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Richie has been my shadow ever since No one uard at his disposal at all ti I’ve gone soft

“You’re going to love it, Walker Love it Besthis Sox cap in hands “I told theive you the VIP treatment”

I scratch an eyebrow “Thanks, Rich”

Yeah, not happening I’ll sit in the room and check in with my lieutenants over the phone for an hour The oes ho down, vulnerable in an unfaet killed and I’ for a while

“Now, this isn’t one of them cheap p-places,” Rich continues in an excited tone, as we turn the corner onto a quiet, tree-lined street It’s the section of the neighborhood where I don’t spend a lot of time Part of the city’s “improvement” measures, which amount to some coffee shops, an overpriced shoe store and apparently, a day spa Based on the total lack of foot traffic, I’ to be i deals, either It’s a real, professional joint”

“Yeah, I’ him hard on the shoulder “A little R and R never hurt anyone, right?”

“Exactly” He slaps his hat down on his head and opens a frosted glass door, set back from the street in a wreath of ivy and brick Before we duck inside, I take aout of the ordinary We were cautious co quieter roads, but the atmosphere has been tense lately in Southie

A rival outfit fro down h hborhood and they didn’t take it hen I told them to fuck off I wouldn’t put it past them to make an attempt to forcibly removea visit to New York soon to put a stop to the situation in person, by fairno chances

“And don’t you worry, boss,” Richie continues “Don’t you worry, because I’ll be right in the waiting roo your back”

“I know you will, Rich”

The receptionist, a young girl with a deep brown complexion and short braids, looks up and drops the phone she was cradling between her ear and shoulder “Uh” She stands up and drops back into her seat “Oh God I, uer—”

“Relax” I hold up a hand and bare et this reaction anywhere I go in Boston And based on her accent, she’s local enough to knoho I ae”