Boy Mercury X

Thanks for sticking with it, @Quixo. You got two and maybe even three or four happy endings!

Thanks @drsawzall. I wondered how it would land with you.

Thanks for the follow up comment, @VBlew. I hoped you would. Glad you enjoyed it.

I should have consulted you earlier! ♥️ And I have to admit, I do sort of adore Danny. I don't want to infringe on anyone else's idea of him or his appearance, but here was my visual inspiration:

Well, in this economy you have to make do!

Thank you, friend. I don't mean to interpret the story for others, but I like to think our three leads each did get their own happy ending.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I don't know anything you don't know, but I think Danny hasn't forgotten that Prosky and Rossi were going to kill Drew. He is, in his own way, quite loyal.

Thanks, buddy. I do like to leave some openings for readers to fill in. That's a good call out, though not one I intended. Maybe a bit of the villain you sort of cheer for (speaking for myself!).

Chapter 21: The Call Connor paced the length of his scuffed hardwood floor in his boxers and an oversized gray t-shirt. He hadn't slept. His bare feet tracked the same anxious groove from the kitchen counter to the sofa, back and forth through the quiet Sunset District apartment. When his phone buzzed against the coffee table, he jumped, lunging forward to snatch it up. Drew: I’m sorry about yesterday morning. At the cafe. About everything. I didn't want you to think I was playing

Understood. We've got Chekhov's opera set!

Noted.

I'm glad you think so! I spent most of a decade waiting to write it. Thank you. The curtain will close tomorrow. I hope you'll let me know what you think.

There are three movies that influenced this story, but no Godfather counts among them. Perhaps you've seen Manhattan Murder Mystery? Re: CM, yes. My characters do not always have a visual inspiration, but CM is by far the most frequent. He turns up in Straight to the Morning, Bearding the Lion, A Runner's Knot, Bringing Up Himbo and the upcoming The Saturday Boy.

Thank you for sticking with it. The final act is coming soon. Wish I could say more.

Opera's not for sissies!