CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

"It's a good idea," said Atticus Wales as his barber gave him a shave. "What do you guys think? Lucas? Earl?"

Lucas Grimley, the general manager of Atticus's NFL team, and Earl Druce, the head coach, were both at the boss's house inside his private onsite barbershop to discuss that doping scandal they were trying to suppress. So far, so good, but they needed a gameplan forward. But they also knew the boss never discussed business while he was getting his daily grooming treatments.

"I think it's a good idea too," said Earl. "But he has to be realistic."

"Here here," agreed Lucas. "Opening barbershops across the country isn't realistic. I agree with Earl."

"Try opening two or three right here in Pittsburgh," Earl said to Atticus's barber. "See how that works out. And then get aggressive."

The barber nodded. "Yes, sir. I could do that."

"I'll be willing to provide the capital," said Atticus. "But you've got to be willing to oversee every aspect of this vanity project from beginning to end."

Lucas laughed. "A vanity project, Atti? That's harsh."

"That's realistic," said Atticus. "Because, let's face it, that's what it is. It could become more. But that's all it is right now."

That wasn't what it was to the barber. But he smiled anyway. "Yes, sir, Mr. Wales. Thank you, sir." And he continued to stand in the barbershop just off from the pool at Atticus's estate.

Then the intercom buzzed. It was his front gate security chief. The barber pressed it for the boss. "Yes?"

"Is Mr. Wales with you, Leo?"

"Yes, I'm here," Atticus said from the barber chair. "What is it?"

"Mick Sinatra, Hamilton Reese, and Amelia Sinatra are here to see you sir."

Lucas and Earl looked at Atticus as Atticus froze in place. His mind appeared to be spinning with varying possibilities.

"Maybe Micky did what we asked him to do," said Lucas. "Nothing's come out so far about the scandal. Maybe he found the supplier and handled him like we know he can."

"Maybe," said Atticus. "But why bring Millie with him? And that fucker Hammer Reese?"

That stumped Lucas and Earl both. But they all knew they needed to find out. "Send them back," Atticus said over the intercom.

"Yes, sir," his front gate security chief said and ended the call.

"I can finish later, sir," said the barber.

"No you can't either," said Atticus. "Keep going. I don't care how powerful they are. They're on my turf now."

And within seconds his estate manager escorted Mick, Hammer, and Amelia across the patio, around the pool, to the barbershop. Then the manager left.

When they went inside, Mick didn't hesitate. "Out," he said to the barber.

Hammer recognized the head coach of the Pelicans. But he didn't know the other guy. "Who are you?" Hammer asked.

"That's my GM. And don't you dare come bossing my men around, Mick," Atticus added.

"Hey Micky," said Lucas. "Why bring a G-man with you? We don't care for law enforcement."

"And law enforcement doesn't care for your ass either," said Hammer.

But Atticus was staring at Amelia. "Hello, Millie."

Amelia couldn't stand the sight of him. "Atticus."

Atticus could feel her hatred. "What's this about?"

"Ethan Franks," Hammer said.

They stared at Atticus. His entire demeanor shifted. "What about him?"

"So you know him?" asked Mick.

"Yes, I know him. He was a highly touted recruit for me once upon a time. He turned out to be a bust, but so what? Are you telling me he's the supplier?"

"Don't fuck with me, Atti," said Mick. "You know that doping scandal has nothing to do with this visit."

"Then what does it have to do with?" asked Lucas.

Mick looked at Atticus. "Asked your boss that question. Why are we here, Atti? Wanna answer that?"

As a now angry Atticus threw the barber apron that covered him and hopped up from his seat, Mick and Hammer both pulled out their guns and Lucas jumped up, grabbed Amelia from behind, and put a gun to her head.

Earl was as stunned as Mick and Hammer. "What the fuck?" he asked as he got up and moved away from Lucas.

But to Mick and Hammer's shock, Atticus was astounded too. "What are you doing?" he asked his GM. "Get that weapon away from her!"

But Hammer got it immediately. "You're the ringleader?"

"I told them it was Atticus," said Lucas, "to keep them in line. They knew what reach he has."

"Who are they?" asked Atticus.

"Ethan and his team, and Darby Reiner and Stan Kucinich and their wives."

Atticus frowned. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"I knew I would be fired soon. Even before that doping scandal, I knew you were going to get rid of me sooner rather than later. And that's why we started our organization to pair willing ladies and guys with the rich and famous. And I was the pimp. But nobody knew it. They all thought Ethan was in charge."

"This is insanity," said Atticus. "What are you talking about, Lucas?"

"We killed Stan. Then we tried to plant evidence on Amelia. But that didn't work. Then we had to try and take Mick and his brother out in Delaware. Then we had to keep Beth from running her mouth. It just became a shitshow. Nothing was going according to plan. But this time, it has to." He pulled Amelia closer against her. She wasn't trying to struggle. She was preparing herself.

"She's my hostage," said Lucas. "Now drop your weapons or I'll fire when you fire at me. I may be gone, but she will be too. Drop your weapons!"

"Take me," a desperate Hammer said. "I'm the prize of DC. Nobody will come near you if they know my life is in danger. Take me and let her go. Take me!"

Lucas knew Hammer Reese would be a better hostage. But he didn't trust that bastard. "She's my hostage. And you and Atticus and Micky will all ensure nothing happens to her because every one of you love this black bitch. Drop your guns now or I'll blow her head off and worry about the consequences later!"

"Alright, alright," said Hammer. "Don't do anything hasty. We're dropping out weapons."

And he and Mick began sitting their weapons down. But then they heard a rapid succession of gunshots and immediately began picking back up their weapons. But as they did, Lucas leaned away from Amelia's body and then dropped sideways to the floor, blooding gushing from his side. His gun flying out of his hand as he fell.

And they saw the smoking gun. A tiny J-frame in Amelia's hand. Mick and Hammer both had seen her pulling out her small pistol as Lucas talked to them, but both of them were terrified that Lucas still would get a shot off. When Hammer yelled out for Lucas not to make any hasty move, he was really talking to Amelia.

But Amelia knew what she was doing.

Atticus stared at her. How could he have ever let a woman like her slip out of his hands, he thought.

Hammer was staring at her. Amazed that he almost let her slip away too.

Mick was staring at her with nothing but admiration in his eyes. She kept her wits about her. She was a Sinatra. What did they expect?

But Hammer hurried to her and pulled her into his arms. She could feel his heart pounding against her. But for Amelia, that was love. He cared deeply about her. That was love to her.

As Atticus's security teams hurried into that barbershop, and as sirens could be heard in the distance, Hammer kept her in his arms. There was no longer any doubt. She was his. And his alone.