Chapter 6 - Dom Vasquez Settles the Debt
Tommy's arrest exposed everything.
Carlo Bellini had paid him to poison Dom.
Bank transfers, messages, and surveillance records connected the conspiracy.
Nema spent hours giving statements.
Three days later, she finally returned to Frank's.
The diner looked exactly the same.
Cracked booths.
Bad coffee.
Buzzing lights.
Frank handed her an apron.
"You sure?"
"About what?"
"Coming back."
Nema tied the apron.
"I need money."
Frank stared at her.
"You saved a millionaire gangster and you're still worried about rent?"
"Apparently courage doesn't come with dental insurance."
The bell rang.
Dom entered.
Frank sighed.
"I'm going into the kitchen."
Dom sat at the counter.
Nema approached.
"Coffee?"
"Black."
She poured it.
Dom stared into the cup.
Nema smiled.
"Nervous?"
"Deeply."
"Good."
He took a drink.
She leaned against the counter.
"Why are you here?"
"To settle my debt."
"We've discussed this."
"I know."
"No cars."
"No cars."
"No jewelry."
"No jewelry."
"No apartment."
Dom paused.
"Technically—"
"Dom."
"Fine."
He placed an envelope on the counter.
Nema glared.
"What's that?"
"Open it."
Inside were documents.
She read the first page.
Then the second.
Her expression changed.
"You bought Frank's?"
Frank shouted from the kitchen.
"He did what?"
Dom looked annoyed.
"He wasn't supposed to hear yet."
Frank rushed out.
"You bought my diner?"
"Your landlord was selling the building."
Frank went pale.
"What?"
"You would've received an eviction notice next month."
Nema stared at Dom.
"So you bought it."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Dom slid another document toward her.
Nema read it.
Her eyes widened.
"No."
"Yes."
Frank leaned over.
"What?"
Nema looked at him.
"He's giving you the building."
Frank nearly dropped the paper.
Dom corrected her.
"Giving you both the building."
Nema stared.
"Dom."
"Frank keeps fifty percent. You get fifty percent."
"I can't accept this."
"Why?"
"Because it's too much."
"You saved my life."
"I knocked over coffee."
"You're stubborn."
"You're insane."
Frank raised his hand.
"For what it's worth, I vote we accept the building."
Nema glared at him.
"Frank!"
"I'm sixty-three. My retirement plan was dying behind the grill."
Dom almost laughed.
Nema looked at the documents again.
"This has strings."
"No."
"Everything with men like you has strings."
Dom's expression became serious.
"Then I'll put it differently."
He pushed the documents toward her.
"Nobody owns you, Nema."
She looked up.
"This isn't payment for saving me."
"What is it?"
"A chance."
"Why?"
Dom hesitated.
"Because somebody should've given you one years ago."
For once, Nema had no sarcastic answer.
Months passed.
Frank's changed.
Not completely.
Nema refused to turn it into some polished luxury restaurant.
They repaired the booths.
Fixed the lights.
Replaced the refrigerator.
Added better coffee.
Frank insisted on keeping the terrible neon sign.
"It has character."
"It has electrical problems."
"Character."
Business doubled.
Then tripled.
Nema hired two women from her neighborhood who needed steady work.
One night, Dom entered just before closing.
Nema looked up.
"You're late."
"I had business."
"Kitchen's closed."
"You own the kitchen."
"Exactly. And it's closed."
He sat.
Nema placed coffee in front of him anyway.
Dom smiled.
"I thought it was closed."
"Coffee isn't food."
He took a sip.
Then looked around the busy diner.
"You did well."
"We did well."
His eyes settled on her.
"Nema."
"What?"
"Have dinner with me."
She pointed around.
"This is dinner."
"Somewhere without fluorescent lighting."
She smiled.
"Are you asking me on a date?"
"I'm attempting to."
"You're terrible at it."
"I don't get much practice."
Nema pretended to consider.
"One dinner."
Dom nodded.
"One."
"And Vincent doesn't sit at the next table."
From a booth behind them, Vincent called:
"That's unreasonable."
May you like
Nema burst out laughing.
Even Dom smiled.
