Page 63 of Sainte
“Well, now that ‘As the MC Turns” is over, I’ve got some news,” Ice says. “The Vitalis will be coming to Edinboro. Don’t have exact dates—Michael will get back with me on that—but wanted to give you all a heads-up.” He turns to Emma. “They’ll be staying at our house, love.” Then he turns toward Honey. “I expect you and the girls to help Emma with whatever she needs.”
“Definitely,” Honey replies.
Ice turns to leave, and Rebel jumps in. “Ah, Ice, you forgot something.”
He turns back and gives Rebel an evil eye.
“You know, about your latest purchase?”
Ice rolls his eyes. “Fine. The club is about to purchase a massage parlor and sex club.” He drops the bomb and walks out. Hobbes, who has been laying at Emma’s feet all this time, looks up, then lays his head back down and moans.
Honey starts to tell all the girls about the club and about the night we went there. It’s definitely time for me to leave. I can only take so much girl talk. Rebel and I quietly leave the kitchen without one of the girls even noticing.
Later that afternoon, Ice gets the call he’s been waiting for from Michael. The “entourage,” as he put it, will be here Thursday. That gives us three days to get ready for them.
Chapter 23
Sainte
The Vitalis are set to arrive today. Honey and Emma have been so busy setting everything up for their arrival that I have hardly seen either one of them. Honey has been spending a lot of time at Ice’s house helping. I know it all needs to be done, and they sure as hell didn’t get enough time, but fuck, I need attention too. Now don’t get me wrong, Honey isn’t ignoring me. I do get the occasional chaste kiss at bedtime before she rolls over on her side exhausted. Fuck that, I sound like a damn two-year-old. She’s busy, and if were the other way around, she would have to accept that I’m busy.
Ice walks out of his office. “You ready?” he asks me. We’re going to pick up Michael at the private airport near Erie, North Coast Air.
“Yep, Emma coming?”
He shakes his head. “Nope, she wasn’t feeling good. She’s lying down in my room. Hobbes is watching out for her.”
“You know, as much as your grumble about that dog, he’s really good for Emma.”
“Yeah, I know.” He grabs his keys. “You want in on a little secret?”
I nod.
“I really do like the dog. He kinda grows on ya, and I love giving Emma a hard time about him.”
“You think I didn’t already know that?”
He smirks. “Yeah?”
I nod again.
“What about Honey?”
“She’s busy getting things ready. You know she loves this shit.”
He laughs. “I do.”
“By the way, I gave her a burner phone. I thought it was a small step to show some trust. I’m not ready to give back her phone with all her contacts, but this way, if she needs to get in touch with us while were gone, she has a phone.”
He nods, so I assume he’s good with that. Then he turns toward me and says, “Come on, let’s go get the Italians.”
I laugh as we walk out the door. Michael wanted to rent a car and driver to pick them up, but Ice wouldn’t hear of it. He insisted that he and I would get everyone. He’s got the Jeep, and I’m driving Emma’s SUV. We obviously couldn’t pick them up on our bikes.
Once we get to the small airport, we park and go inside. Ice goes up to the counter to check on their flight. “The Vitali jet should be landing in about ten minutes. They have begun their descent.”
“Perfect,” Ice replies. He gestures toward a couple of chairs, and we sit.
“So what’s the plan?” I ask.
