Marin goes to Sal’s bar. They’ve been best friends for years and dated briefly in the past. They’ve maintained their friendship since, and Sal immediately supports her when she tells him about Derek’s affair. He says that he knows a fixer who can handle her situation.

Sal bought his bar, Sal’s Bar, after his father’s death. Sal Sr. was a winemaker from Italy. He was an abusive father and wouldn’t like that Sal has given up working for the family winery “to buy a bar in the city instead” (75). Sal dropped out of college and was briefly in prison. He also deals drugs on the side.

Marin and Sal continue talking while Marin gets drunk. Marin wonders if she should actually have McKenzie killed. Sal argues that the real issue is Derek. Marin’s mind wanders, wondering what would’ve happened if she and Sal had stayed together and she never married Derek. She and Sal were dating when Sal bought the bar and had a tumultuous relationship. They got into a fight, and Marin asked for space. Shortly thereafter, she met Derek during a weekend away with her girlfriends. She ended the relationship with Sal afterwards and started seeing Derek.