vigorli

Author: Lara
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Use of real people in fictional story all intention. This is not true. I don't know anything about them.

THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS
Nine

“He calls this a bungalow?” Elijah got out of the van and rubbed at his eyes. “If that’s a bungalow, I’d hate to see a mansion.”
The door to the large house opened, and Ian stepped out with a grin. “Welcome, everyone. So glad to have you. Come in and go straight back…I thought we’d have our lunch by the pool.”
“By the pool,” Dom mimicked softly to Billy, who giggled as they entered the house.
“Craig…I’ll let you know if we need you,” Ian said to the driver.
“Sure, Ian. I’ll be in the cottage.” Craig went around the house.
“A great man to have around,” Ian said to John. “Always willing to lend a hand.”
“I bet,” Elijah muttered, noticing how Ian’s eyes followed Craig until he was out of sight.
Bean gave him a light cuff to the back of the head. “Get in the house.”
“Viggo is already here,” Ian informed Bean as the rest of them went in the house.
The house was light and airy, decorated with sophistication. The doors in the kitchen opened onto a large patio area with a kidney shaped pool. A Jacuzzi sat in the shallow end. “Nice,” Sean Astin said softly. “I could live here.”
“Glad you approve,” Ian said with a smile. Viggo sat at a small table, plans for the hotels spread on every flat surface around him. “Let’s eat, then we can have our little meeting.”
“No time for swimming?” Billy asked, pouting.
“Like we want to see you in your skivvies. I know for a fact you didn’t bring something to swim in,” Dom said. Billy growled at him, but Bean stepped between them.
“Let’s just eat,” he said wearily.
Ian had a small buffet set up under an awning. Once everyone had plates of food, they spread out over the enclosed area. Dave patted a small bench, and Bean sat down with him. Viggo raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He’d talk to Bean later.
“I’m not hungry, so I’ll talk while you eat,” Viggo said.
“Shut the hell up and eat, Vig. You need to,” Bean snapped. “I know you’re excited, but just stuff your mouth and be quiet for five minutes.”
Viggo blinked. “I said I’m not…”
“God, Viggo.” Elijah yanked Viggo into a chair. “You like ham? Or would you prefer turkey?” Elijah went to the buffet and started slapping a sandwich together.
“Turkey, thank you,” Viggo said in a small voice. Bean grinned broadly. He liked seeing someone beside himself put Viggo into his place. He never would have expected it from Elijah, who had soon learned to worship the ground Viggo walked on.
Bean slapped the hand that kept stealing chips from his plate. “You have two good legs. Nice, athletic legs, as a matter of fact. Get your own.”
“I like yours,” Dave said, with a smile so bright that Bean felt his knees go weak.
“Now can I talk?” Viggo said around a mouthful of sandwich.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Billy said primly.
“Yeah, like you’re Mr. Manners,” Dom retorted. John gave them a glare, and they settled down.
“I’ve been looking over the plans for the vault, but that’s not the problem. We need to know how the interior is set up, and that changes on a regular basis. They bring in new slots, or rearrange the poker tables. They change one thing from the way we have it planned, and we’re totally screwed.” Viggo took a long gulp of water. “We can’t go into do surveillance, because guards are suspicious. They’d remember us.”
“Do you think we can do it once we’re in?” Bean tossed his empty plate into a nearby trashcan. Viggo nodded. “I’ll get us indoor surveillance. You worry about everything else.”
“Who are you thinking of?” Viggo asked.
“Just a few guys who are good at getting in and out of trouble unnoticed,” Bean answered. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I need someone to follow Urban around. I need to know every move he makes on a daily basis.” Viggo looked around.
“I’ll do it,” Elijah said. “I’m good at hanging around.”
“You two.” Viggo pointed to Billy and Dom, who sat up straighter. “Work on distraction.” They nodded. Viggo sighed and stood. “The plan isn’t one hundred percent complete yet, but basically, what we’re going to do is get someone on the inside of the vault to blow the doors.”
“Are you daft?” John growled. “Do you honestly think no one will notice them getting in there?”
Viggo smiled and looked at Billy and Dom again. “Hence the diversion.”

It was frightening, but Ian had enough swim trunks in various sizes for Dave, Billy, Elijah, Sean Astin and Dom to get into the pool. “Do we really want to know how?” Bean asked Viggo, chuckling as both Sean Astin and Elijah tried to get Dave under the water. Bean tried not to notice how sleek Dave’s body looked while wet.
“Speaking of men’s pants,” Viggo said, not looking at Bean. “Want to tell me how long you’ve been in Dave’s?”
“I’m not in his pants,” Bean snapped. “Not anymore. It was years ago. Things…didn’t work out.”
“I see.”
“I haven’t talked to him in ages, so I had no clue he’d be here, just so you know.”
“I see,” Viggo said again.
“At least I’m not using a job to get him back,” Bean said, totally uncomfortable with the conversation.
Viggo slowly turned his head, and Bean could see the carefully controlled temper in Viggo’s eyes. “As we discussed, that is NOT why I’m doing this. I doubt Orlando would ever want me back in the first place. If I remember correctly, his last words to me were, “You bloody fucking criminal, I never want to see you again.” I don’t think we’ll be picking out china patterns anytime soon.”
“Sorry,” Bean said. Viggo simply nodded and turned back to watch their friends in the pool.