Chapter Three
Jason thought about what Sonny said the whole ride back to the safe house. He wanted to see Elizabeth before she got too worried. She asked him numerous questions about what was going on, if she should worry about the boys, or herself, and he kept the same answer.
"There's nothing to worry about," Jason told her with a smile.
Apparently she didn't believe him because not long after his phone rang.
"What?" Jason asked, frustrated to once again be interrupted in a relaxing moment with Elizabeth.
"Looks like a family affair tonight. Both Zacchara's are out and Johnny brought a date," the kid told him.
"Who?"
"Lulu Spencer. They're headed towards the club."
Jason looked at his watch. It was still early.
"What time did she go last night?"
"Not until around ten."
"So she's early?"
"Yep."
"Okay. Call me in a couple hours." Jason hung up the phone and relaxed back on the couch.
"What's wrong now?" she asked. "Do you have to leave?"
"No. Nothing is wrong. Just relax." Jason urged her not to worry but he could tell that she was tense now, worried probably more for his safety than her own. He wouldn't lie to her about that. But he would never tell her everything she wanted to know. That's why their relationship didn't work ten years ago. She needed to be more patient this time around otherwise she might lose him again.
It was quiet in the safe house for exactly two hours when Jason's phone rang again.
"Yes?" he said.
"They're going inside."
"I'm on my way." Jason hung up the phone and looked at Elizabeth. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Go do what you have to do. Be careful," she said giving him a kiss before watching him walk out the door. Maybe one day soon he would trust her enough to let her know.
The building was exactly as described. Just a big warehouse. The only thing that distinguished it from the others was the large line outside. It cost him 300 to get in without standing in line. The bouncers weren't feeling too generous that night. It was packed inside but it didn't take him long to notice the kid sitting at one end of the bar.
"Bud Light," Jason said walking up to the bar. "Where are they?" Jason asked once the bartender put the drink in front of him. The kid nodded across the room to a loft that towered down over the crowd. Lulu and Johnny were standing among a crowd of people looking down on the stage. She was laughing at something he said. After a few moments of watching they were joined by two women: Brenda Barrett and Claudia Zacchara.
Jason flipped open his phone and dialed a series of numbers, setting his phone on the bar, and watched her, waiting to see if she would actually pick it up. She made no move to answer a phone. He closed his phone and took a drink of his beer.
"What are you doing?" the kid asked.
"Waiting."
"For what?"
"Stop asking questions," Jason told him.
They sat in silence for an hour before Jason set down his second beer, tossed some bills onto the counter and stood up.
"Where are you going?" the kid asked.
"Stay here until they leave," Jason told him before walking out of the club.
He never saw the eyes watching him as he walked out.