The Secret Life of Blythe

5. Leo

After leaving Blythe at the airport Tom takes me back to Brooklyn in the Town Car.  The journey quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts.  In no time at all we enter the gates of the mansion of horrors.  Mattia has told me to come straight up to his office so that's exactly what I do. 
"You took your time" he shouts as I'm climbing the stairs.  I roll my eyes not willing to tell him that I've just been loving on my wife for the last four hours.  He'll only give me shit about it anyway.  I push the door open and drop my suitcase next to the wall.  He's stood by a small bar in the corner with two tumblers full of dark liquor. 
"Cheers my friend" he says passing me a tumbler and clinking with mine.  He looks at his watch and frowns.
"we have 30 minutes before we need to be somewhere".  I raise my eyebrows in suspicion.   "Relax Leo, I'm taking you to the club, we'll mingle, I'll introduce you to a few people and a potential client that needs help".  The word club fills me with dread.  The last time I was there i was coked out of my head taking full advantage of everything they had to offer.  I had a list of girls, literally queuing up to spend a night with me.  When word got around of the fact I licked pussy willingly every girl wanted a bit of me.  The fact that I had so little respect for my body that I would happily go down on a sex worker disgusts me now.  I'm surprised I managed a condom during those times but luckily it's a rule and the girls are strict about them.  I hardly remember any of the acts themselves to be truthful, testament to how much of a junkie I was at the time.  I steel myself and down the last of my glass. 
"I'll get changed quickly, I'm presuming the normal suit and tie?" I ask as Mattia affirms by nodding his head, lost in his own thoughts it would seem. 

True to his word, 30 minutes later Tom has the car waiting out the front as we leave the house.  We look like the criminals that we are tonight and it's the first realisation I have, that I might see some stuff that I haven't in a long time tonight. 
"You got this?" he asks.
"Yeah man I'm good" he chuckles.
"You even sound like a fucking surfer dude these days, Leo"  That makes me full belly laugh, I've never thought about it but yeah that's the lifestyle I live with Blythe at my side and I love every minute of the wholesome life she's provided me with. 

Tom takes us to the back of the club where the fire door's already open for us to enter.  I'm introduced to some new faces and catch up with some old.  I can hear the thudding bass of the various club rooms on the other side of the building.  Mattia's office hasn't changed a dime since I was last here.  It doesn't surprise me he's a creature of habit if nothing else.  Although he does assure me that a lot of money has been spent on the other side of the staff only doors. 

A gentle knock on the door distracts us both, "Come in" he hollers in a stern don't fuck with me type of voice.  
"It's just me Mattia" she says, halting when she see's me sat at the desk. 
"Candy this is Leonardo, my attorney". 
"Oh" she giggles, making her way to sit at the opposite chair from me.  She's wearing next to nothing, the outfit practically sprayed on and I'm pleased to note that I feel nothing in the slightest, testament to my hatred of how I behaved back in those dark days.  This was a temporary temptation to me when I was fucked up and had nothing but my own self loathing.  Now I have everything so of course I wouldn't find myself letching over any of these women.   I always think the worst of myself, Blythe tells me the same all the time.  She's every bit of the light inside me, it's just that lingering darkness I can't seem to extinguish entirely. 

"Candy, I want you to tell Leo everything" Mattia says whilst pouring us another drink. 
"Um, well, it's a long story but I'm kind of being blackmailed" she whispers the last part like it's a big secret.  Once she finishes her story, I find out that the guy blackmailing her for sexual favours is NYPD.  Fucking great, first job back and I'm already dealing with the police. 
"We'll sort it out Candy" I assure her. 
"So it'll stop?" she pleads.  I nod towards her whilst side eying Mattia.  I know he means to pay him a visit but I'm not sure what my legal expertise will require.  By the look on Mattia's face the guy will most likely be in a hospital bed by the end of the night. 
"I don't like people fucking with my girls Leo" he snaps as I raise my hands in agreement. 
"Candy we'll sort it ok, you can get back to work now darlin" he winks at her as she stands to leave.  
"So you up for your first little on the job action later Mr Surfer dude?".  
"If it's important to you then it's important to me" I say gulping down the rest of my liquor while dreading fills the pit of my stomach.