CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 23: INVITATION

I spent my time suspended from work going to every mafia meeting just as the boss originally told me to do, but I also went above and beyond that. I spent almost all my extra time hanging out with Rockie and his gang and helping them out with whatever they needed. Their main job was getting back at mafia members who had betrayed the Family, which often included killing them. I didn't mind helping them out with that. Usually those who betrayed the Family were doing so out of selfishness, not because they had any good in their heart.

The other thing we did was steal from businesses by threatening the business owners' lives. That was something I had a harder time doing. It definitely wasn't something I agreed with. We would split the money between the five of us and use it to gamble on poker games every Tuesday. I always bet all my money because I didn't want to keep extorted money. I didn't expect to actually win one day.

"Congrats, Crypto!" Rockie said. "You finally did it!"

"You mean... all this money is mine?" I asked.

They all nodded.

"That's a lot of money," I said.

"You won it fair and square."

"How about we play another game?"

"That was all my money so I'm out," Duke said.

"Yeah," Willow said. "I think we've spent enough for one day."

I looked down at the pile of cash in front of me. I had to get rid of it somehow, but I knew none of the guys would stoop low enough to receive it if I tried to give it to them. Birdie on the other hand... She was always sweet to me and I bet she didn't have as much cash as the guys did.

"Here, Birdie," I said, scooting the money to her. "You can have these."

"Oh, no, Crypto. I shouldn't," she said.

"I insist," I said.

"That's so kind of you, Crypto," Rockie said.

"Are you sure?" Birdie asked me.

"Positive," I said. "You deserve it."

"Thank you." She turned to Rockie. "Can we have Crypto over for dinner, sweetie? As a way to say thank you?"

"But you already said thank you," he said.

"Pleeeeease!" she begged in the cutest way, like a young girl asking her dad if she could go out with friends.

"Oh, alright," he said. "As long as you're making the meal."

"Of course."

"Crypto, would you like to have dinner with us?"

"I'd love to," I said. It was a big step for Rockie to trust me enough to know where he lived.

"You can come at five o' clock. No earlier, no later," he told me. "I'll text you the address."

By that time, I had my car. It was dented because of the accident, but it still worked.

I drove to the address Rockie sent me and waited a couple minutes for the clock to turn to 5:00, then I went to the door and knocked. I could hear piano music playing even from the outside.

Rockie opened the door. "Welcome to our humble abode."