A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 16: A Party for Two

"Red and Illumi are clear to go."

"Understood," Illumi said. Both of them strolled the sidewalk with clicking heels. Following the secluded entrance, they squeezed together inside the telephone booth, and Illumi brought the phone to his lips.

"l' alcool de contrebande"

(French for moonshine)

The wall of the phonebooth cranked open, a secret door.

He could feel Red's body stiffen entirely, before wandering in first. Carpet walls of greens and grays ran through the bar. Dim hanging lights engulfed the ceiling over glossed wooden counters. The bar was large, and old fashioned, running down a corner of the room. In the center were tables, clothed with flowered vases and candle lights. Layers of shelves held barrels where servers poured wine into glasses stacked on glasses. It smelled of vintage cobwebs and vanilla tainted alcohol.

Illumi caught sight of Nobunaga in the back, already working in character, searching for others who might be here on their account. Men and women sat at the tables or danced by the bar. Each person here was important, running some type of underground business of weapons, explosives, auctions, information, guns, and transits. And there on a stool of the bar was a large man of slicked chestnut brown hair with a smoke in his mouth.

Illumi quickly grabbed Raine's arm before she ran off and tilted his head at the man by the bar. "We have to introduce ourselves."

Raine followed but lowered her hat over her eyes.

"Ah...Erica Chambers and Hale Grall. Glad you could make it." The man reached out for Raine's hand and brought it to his lips. "A pleasure."

Unfortunately, Raine retracted her hand before he could kiss her.

"Marshall Caws," Illumi said while squeezing her hand to scold her. "Head of the Moonshine Mafia. It is a pleasure to be here. I must apologize for her distance. She's in a mood because of a missing business transaction under our nose. She refuses to speak to anyone until the matter is solved."

Marshall chuckled. "How stubborn." He blew out his smoke and eyed her eerily, then, he dipped his cigar into an ashtray and flicked it away. "But that doesn't excuse rude manners." He snatched Raine's jaw and yanked her forward. Illumi immediately caught Raine's hand before she attacked, and with his other hand, Illumi grabbed the man's forearm. She could have dodged but she must have known he'd have scolded her again.

"We do not allow business in the forms of physical contact." Illumi stepped in between and ripped the man's hand off her. "Because it extends beyond what our contract provides. Do not prompt us to break the contract, or no limits will excuse our next course of actions."

Marshall grunted in surprise then leaned back laughing. Illumi noticed his grip left her cheeks pinched and tainted. "I knew I made the right decision in inviting y'all. On the phone I was afraid you were a doormat, no offense. Please, have fun. All drinks are on me." He winked at Red who was still giving him a death stare. Marshall's men approached them wearily but he held up his hand to hold them off.

Illumi straightened his bow tie. "We plan to." Thank goodness that didn't escalate. He spotted the stage with a light band playing in the background. Saxophones and a piano were in duet behind a singer. "Did you hire these musicians? They are quite talented."

Marshall ordered a bourbon glass and whisked it around. "You have good taste, my friend. I did hire them. Saved the best for last too." He took a sip. "Just wait. Sage Waters is appearing tonight. Brings in good business from other continents."

The bartender rolled a glass of whiskey on ice down the counter which Marshall caught. "For you," he handed Illumi the drink. "People downtown say she's the best singer in the world. It took a lot of arrangements to get her here. And she insisted that the number of people be over a hundred. She sure loves her audience."