A few Asian men and women were scattered around the place, drinking tea, eating from small plates, playing cards, laughing in quick bursts. Nobody looked particularly alarmed by his entrance, which annoyed him. Luca preferred when rooms understood the danger he brought in.
He moved straight to the counter. Behind it stood a bored-looking man. "Hi," Luca said, forcing politeness through clenched teeth. "I am looking for Veronica Scalese."
The man looked him up and down slowly then he pointed toward a door at the back. No who are you?
Just a lazy finger toward the unknown.
Luca stared at him. "That's it?"
The man shrugged. "You ask. I answer."
"Anyone can just walk in?"
"Anyone with legs."
Luca blinked. Fantastic, great, wonderful.
Veronica was spending every evening in a place where anyone could walk in without questions. He made a mental note to check both his physical and mental health one of these days.
