Chapter 6 - The Morning After the Midnight Line
The city was just beginning to stir, casting long, gray shadows across the industrial docks where the water lapped lazily against the concrete pilings. Sadi stood by the cracked kitchen window of her cramped apartment, holding a chipped ceramic mug filled with lukewarm instant coffee. The heavy silk of the emerald dress was gone, replaced by an oversized cotton sweater and worn denim jeans, but the lingering warmth of Vincent’s arms still hummed beneath her skin.
A sharp knock at the front door broke the morning silence. Sadi froze, her heart momentarily skipping a beat before she remembered that Tommy was already hours away on a Greyhound bus heading west. She pulled the door open to find Paulie standing in the narrow hallway, holding a sleek black leather briefcase.
"Morning, Sadi," Paulie grunted, his face entirely expressionless as he stepped past her into the living room without waiting for an invitation. He set the briefcase down on the battered coffee table and clicked the brass latches open.
"What is this, Paulie?" Sadi asked, her eyes widening as she stared at the neat stacks of cash and a thick folder of property deeds nestled inside the leather interior.
"Boss’s orders," Paulie said simply, turning around with his hands folded neatly behind his back. "The O'Connors are officially out of the picture. They packed up their operation at the docks by 4:00 AM. But Vincent wants to make sure you're never dependent on a bartender's shift again. That folder contains the deed to a small cafe right by the financial district—fully paid for, clear title. No strings attached."
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Sadi stared at the briefcase in sheer disbelief. "I can't take this. I asked him for a four-hour shield, Paulie, not a handout."
"Take it up with him," Paulie replied with a faint, rare twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth. "He's waiting for you at the Continental. He said something about you owing him a fresh cup of coffee."
