Bianca held her own, basically destroying entire lobster. Naturally, she was stuffed. No big deal though, it was fucking delicious.
After eating, she rested a bit before formally meeting Mandy.
Compared to Mickey, Mandy was way friendlier. Showered Bianca with compliments, making her day. They joked around for a while.
"Let's bounce. Grab drink at Alibi, then head home to crash," Dexter suggested, getting a little bored.
Bianca nodded, rubbing her stomach.
Dexter couldn't help but laugh, teasing her, "Stop rubbing it, people are gonna start getting ideas."
Soon as he said that.
Instantly.
Veronica, Vivian, and Mandy went wide-eyed.
Veronica blurted out first, shocked, "Bianca, you pregnant?"
Vivian grinned. "Congrats."
Mandy, not really knowing Bianca that well, didn't know what to say.
Bianca's face turned beet red. She shook head frantically. "No, no, Dexter's just talking shit."
Denying it repeatedly, blushing hard, she glared fiercely at Dexter. "Keep talking shit and I'll actually get mad!"
"Haha, alright," Dexter grinned.
Lately, Kevin had been pushing for kid, but Veronica hadn't agreed yet. She looked at Dexter and Bianca suspiciously, unsure what was really going on.
"Bianca, seriously no?" Veronica actually liked idea of raising kids at same time as Bianca, so she pushed.
Bianca shook head again. "Seriously, no..."
Veronica mostly bought it.
They messed around for a bit. Dexter and Bianca left restaurant, strolling over to Alibi.
Walking for a bit, Bianca stole glance at Dexter. Realized that was second time he brought up kids. Bit her lip, mind racing.
Career-wise, now and for next two or three years, having kid was impossible... If she did, career would be half-ruined.
Price was way too high, and it had nothing to do with money. Five years of med school, internship, residency... She'd put in too many damn years.
But age-wise...
Twenty-seven already. Wait a few more years, she'd be in her thirties...
Would Dexter wait that long?
Bianca overthought everything.
Dexter wasn't overthinking shit. Cigarette dangling from mouth, he walked into Alibi, sat at bar, and hollered at Kevin, "One beer, one juice."
"You got it," Kevin grinned.
Alibi was pretty lively tonight. Besides usual drunks like Frank and Tommy, there were dozen or so people joking around who clearly didn't belong in South Side.
"What's on your mind?" After chatting with Kevin, Dexter finally noticed Bianca zoning out.
Bianca snapped back, shaking head a little panicked. "Nothing. Wasn't thinking about anything."
Obviously bullshit.
But women were complicated as hell. Dexter smiled, didn't push it.
Bianca was familiar with Alibi by now. Even if she hadn't completely adapted, she didn't feel awkward hanging out here anymore.
Taking few sips of juice, Bianca shoved thoughts aside and listened to drunks running their mouths, same as usual. Bianca found it entertaining. Heard a lot of hilariously shameless shit.
Time flew.
About fifteen minutes later.
Carl walked in, pushing Peggy.
Dexter spotted them immediately and smirked.
Comrade Peggy Gallagher had arrived. Frank, currently shooting his mouth off, was about to have his good time ruined.
Frank hadn't noticed Peggy.
Peggy spotted Frank instantly.
Carl saw Dexter and Bianca, immediately picked up pace, heading over to them and happily saying hey.
Peggy naturally looked at Dexter. Gave him ocular pat-down, got up from wheelchair, and took barstool. "Dexter, right? Carl talks about you a lot. Asian?" Dexter smiled.
Peggy Gallagher had a bit of racist streak, but nothing too hardcore.
"Yeah. And you are?" Dexter asked with smile.
By now.
Both Kevin and Frank had spotted Peggy.
Kevin, who looked tough but was actually a softie, looked spooked. Expression grew unnatural.
Frank looked like he'd just seen ghost, pure terror written all over his face.
"Peggy Gallagher. I'm Carl's grandma. Just got out of prison today." Peggy emphasized prison part, wanting to see Dexter's reaction.
Dexter didn't react for shit.
Character like Peggy Gallagher wouldn't be shit in Breaking Bad world.
Why would he react?
Dexter stayed dead calm, still smiling. "Oh yeah? What'd you go in for?"
Peggy was absolutely certain now: this guy was ruthless, completely unlike what Carl thought. "Cooking meth. Had minor accident in lab. Blew up, killed two college kids. I got busted."
"Tough break. Guess lab wasn't exactly up to code," Dexter chuckled.
Soon as he said that.
Bianca and Kevin raised eyebrows, looking at Dexter in surprise.
Peggy had similar reaction. "You know about this stuff?"
"Knew few guys back in New Mexico. Set up pro-grade lab, used top-tier pharma equipment. Pumping out tons of crystal meth a year. Most of 'em ended up dead. Brutal ways to go, too," Dexter said calmly, smiling.
Words hit air.
Bam.
Entire Alibi Room suddenly felt like someone hit pause. Dead silent. Not a fucking peep.
Carl reacted hardest, jaw dropped, legitimately dumbfounded.
Bianca was second, completely blindsided Dexter had that kind of history.
Third wasn't Kevin or Peggy, but Mickey, who had just stepped foot inside Alibi.
This moment.
Mickey froze on spot.
Next second.
Every doubt he had about Dexter suddenly made sense.
Shit!
Guy really is ruthless bastard!!
Mickey suddenly felt incredibly lucky he didn't try to rip Dexter off during first meeting.
Thinking about it sent cold shiver down spine.
If he'd tried pulling fast one...
Probably would've died that day.
Mickey thought, terrified in hindsight.
Right then, Peggy blinked, eyeing Dexter suspiciously. "Tons? You sure? What cook method did they use?"
"Don't know details. Wasn't that close with 'em. Heard they used methylamine, old-school P2P cook," Dexter said, then calmly explained, "Can't say for sure. I only knew them as regular guys. Before DEA caught on, I never figured them for kingpins."
Hearing that.
Peggy had to dial back skepticism.
Methylamine, P2P, tons...
Plus, Dexter sounded way too calm...
Didn't sound like he was talking out his ass.
Therefore.
Peggy was speechless for second, unsure what to say.
Simple reason.
Small-timer like her didn't carry much weight in front of guy like Dexter...
Peggy felt little embarrassed.
Fortunately, Kevin snapped out of it and quickly changed subject. "Cough, alright, stop, stop. No more drug talk, or DEA's gonna kick door down and bust us all!"
"Drink up, drink up!" Kevin hollered loudly.
Dexter heard him, gave Peggy another amused glance, then turned to Bianca. Flashed brilliant smile. "Ms. Green, your expression is fucking hilarious."
Bianca: "?????"