Smoke left Johnny’s lips. “Before I opened up my shops, I was low-level. Errand boy at best. I didn’t know why my wife ever married me.”
“Maybe, it was your cooking.”
“Definitely that.” He chuckled. “Either way, this guy owed my boss money. My boss was a cold bitch.”
Griff finished the black and green donut. “Could I get another one, Johnny.”
“That batch is garbage. Eat as many as you want.”
Griff rushed back in the shop.
Johnny returned to his cigarette and exhaled. “The guy that stole from her was an idiot. He offered his eighteen year old daughter to relieve the debt.”
“How would that relieve it?”
“My boss controlled all the brothels in Paradise. He figured she could pay back his debt with her pussy.” Johnny spat on the ground. “My boss heard his suggestion and told me to kill him. The daughter walked in and witnessed it. Which meant I had to kill her too.”
“Did you?”
“I couldn’t.” He sniffed and rubbed his nose. “But, I was in a tight spot.”
“Then, what did you do?”
“I kept her locked up under my house.”
“Did your boss know?”
“The fucking ice queen? Hell no. Having a witness was a major fuck up. I lied and said I killed the daughter. It’s not like the bitch knew what the daughter looked like in the first place. But. . .like I said. . .I couldn’t kill the daughter.”
“How long did you keep her?”
“She lived down there for two years. I brought her food three times a day. She had movies and a TV. Tons of books and art supplies. I called her my little cupcake. It brought me joy to visit her.” Johnny raised one hand. “I swear to God I never touched her while she was chained up. Not once.”
I gave him an odd look. “Then, what?”
“It took time, but I didn’t have to keep her chained. After a while, I no longer needed to lock the door. On the third year, I put her in an apartment. By then my boss let me open up the donut shops. I had men under me too. I had them watch my cupcake night and day.”
“Did she know they were watching?”
“She didn’t.”
He smiled. “On the fourth year, I kissed her. I began courting her.”
“Was she able to live in the apartment freely?”
“Of course. She went to college and made friends here and there. The whole time, my men watched, and I visited her weekly.” He flicked cigarette ash on the ground. “By the fifth year, I finally admitted the truth to myself.”
“And what was the truth?”
“I was obsessed with my cupcake.”
“You stopped loving your wife?”
“Honestly, after my cupcake, I don’t know if I ever loved my wife.”
That made me sad for some reason.
He sucked on the cigarette and then sighed out smoke. “Now, I’m a stereotype.”
“What do you mean?”
“Old man cheats on loyal wife for a sweet young thing.”
“You can leave her alone.”
“I can’t. These past months, I barely go home to see my wife and kids. I’m at her apartment more and more. Happy and free. At this point, I don’t think my family misses me, when I’m gone.”
“Why not?”
“Because when I’m home, I’m away from my cupcake so I’m annoyed and snappy. I bark at them a lot.”
Griff came out munching another donut. “I think they just need more sugar.”
Johnny signaled to the front. “Was Pandora in the front when you came in?”
“She was.”
“She likes it when you speak Spanish with her. Did you throw her a few phrases?”
“I responded to her Spanish.”
The line of his jaw twitched. “How did you learn Spanish again?”
“I did missionary work in a Costa Rica.”
“That’s right.” He slung the cigarette on the ground and stamped it out. “You were a holy man once.”
“Once.”
He went back into the kitchen. “Let’s get to the job.”
It’s about fucking time.
“I have some extra goodies for you.” Johnny pointed to two big white boxes. “Griffin, those are for you.”
Griff stuffed the last piece of donut in his mouth and rubbed his hands. “I’ve had a hard on for these.”
Johnny chuckled. “Well, take that erection over there.”
Griff grinned and rushed over.
I leaned my head to the side. “And my goodies?”
Johnny gestured to the boxes on the other side. “Over there.”
I walked to those white boxes and lifted the top. Instead of a dozen of donuts, several guns lay inside.
I looked up. “What about the icing?”
“Right next to the box.”
I checked the white circular carton, took off the top, and spotted the bullets. “Looks good.”
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to discuss the whole job today.” Johnny checked his watch. “I had a special appointment pop up this morning. I’m going to keep the shop closed for it.”
I went to the other box and lifted it. The layout of a large nightclub sat inside along with several black digital cards and tools. I put the tops back on each box and picked them up. “When can you talk about it?”