How Things Are

thirty four

Before I can walk out back of the Inn door I'm stopped with a question

"And just where are you going," Leo looks me up and down "dressed like that?"

I slowly turn around. "Air. I need it."

He smiles "I'll go with you. I need air too." There he goes playing his games.

"Not dressed like that you aren't." I grunt out. There's no fighting him on this. He'll push, then cause more of a seen. It's not worth it.

He tilts his head looking curiously. "Well then, better not leave without me or I'll report you ran away little girl."

"You have five minutes. Don't forget your purse drama queen." He smiles and runs to his room. Of course one of them would catch me. By the time he gets back my patience nearly expires. "If those are your casual clothes then try again."

He comes down with a satin black button down shirt and matching black pants. I'm not sure the material but they sure aren't casual. His shoes shine in the light and of course theirs a fancy knife clip around his belt.

I'm sure there was steam coming out of my ears. "I should've just jumped out of my window." I mumbled angrily

"What?" He smiles and looks down at himself. "This is Mafia casual sweetheart."

I just turn away from him and start heading towards my favorite place I discovered when Winwrey and I stayed here. If he wants to make a fool of himself then fine by me.
It's a forty minute jog from the hotel to where we are going. This place is hidden between alleys and streets that need construction. Potholes and road kill. They make sure it stays that way so no car comes down this road. Every business owner here tries to keep the rich away. And the rich get cheated.

The first time I discovered this place I was in love. It was a thieves wet dream. Then I found Sammy's. An underground casino full of the dirtiest games you can think of. May the best cheater win. Sammy himself realized I was a girl, instead of reporting me, he saw that as a business opertunity. He had me teach his girls how to play and cheat. Made it apart of the casino. 'If you can beat one of his women then you get a little something special'. I wasn't proud but he kept my secret and I kept coming back to play until me and Winwrey left.

If the Mafia know about this place they can't do anything. Nutrual Zone. And because people come and go, no one really acknowledged they're getting ripped off. They're just staring at pretty girls faces while they play.

I walk in to Sammy's with Leo and everything goes silent. Finally Sammy himself walks out of his office and up to me. "What's this?" He looks betrayed and insulted

I take Sammy to the side as Leo sits down at a card table. "I told him nothing Sam. I promise."
He thinks I told him how his casino works. "You know what kind of costumers I want. He is not one of them."
I look down then take a deep breath "I was caught by Lucas. I'm owned now." I'm not sure if he was angry or sad. "Look. I didn't come here to tell. I came here for a break. They can't do anything. This is nutrual zone." I remind him.
He sighs "Mafia is still dangerous business Tibby." He looks me up and down "they still let you carry your Katana?"
I smiled. "Yeah. He made me a swords woman."
Sammy nods his head and smiles "Good. I'm going to take everything he has tonight." He gives the dealer a signal and points me to another table.
"You can't rip me off Sammy. I know how to play the game." We both sit down
"We'll see. I've been getting better." He says with confidence

We both sit and focus on the card game. He tells me how business has been since I left. More games and how bought and trained more girls. It was another way of him distracting me but I couldn't tell how proud he was of his business.

Every so often we could hear Leo's frustration from loosing. It got to the point his pockets were so empty he put his shirt on the table to gamble it away. By then, me and Sammy stopped our game and watched as he removed his shoes next. "I love this part." Sammy chuckles.
The dealer and players that were working for Sammy pretended to flirt and encourage Leo. Whether he was angry he was losing his clothes was hard to tell with the cheers he received from the women.

"Those look like expensive shoes." Sammy said as we continued watching.

"Mafia casual." I repeat

Sammy side smiles like he's struck gold. "You should bring him by more often."

"Not all of them are stupid." I glare at him "most know I'm a theif too."

Leo is sitting with his knife covering his goodies now. The women pretend to look bewitched by it. Sammy has trained them well.

"Very well." We both watch as Leo loses his last pair of clothes. "I miss having you here though Tibs. Bring more stup-" He clears his throat "bring more friends next time."

I stand "I'll bring the stupid ones for you Sammy." Saying only so he can hear.

Before Leo can put his knife on the table I grab his arm and pull him away. Tipping the dealer as I leave. She nods her head remembering who I was as Leo walks naked with me out the door. I take off my jacket and hand it to Leo so he can wrap it around his waist but like an idiot he just covers his shoulders.
"It's too small."

I give him a blank look "it's to cover your balls idiot."

His eyebrows raise "oh!" He's drunk too. Smart thing about Sammy's, give free drinks if he knows he's gonna win big. "I like that place. We should go back soon."

"I'm sure you do." I say sarcastically. "Wrap that around your waist so the inn keeper let's us back inside."

With some drunkin stumbling he wraps my jacket around his waist and wiggles his hips. The forty minute jog turned into a two hour walk with his bare feet on the road. I had to carry his knife so he would stop threatening people who stared. We tip toed in and his feet were disgusting. The inn keeper wasn't pleased. Not to mention the fact that he left his room key in his pants so he needed a new one.

By the time I got things settled with him and back to my room it was four thirty AM. I didn't even bother changing. I just lay down and fell asleep.