“God, I love it when you talk dirty.” Roger laughed.
Mickey pointed at him. “See what I mean?”
“Roger has been paying off some gambling debts to a Luchesi lieutenant through some very unpleasant means,” Cold said firmly. “I brought the arrangement to an end, and he is extremely motivated to help us. He is a Gentleman now, and I’m sure he will behave as one.” His eyes narrowed at Roger. “Won’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” Roger promised. “Absolutely.”
Mickey bit the inside of his mouth.
“You three will get ready to hit the restaurant,” Cold went on with a flick of his hand. “Jules has the particulars for the plan, Mr. Lorre will handle the safe, and Mr. Tamerlane, well…” He smiled. “You just need to do what you do best.”
“What about the rest of us?” Crybaby asked. “Why aren’t we all going?”
“This is not the time to show our cards. On the rare chance that there might be unwanted survivors, I don’t want anyone being able to name our entire gang to the Luchesis. Small team, only those three, in and out.”
“And the money?”
“Don’t worry,” Cold said mysteriously. “It’s going to go to a very good cause.”
“Where exactly?” Duncan pressed. “This is literally millions upon millions of dollars.”
“It’s on a need-to-know basis. And right now, none of you need to know.”
Mickey frowned. Cold was usually very honest about his plans, and the secrecy struck him as a little strange.
“Whatever you say, Boss,” Jules was quick to affirm. He glanced over everyone at the table as if daring them to argue.
No one said a word.
This was it.
Cold was nowBossCold.
“When we need to know, we’ll know,” Mickey said, glancing at Duncan and giving him a silent warning to keep his teeth together. “What the Boss says goes.”
“Any other questions?” Cold asked as he leaned back in his chair. It didn’t sound like he wanted to answer any.
The room was silent.
“Jules, if you’d be kind enough to get our dear Mr. Tamerlane and Mr. Lorre up to speed, it would be most appreciated,” Cold said. “The rest of you, stay close. Even without our influence, the city will be quite dangerous. Be careful. Check in often.”
There were several affirmative murmurs, and Pym got up first and headed right back to the desk to get back on the computer.
The others began to file out into the bar but Cold called out, “Jules, stay for a moment.” He looked to Roger and Mickey. “You two, wait for him outside.”
“You got it,” Roger said with a little salute.
Mickey nodded, and he handed his car keys over to Duncan. “Go pick up your wheels, leave my keys inside. Do not lock it. I’ll have Jules give me a ride over to get it later.”
“Okay,” Duncan said, walking alongside Mickey over to the bar. He waved farewell to Jerry and Crybaby as they left, watching as Alistair closed the office door again. “This is so fucked up.”
“What?”
“Cold won’t tell us what he’s doing with the money,” Duncan hissed, dropping his voice down. “And now him, Alistair, and Jules are all having a private meeting while the kid is in there?”
“Who cares?” Mickey glanced over his shoulder, and he noted Roger was lingering not too far away. He whispered urgently to Duncan, “Just don’t fuckin’ worry about it.”
“You don’t think it’s fucked up?”
