Tuesday morning at ten the casino bosses filed into the 38. The Omertas were there in force, but clueless, and the Chairmen were raring to go, anticipating a fight. The Luxers sent just a few, and they were clearly on guard.
"What did you say to them?" Six asked Benny from their vantage point on the balcony overlooking the penthouse conference tables.
"Nothing, baby doll, my guys are always ready to go, and the Ultra Luxe guys always look cagey." He ran a hand possesively from her hair down her back, pausing at her ass before he playfully pushed her towards the stairs.
She started her descent but paused to shoot a look reminding him of his place. He raised his hands in surrender and continued down.
The courier took her place at the head of the table, leaving Benny a seat between her and the Chairmen. She handed him a pad of paper and a fountain pen. "Where's that scribe, Veronica?" Cachino asked.
"Out. Benny's in, so..."she said, dismissing him.
"What the fuck? You in bed with the chairmen now, Courier?" He wouldn't drop it.
"And if she is, what business is it of yours?" Swank broke in.
"Chill, boys, you all know I was doing some freelance work for House, this ain't no different." Benny spoke calmly.
"So you was blowing a mummy? I knew you liked the kinks, guy, but that's hardcore."
"Or maybe it was some sick robo shit. I heard he had one of them up in his room " One of the other Omertas chimed in.
"Watch your fucking mouth in front of the lady," Benny spat. "Unless she invites you, you keep your dirty ass out of her
personals. I don't see that happening anytime soon, dig?"
"This is bull shit."
"Now is Gomorrah up in my shit or is it just you, Cachino? Cause I can sure get up in yours," Six threatened.
The room went quiet. The Omerta backed down, but Mortimer leaned forward, incredibly courier stared him down, with a terrifying presence. "So, old business; NCR request for reopening the tram granted, any complaints?" The room was silent. "And the ultra luxe grand reopening, were you satisfied, Mortimer?"
"Ah, yes. Yes, though you could have chosen a more appropriate venue for announcing your, ahem, companionship with Mr Gecko."
She made a funny laughing/choking sound in her throat. "New business, then?"
"Yeah, uh," Swank said nervously, "The guys wanted me to bring up the Boomers. They come, sure, but they don't spend any dough, not even on rooms. If you could do some PR on the swinging attractions that would be great, but we need to lay off the twinkling lights and glorious sights of the strip, if you don't wanna start the credit checks up again."
"The Ultra Luxe would be glad to accommodate them, regardless of per capita expenditures," Mortimer offered.
Her eyes never left Swank's. "Yeah, alright, I'll send Raul over. He'll talk y'all up, thrill of the game is like flying or something. Anything else?"
Cachino grumbled from his corner, "yeah, we got a shipment coming in, chairs and beds and shit- corpseless ones, blood free and all that jazz, so ain't we fancy? Youse ain't gotta do shit though, but I'm supposed to give notice."
"Thanks!" Six smiled and bat her eyes. "I'll send over some Securitrons anyway, so more of your guys can do the heavy lifting without having to be on lookout. Get it done faster."
Cachino nodded, pleased.
"Heck Gundarson has raised his prices, heavily. Especially with the reopening, this is problematic," Mortimer intoned.
"For all of you?" Six raised her eyebrows and looked to the other bosses. Swank shook his head and Cachino answered no. She shrugged and told him simply, "Hey, try to murder my loved ones, and I'll gouge your meat too," Six winked. Benny gave her a look of bemused adoration. "And if there's nothing else, we're done. Bye, boys," she said before turning out of the room.
Once she had ascended the stairs and gone through the elevator, Cachino broke the silence, "Well ain't she chipper?"
"Yeah, the doll never sends out Raul, and those boomers love him," Swank added.
"I don't like this whole thing, Benny, but as long as she's like this, I'll go along," Cachino threw his weight around. "besides, it's probably more trouble for you than for me, riskier too. I don't know what your angle is, but try to pull some kinda shit, and you're done in this town for good."
"Like you could stop her, or me." Benny rolled his eyes. "I ain't gonna pretend like she ain't got me on a short leash, but the danger is part of the thrill, hey?" Then he winked and sauntered out of the room humming Sinatra.
