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“We’ll get you a cab straight to your house,” I promise.
I reactivate the alarm and lock up. Before we climb into the Mustang, we both glance up and down the alleyway, making sure no one is watching us.
I drive slowly, resting my hand on her leg. She rests her hand on top of mine. I’m content just like this, and I wish we could be more open about our relationship.
I pull up to one of the laundromats and smile. “This way.”
I take her around the back and unlock the door. “It’s me. I’ve got a guest.”
Wynter and Clyde, my two older cousins, look up from where they are playing cards. “Arseny, isn’t that Elena Sokolov?” Wynter asks.
“Hi,” she says, stepping forward and holding out her hand.
The air in the laundromat smells of detergent, but still musty. The noise from the front carries through to here, so we have to raise our voices slightly or lean in to talk. Wynter shakes her hand, and then Clyde does.
“This is Wynter, and this is Clyde. They work for me in the laundromats.”
Elena nods. “You guys look similar, though.”
“We’re cousins,” Wynter says gruffly as he takes out four shot glasses and a bottle of vodka. He pours each of us a shot without asking and then looks at us expectantly.
Elena takes a shot and passes it to me before she takes one for herself.
“Mozeltov,” Wynter says before downing his shot. I meet Elena’s gaze as she downs her shot. I follow suit.
“Everything going okay?” I ask. “Nothing happening?”
“It’s the same as every other day. Old women come in bitching about the prices of the machines while in the back, we’re continuing business as usual.” Wynter eyes Elena out, not sure whether he should trust her or not.
“You can trust her,” I say. “I do.”
He gives a curt nod and picks up his cards again. “We’re waiting for the next drop-off, and then I’m going to call it a night and walk the dog.”
“Is that code for something?” Elena asks.
“What? Walk the dog?” I chuckle. “I wish. The other day, Wynter found a puppy in the street, and he turned it in only to find out it was sold to dog fighters. He impressed upon the men that it was actually his dog now and took the puppy back. He isn’t too happy about it, though.”
“Damn thing chews on everything,” Wynter grumbles. “I’ve been through five phone chargers.”
Clyde chuckles quietly. “Imagine if you had kids.”
“I already want to strangle the damn dog. Don’t bring kids into this,” Wynter says.
“But you’d be a good papa,” Clyde teases, though he falls silent when Wynter gives him a look.
“Well, I just wanted to show Elena around. I’m going to take her back to the butchers so she can get home. Thanks, guys,” I say. “Also, if you could not tell Kervyn about this…”
“We know nothing,” Wynter mumbles to himself before throwing his hand down. “I got nothing.”
“Two pairs,” Clyde says, laying his cards down.
“Come on, Elena, let’s leave my crazy family to do their thing,” I say, taking her hand and leading her back to the car. We start to drive back to the butchers in midtown.
“Your cousins seem nice,” Elena says finally. “Although Wynter looks a bit terrifying.”
“Everyone says that, and yet I don’t see it. You heard about the puppy. Wynter may be a ruthless mobster by day, but at home, he’s a teddy bear.”
“Is he seeing anyone?” she asks. “Cause surely that person is spoiled rotten.”
