“What...why can’t you call it making love or our special time...it sounds so nasty when you say it like that,” Raphael said, rolling to his back. Willow moved over him, straddling his lap.
“Because that’s how you make love, Mr. Exit, real nasty like. I enjoy it too. I like how you get all nasty, using your mouth, fingers and whole body when you get all up in this...”
“Willow, my Lord,” he said, feeling the blood surge to his lower extremities. His hands went to the lacy bra, running his fingers over the delicate fabric. In one motion, he had the brassier in his hand and tossed it across the room. It took even less effort to get his wife out of her underpants and to remove his own. No words were spoken as they consummated the marriage, ending in a satisfied sigh on both their parts.
“I love you with everything in me, and I love those girls,” he whispered in her ear.
“We, and that really does mean me, love you too,” she told him. “I’m sorry if I made you doubt it.”
“Never doubted it for one minute,” he lied, snuggling close and drifting off to sleep.
HE’D SLEPT LONGER THAN planned when he was awakened by what he thought were loving kisses from his new bride, only to find it was Pierce trying to get him out of the bed. Groaning, he pushed the dog aside. A moment of panic hit him as he jumped up, sliding into his pants and snatching open the bedroom door. Willow and the girls were on the couch.
“Morning. I sent Pierce to wake you up,” she told him, bringing a cup of hotel room coffee to him. “Thirty minutes and we are due downstairs for breakfast. Cabrina has a presentation before yours on insurance and then the ladies also want to understand the investment plan you’ve brought.”
“Okay,” he said, accepting the coffee. “And good morning. Anything else I need to know before we head down?”
“I think the women want their own investment group with a smaller buy in of maybe $500,” Willow said. “I don’t have $500.”
“If you want in, you have $500,” he said.
“Daddy, I want to buy in too. Can I have 500 dollars as well?” Karli asked, looking at her mother. “Mommy, what are we buying into?”
Dusty Rose was not going to be left out. “I want 500 hundred to add in too Daddy.”
Raphael didn’t bother to answer any of them. He took his hotel room coffee, which tasted like chemicals and bad life choices, did a perfectly executed about face, and left the ladies in the living room. Shower. Dress. Meeting.
In the closet, he reached for his clothing which had been pressed and hung together, including his white shirt and black tie with the exit sign on it. He showered quickly, avoiding the blueberry soap which clung to Zeke and his wife’s skin. Stop had been right. The smell wasn’t overwhelming or even powerful, but the scent was enough to leave a distinctive odor trail to follow. He would speak with Zeke about that one on one.
Zeke was the Archangel’s brother.
Ezekiel Neary.
Gabe.
Gabriel Neary...the CIA Operative in Ohio?
Blue. Bleu. Isiah Neary, PhD., the mind fucker of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Division out of Kentucky.
The sons of Joe Neary, FBI.
FBI, CIA, ATF. What was Zeke a member of...need to find out today.
“Better yet, what in the fuck am I a part of?” he said, stepping out of the shower.
CABRINA NEARY GAVE a fine presentation on insurance options, co-pays, HMOs, PPOs, and other stuff that made little sense to the wives since none of them really had any health insurance coverage in the past. The men all shifted in their seats as she discussed well woman care, pap smears, mammograms, and other routine exams which would be covered and were important for a woman’s health.
She finished her presentation to a small round of applause, and they took a break before Mr. Exit began his presentation. In between as breakfast dishes were taken away, snack plates were brought forward. The kids were set up in a corner with video games. Karli read a book. Dusty stayed on her phone, texting with Skylar, Michelle and Johnnie enjoyed playing with Pierce.
“I’m going to make this short and quick so we can get the kids outside and into the water, which is why we are here,” Raphael said, plugging his tablet into the overhead projection system. “This is a simple investment plan that will work well for a three to five-year gains if we take nothing out.”
“Mr. Exit, the wives would love to discuss a separate plan for us, but with a smaller buy in. Do you have any suggestions?” Judy wanted to know.
“We can do a mutual fund for the ladies, with a collection of no front loads, but the question would be do you want an investment fund which pays dividends or do you want growth?” he asked Judy.
“I have no income, so anything which can pay a dividend would be helpful,” Judy said, and the other women nodded.
It was information. Hard core, tangible information sent directly to the husbands’ minds. Outside of Cabrina, none of the ladies had a real income. They were totally reliant upon the husbands. Mr. Exit saw where that, in the long term, would be an issue.
“Okay, so what you ladies want is a low buy in on a fund with high yield and dividend payouts that would provide an income on regular basis,” he said. “Have you ladies considered combining your talents and creating an Etsy shop? Mrs. Zeke and her soaps and shampoos...those teas, and the rest of what you ladies create living off the land. Instead of several shops just make one. Call it Intersections or a play on words with the Construction Crew of Technicians. One email address that pings you all when an order is placed for your items. I dunno. You have options to create income without relying on us for money.”
Everyone in the room looked at him as if he’d just lost his head and it had rolled across the floor. He didn’t stop but went right into his presentation, showing the difference in the six men in the room.
“These numbers of course will shift if we add in Wrong Way and the other five Technicians,” he said, looking at the Archangel. “Gabe, if you reach out to the other five this afternoon and see if they want to buy in, I’m sure Willow would be willing to make them all a necktie as well, so they can feel a part of the group and be prepared for our next meeting.”
The Archangel raised one eyebrow at the use of his given name. That was his only reaction. He provided a nod and let the man continue.
“If we have all 10 Technicians buy in, then we are talking 100,000 and we can really look at some real growth stocks which in three years, we can cash in and plan for retirement, which is the goal,” he said, again looking at Gabriel.
“Why are you looking at me when you say retirement?” Archangel asked.
“Because the more I learn, the more I realize,” Exit said.
“Pray tell, what are you realizing?” Archangel wanted to know, turning in his seat.
“I’m realizing that we’re going to have to find a job and a handle for your Gimpy ass brother. He was a life saver for Wrong Way. What was your company of employment G-Man before your forced retirement, Zeke?”
Zeke didn’t like being put on the spot. He answered through clenched teeth, “Secret Service,” he said.
“Stop was right, a G-Man with the SS,” Exit said, looking over at Archangel.