Emerging from the bathroom, he protested, “I’m fine. I don’t need to be babysat, okay?”
Crybaby crossed her thick arms and did not look convinced. “Yeah, sure. Now, how about you get your ass back under the covers?”
“Or, option B, I go downstairs and make a damn drink.”
“No fuckin’ way.”
“I got shot. I deserve alcohol.”
“You almost bled to death. Alcohol is the last fuckin’ thing you need. Now, get back in bed before I make you.”
Mickey sized up Crybaby’s broad build and knew he couldn’t fight back in his weakened state. He trudged back to bed, grumbling, “This is bullshit.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go on, princess. Want me to fluff your pillows for you?”
“Get fucked, Crybaby.” Mickey groaned as he collapsed back on the mattress. “And thank you.”
“What for?”
“I remember you trying to help me. Before I passed out.”
“Yeah. No problem.” Crybaby shrugged. “We’re family. It’s what we do.”
Mickey sighed. “And everybody else is okay?”
“Yeah, me and Jules got the drug sting set up nice and pretty. Guess there’s no harm tellin’ ya now that it’s done.”
“Ah, so that was you guys?”
“Yeah. We’d just finished up and was talkin’ with Cold and Alistair when you and Duncan called. Came here as fast as we could.”
“Where’s Jules?”
“Doin’ Jules stuff. Cold sent him on a special errand as soon as we heard the hit that wasn’t a hit went bad.”
“Cold told you, I guess.”
“Yeah, he did. Cold left to go see Pym, see if he’s makin’ any progress with those ledgers. Jerry and Alistair are with them.”
Mickey nodded.
That accounted for all the Gentlemen.
There was absolutely no one else to ask about.
No one at all.
Before he’d passed out, Mickey knew his last conscious thoughts had been about Roger. He could see his smile in his mind’s eye. He tried to resist asking about him, but the compulsion to know was overwhelming his judgment.
“Is Roger all right?”
“Yeah, he’s okay.” Crybaby looked unusually smug. “He’s asked about you. Wanted to make sure you weren’t dead.”
“How thoughtful of him.”
“He’s asked about you a few times, actually.”
“Huh.” Mickey fidgeted.
