And not just Pops…
Roger.
Mickey had only seen Roger in passing since that night at the church after he ran off. According to Duncan, Roger was refusing to stay at Alistair’s because Mickey was there. He came around to help Cold with some things and seemed to be spending most of his time over at the safe house with Crybaby. Somehow, he’d managed to sweet talk his way back into Doc Brown’s good graces.
Maybe he fucked him.
Not that Mickey cared.
Because he absolutely didn’t.
It wasn’t like he missed Roger, and he certainly didn’t regret what a bastard he’d been to him. It was better this way. He didn’t stay awake at night thinking about his kisses, his laughter, or that damn perfect smile. He never jerked off to the memories of being inside of him and how his hand felt cracking over that perfect ass.
Oh, and his pulse was definitely not beating faster knowing he was going to see Roger later today.
Cold had called a meeting at their new club, La Belle et la Bête, and he wanted all of the Gentlemen there. They were going to show up in full force, including the new men they’d recruited to work for them. The Gentlemen had grown beyond their inner circle, and they had dozens of people now. Cold had even arranged for a police escort for himself and Alistair.
It was an absolutely vulgar display of power, and Mickey knew Cold was doing it to rub it right in the Luchesi family’s faces.
Their time was nearly up.
Mickey walked into the club, and he nodded his greeting at the guards posted by the door. The club was under renovation now, and there was plastic draped everywhere and buckets of paint all about. It had great potential, and it was going to be a serious moneymaker once it was fixed up.
Jules was busying himself behind the bar, and Mickey almost didn’t recognize him because he was wearing a suit.
Everyone was, he realized, when he saw the rest of their gang sans Crybaby milling around. Even little Pym did, though he looked a touch like a kid playing dress up in his dad’s clothes. Mickey understood now why Cold had asked him to wear his suit today, the one with the mandarin collar; he wanted them all to look their best.
There was a blond man Mickey didn’t know, and he stayed to himself by the end of the bar. He looked like a starved cobra, and Mickey had the oddest urge to punch him.
Just had one of those faces.
Roger was here, of course, and he was wearing the same slick black suit from the other night. His tie was missing now and his shirt was undone, and Mickey tried not to stare. Damn, he looked good.
He swore he saw some fresh bruising beneath Roger’s collar, and he couldn’t explain the anger that suddenly came over him. He shouldn’t give a fuck what or who Roger had been doing.
It wasn’t any of his damn business.
Roger noticed Mickey and very purposely looked away, ignoring him.
Mickey ignored him right back, but he didn’t have long to stew because Cold was waving them over toward the stage where a long table was waiting for them. There was a small spray of calla lilies in the center, identical to the ones Cold used to keep in Alistair’s office at Slick Rick’s.
“Gentlemen, it’s time.” Cold took his place at the head of the table. “Let’s get started.”
Alistair and Jules grabbed the seats next to him, and the rest of the Gentlemen got settled in the other chairs. Roger, however, chose to perch on the edge of the stage.
Cold didn’t seem to mind, and Mickey was glad for it. He didn’t want to be anywhere near Roger right now, and the farther away he was, the better.
The blond man remained standing, but he came over to the table when Cold beckoned him.
“Thank you all for coming today,” Cold said. “We have a very special guest with us. This is Rufus Corman, former member of the Luchesi family. He’s recently had a change of heart, and he would like to join the Gentlemen.”
“Oh? Really?” Mickey raised his brow. “Just like that?”
“Mr. Corman has been hesitant to join us officially, but he has many friends in politics, including several of the judicial variety. His first show of loyalty was to ensure Marco Luchesi made bail.”
“That piece of garbage is out on the streets again?” Duncan made a face. “What the fuck for?”
“A personal grievance that I’m going to take care of very soon.”
