Don’t you ever look at the company’s site anymore?” he asks. “See what’s happening in the business, how Jameson Industries is number one once more, supreme and invincible,” his voice raises, “indestructible and all-powerful because of the new head of the company, Marcus Wild. I’ve filled Paul’s shoes nicely, and I know you married his daughter. I knew you found yourself a wife and not a whore.”

“No shit?” my words fumble out of my mouth. “You took over for Paul?”

“Yeah, number one, Cove. So, you wanna join me? Drive the company off the charts? Paul and David were good, but not smart enough to keep themselves out of a pine box. I’m a goddamn genius compared to them; a combination of the two, their best qualities and greatest strengths, without the addictions and age which sent them under.”

“Everyone’s addicted to something,” I mumble.

“True, my friend. And usually it’s money, or alcohol, and not young boys. Right?” He looks at his diamond watch, something that probably cost an easy fifty grand, and I stare at his shoes again. “It’s the liquor that gets people in trouble, and I don’t have that problem,” he places his hand on my leg and holds my knee tightly. “But, I sure as fuck love money. Now, you know the St. Louis area well, and you were one of the best employees in this city, what do you say? I’ll make you head of the mid-west region.”

“Working for Paul was never anything I did by choice. It was a forced profession and one I’ll never step into again,” is my answer.

“Yeah, but I doubt Paul ever paid you what you were worth. You’ve got a kid on the way, how about two mil a year to start? What did you make from him? Hundred grand? Two hundred? Nickels and dimes compared to what you’ll get now.”

“You know what?” I lean forward and set my hand on his knee in an imitating gesture. “It’s actually the money that gets people in trouble, and I don’t have that problem. But I sure as fuck love alcohol. Now if you’d excuse me, I’m gonna go have a drink and go to bed.”

“Actually,” he secures his grip not allowing me to leave. “Not yet, Cove. I didn’t stop by today just to offer you a job, besides, I already knew you’d say no, just wanted to fuck with you a little bit.”

“Well don’t. I’ve dealt with a suicide and an attempted suicide today. Get to the fucking point.” Marcus is right, he’s a combination of Paul and David and it makes me sick. Plus, why the hell is he smiling all the time? What an assbag. He used to be such a nice guy. As usual, you can’t trust a soul in that company.

“Alright then, no more games. I want the money David was after. We came here together for business, and the money was part of it. His ‘suicide,’ as you call it, is going to complicate some areas of the company he had access too, at least for a little while. The twelve million will compensate for those losses until my right of entry returns in those areas. And, as far as David was concerned, he just wanted the money because he’s a greedy cocksucker. I want it to tide me over until his assets get sorted out.”

“And let me guess, you’re not going to take no for an answer?”

He laughs and fidgets with his watch again.

“At least you didn’t break my fingers asking for it.”