Secret Lives (Closed)

[Asa]

No that will be fine Mason. I... would love to go in there but... No... you know... lets go... make it look all official and all that rubbish...

She was feeling a tad more brave but that in and of itself was terrifying. What was it about this young man that made her feel this way? For some reason in this moment any risk of Ton'y getting upset with the informal nature between them was the furthest from her mind... she just wanted to remain near Mason.

 

[tinwoodsman]

"Really!?" He realized he'd probably said that too quickly and tried to cover, "I mean, it's no trouble. Are you sure?" His town sounded like he wanted her to say yes. He shifted, ready to move with her to the cafe not wanting to leave her.

 

[Asa]

Yes... I am sure... lead the way Mason

She smiled a little brighter to him for only a split second as she quickly fell into the expected demeanor and expressionless face sunglasses slipping into place slowly as she awaited him to open the door for her.

 

[tinwoodsman]

Mason slipped out and moved around to open her door. He was all smiles as he moved back to pry the car open. Worried he was too excited, Mason tried to relax his face. He wanted nothing more to offer his hand, but paranoia won out over passion and he closed the door when she was out.

"You know, I don't open the door just because I work for your-" he paused, wondering why he was even saying that. Also not wanting to voice the word that would remind him that this was the wife of a gangster.

 

[Asa]

She smiled nodding softly he didn't need to finish his statement. It was clear that neither of them wanted to think about her husband or her marriage in that moment.

I know Mason...

Her words were soft as she moved to begin walking into the cafe with a soft but emotionless face. Eyes glancing around seeing a couple of the others of her husbands payroll and simply nodded to them as she walked to a table to sit down awaiting Mason to tend to the orders and sit down.

 

[tinwoodsman]

Mason held the door, hands close to his body more to keep from fighting them as they tried to reach out for Jasleena and he followed her in like a shadow. While he didn't know who to look for in the specific sense he knew what to look for in a protective one. Seeing nothing threatening but not wanting to risk someone who knew Jasleena reporting back to Tony anything unusual he lingered back while she took a seat, then went to get her order.

"One coffee, one soda. Croissant and that lemon thing." He said, keeping his posture open so that he could watch Jasleena from the corner of his eye. Even sitting he remained turned from her by a few degrees. While it was a good way to keep an eye out for danger and prove he was doing his job to passers by it also became a nice way to avoid being distracted by the woman sitting across from him.

"I didn't know if you liked Pink, Blue or Yellow so I brought all three." He said, gesturing to the nine packets on the table. While his posture was professional, the casual undertone still lingered in his voice as a subtle reminder of who he was in the car, behind closed doors.

 

[Asa]

She absently picked up one not really caring which one she used and nodded to him with that still emotionless face. Glancing around her eyes cold as she gazed to those that were on Tony's payroll if not direct employees. In a way she was trying to show Mason some faces to remember in case she failed to see them in the future.

After this you will drive me to the convention center for that Charity event of the Mayors wife and once you have dropped me off you will have 1 1/2 hours minimum. to tend to whatever else Tony requires of you.

 

[tinwoodsman]

"Understood, ma'am."

Mason seemed to be aware she was intentionally pausing a people she looked at so he turned, trying see what she wanted him to see. He filed details away, as he'd been trained to.

"I will call Tony, let him know the schedule."

 

[Asa]

Finishing her food and then sipping her coffee she relaxed a little bit but still alert to where her husbands associates/whatever were sitting or standing or leaving. She really did not want to go to this thing but it would help Tony and everyone always did what helped Tony... no matter what. She glanced to Mason a couple of times with a well veiled smile hidden from the view of most by her coffee cup.

 

[tinwoodsman]

Mason watched the room, stealing glances at Jasleena when he could and catching a smile from time to time though his face tried not to return the expression his eyes had a spark behind them. While she ate and drank he toyed with the empty sugar packet for a bit, then drank his soda and finished off his lemon tart. "Love these things." He said, almost offhandedly.

 

[Asa]

She nodded absently finishing her coffee. After setting the cup down she received a call...

Hello... Yes Dominick what... Please remind him I have the charity function in less than an hour with the Mayors wife... Thank you... yes call me back after you talk to him thats fine or suggest that he call me... Bye

Hanging up she sighed shaking her head she knew this was some game one of these idiots could have called him or Tony was just being paranoid for some reason though it could well be a valid reason of late she really didn't want to know.

 

[tinwoodsman]

Something in Mason's mind wanted him to find out about what was going on. It was probably a clue as to what Tony was doing but for some reason his job just seemed secondary right now. Still he was curious enough to ask, "Everything okay?" If there was something he needed to know about the evenings plans it wasn't like hew as using Jasleena for information on her husband, he was genuinely curious.

 

[Asa]

Yes everything is fine... Tony perhaps forgot for a moment about my duty to the charity event with the Mayors wife today... I guess.

She sighed and placed her phone down by her coffee cup and waited for Dominick or her husband to call back.

 

[tinwoodsman]

Mason wanted to dig, and find out more, but he wasn't sure how to do that without making Jasleena suspicious. As attractive as she was, he could let his guard down and let her go off and tell Tony he was cop.

"Does he do that a lot?" He decided to ask safely. "Forget you have plans, that is." Mason checked his watch, making sure they weren't going to be late for anything. It also reminded him how little time he had left with Jasleena.

 

[Asa]

Tony often forgets things that do not include him or his businesses.

She sighed staring at the phone her mind already preparing an excuse for the Mayors wife if she needed one

 

[tinwoodsman]

"Sorry." Mason really didn't know what else to say. It didn't seem right, and part of him wondered where else Tony was selfish. The phone rang, bring Mason's thought back to the now. He gestured to ask if he should go.

When Jasleena picked up the phone Tony hardly gave her the chance to really get her bearings, "Can you reschedule at all? I'm having lunch with some Christian organization and I need you there to be the perfect picture of domestication. If they think, for a moment, we're lacking in strong family values this whole thing could fall through."

 

[Asa]

She stifled a sigh and smiled as she spoke trying to make it as convincing as possible.

I will simply tell her that I am unable to attend and hope that all goes well at the event. Where do we need to meet you for this display our family happiness?

With everything she has gone through Hollywood has nothing on her. She could help him make anyone believe any lie they needed or wanted to believe about them

 

[tinwoodsman]

If Tony was relieved he didn't sound it. "Be a the Country Club at 12:45. I'll wait for you. Wear something very, very, conservative but not frumpy. Ask Lorenzo before you leave the house." He was issuing orders more than making requests. "I have to go for now. I'll see you at 12:45." He hung up, not even waiting for or saying goodbye.

Mason just watched, waiting for his opening to ask, "Change of plans?"

 

[Asa]

She nodded with a sigh and shaking her head calling the mayors wife and making her excuses getting out of the charity event and making a very sizable donation in her absence. Hanging up from that she relayed the info to Mason from Tony. The annoyance and just emotional exhaustion in her voice was thick as she stood up.

Lets go back to the house Mason.

 

[tinwoodsman]

A flash of contained emotion escaped Mason's gaze. He clearly didn't like this turn of events, but there wasn't much he could do about it. Nodding he got up, paused and managed to avoid pulling Jasleen's chair for her. He knew people might be watching and as much as it pained him, he had to keep things looking right.

He didn't see a problem with opening the door to the cafe or the car. "Sorry." he said, before closing her door. He actually sounded genuinely sad for her.

***

Tony would not be home to meet Jasleena. Across town plans were being put into motion as Tony looked over the scene. Electronic gambling machines were smashed, displays broken, vending machines destroyed just for the purpose of destruction.

"They didn't anything?" He asked.

Myers, the former Police Medical examiner, shook his head, "Not from what we can tell, but a full inventory is needed. Looks like the came in, shoved everyone out and went to the back room first. There's no evidence of anyone getting hurt out here and they were gone in seconds."

"Show me the back." Tony demanded.

Where there was once a well crafted poker table and a bar or drinks, there was now wood, poker chips and playing cards splattered with the blood of three men. The deal was Johnny Feral, a 23 year old math wizard who's only crime was being a card dealer with dreams of making it to Vegas. He'd been doing a game for Brandon Malcone, who was normally in charge of collection along the East side and Nine-Fingers McGee who was as a better bookie than he was a bartender, and he was damn find bartender.

In the corner, on a couch, lay three thugs who normally hung out should things at the poker table get heated. All three men were sprawled out and dead. The only person left alive was the young woman who'd been tending the bar.

Myers explained, "Far as we can tell. Shooters, at least two, busted in and shot the goons first. Guys didn't even have a chance to get up. Next up were the three men at the table. Interesting enough there is a shotgun blast behind the bar. Almost as if someone walked up to it, aimed over the bar and shot once at close range."

"The bar wench?" Tony asked, assuming she was meant to be the target.

"Hid behind the bar the whole time. Says she got a look at one of the shooters but can't give us much except a guy with blond hair and sunglasses. She could tell you all about the sunglasses - they seem to be all she remembers."

"Yaks?"

Myers nodded, "This seems Yakuza related. They might be making a play for the gambling in this city and it doesn't look like they took anything. Even left the strong box on the bar. Even the criminals in Japan think theft is beneath them."

Tony nodded, "I'm going to meet with some people and see about expanding into more secure areas."

"That's going to mean more cops sniffing around." Warned Meyers.

"Let me deal with that. You just figure out how many guys we're looking for." And with that Tony left.

 

[Asa]

Arriving home she went and found one of her skirt suits and blouse with some low heels and went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee expecting critique once she got in there. this was one of her standbys for when Tony had these prim and proper groups to meet with.

Sitting down at the table she sighed staring out the massive doors leading to the back yard and pool.

 

[tinwoodsman]

Mason approached, hands almost reaching out for Jasleena, but managed to stop himself. "Do you like the beach?" He asked casually. Glancing around he made sure no one was watching then continued, "You seem found of water and sunshine. If there's one thing the South Texas has, it's beach fronts."

 

[Asa]

Yes I do but heaven forbid the Wife of Tony Cyndel be seen in a bathing suit outside of her home or some over guarded resort that he chose to nearly buy completely out.

Glancing over with a tired smile.

I gather he contacted you with where we are to meet him or what is going on?

 

[tinwoodsman]

For a moment Mason hated Tony, more so than normal. Despite everything, he had no reason to keep Jasleena a prisoner in her own home. For a moment he wanted nothing more than to get her out of all this, but wondered if she was beyond saving. So many times he'd tried to help a woman who continued to go back to the same man. Mason didn't want to entertain that idea but she didn't look ready to break free of Tony either. He needed to know why - but he wouldn't find out now.

"Yes," He finally said, "I'm supposed to drop you off at a country club place and come back here." The last part was spoken with a hint of regret.

 

[Asa]

Ahh so arrive separately then leave together put on a good show. Well lets get going and get this over with.

She sighed setting her cup down and standing up straightening her skirt suit and smiling faintly as she mentally got "into character" for this fiasco.

We really need to get going now Mason... is the car ready?