‘It’s failing … it’s not the same. The clientele is dropping off, causing me nothing but headaches in the running. It’s losing money like crazy.’

Alexi finally releases his captive hold on me and walks away to sit on the now-cleared couch of the room behind us. Upside to lobbing it all at him, I guess. He walks to it and sits, leaning forward to put his elbows on his knees and watches me in a very casual pose, more befitting Gino than him. He expects me to follow as though ...