“You know a lot about the biz, Unc,” Roman smirked. “Ever thought about bein’ a pimp?”
Mica, was thoroughly in his drink and had the relaxed tongue to prove it. “I’ve been dabblin’,” he slurred. “Me and Hump been looking at a place in the Upstate.”
“Upstate?” Roman’s amusement grew. “Where? New York?”
“Shh...” Mica put fat, unsteady finger to his lips. “All in good time, kid. All in good time...Relax, the night is young and you’re gonna need all your strength to survive it.”
“I’m long past bein’ a virgin, Unc,” Roman said, a touch of pride strengthening the boast.
“How much work did you put into losin’ it, is what I wanna know,” Tori chimed into the chatter.
When Roman responded with a weak shrug, mounds of laughter flooded.
“You’re in for a treat, kid. Lu’s girls...” Mica rolled his eyes as if he were savoring a fine memory.
“Absolutely,” Gabriel confirmed and lifted his tumbler in toast. “All you gotta do for the rest of the night is lay back and let them do all the work. Make sure our Unc’s dollars are well spent.”
Humphrey arrived then and a new round of ribbing began.
Aaron brought a heavy hand down on his brother’s shoulder. “So did you manage to get us banned from every hotel in Chicago, or just the really good ones?”
Humphrey offered Aaron his middle finger. “All is well,” he announced.
“We got the penthouse?” Vale asked.
“No, but we got the entire floor under it to ourselves, at least until the other party arrives in another few days to take the other half.” Humphrey sighed, not looking a bit pleased. “But we’ll have space to entertain privately until then anyway.”
“Speaking of entertaining,” Pitch mussed Roman’s hair again. “When are we gonna get started makin’ this boy a man?”
There was a roar of approval to the suggestion. Humphrey’s curse however, drew everyone’s attention.
“We know there’s one among us who can’t attend,” Humphrey said.
“Ah hell, boy!” Mica sneered toward his eldest nephew. “You actually gonna deny the kid this?”
“Yeah Hump, don’t be a party pooper!” Gabriel called.
“In all fairness-” Humphrey raised both hands in an attempt to be heard. “In all fairness. Folks got left behind when it was Grek’s and Pitch’s turns too.”
“Ah come on Hump,” Tori waved off the reminder. “Lu’s girls ain’t gonna hassle the kid about his age.”
Humphrey rolled his eyes. “One inexperienced client is enough.”
“I’m not inexperienced!” Roman chimed in his own defense.
“Let the kid tag along Hump, no one here’s gonna rat on him,” Aaron said.
Humphrey shook his head. “It’s Rome’s birthday. All the girls...tutelage should go to him, right?”
“It’s cool! It’s cool!” Vale called when more argument broke out on his behalf. “I don’t mind hangin’ back.”
“You sure, kid?” Pitch asked. “You’re missin’ out on a treat.”
Vale shrugged. “I can wait my turn and Hump’s right, it’s Rome’s night.”
“So who’s gonna lounge here with the kid, then?” Mica asked. “No fair leavin’ him here on his own, specially when he’s bein’ such a gem about not goin’ along.”
“You guys go on, I’ll hang,” Stone offered.
“Nothin’ doin’, Stone. I’ll stay.” Humphrey said.
“Forget about it, the both of you. I’ll stay.” Gabriel said.
Silence came down like an anvil bent on destruction. The men observed Gabriel in speechless disbelief.
“Grek? You okay, man?” Pitch finally regained his verbal skills to ask.
“Yeah,” Gabriel said with a broad grin. “Seriously, I’m good and I think we can all agree I’ve had more than my fair share.”
There were murmurs among the group. No one could argue Gabriel’s logic.
“You sure, Grek?” Humphrey asked.
“Absolutely, but I expect notorious details when you fucks stumble back in here tomorrow morning.”
“The kid’s bullshittin’ us,” Aaron shook his head, his brown eyes filled with knowing intensity. “He’s already got his eye on somebody here!”
“Not even!” Gabriel spoke the denial amid laughter which did little to convince his family.
