Frank shrugs his non-injured shoulder. “Nothin’ there but desert and gambling. Don't know what people see in the place myself. I didn't get much more out of Luca about the Las Vegas getaway, either. I s’pose you two were fucking the whole time, eh?”
I grin, while Aidan grimaces. “Something like that.” I don't want to talk business here, especially in front of Aidan and Hudson. But later on when I have some time with Frank alone, and when he’s less full of Guinness, I'll tell him the full story. “What about you, Frankie? What’ve you been up to?”
“Nothing much, exceptCall of Dutyand pissing off the nurses with my swearing. Hudson don’t like it much either. That's why he was outside. Says I'm too violent.”
“Any visitors?”
“Sure, my old crew came to visit, and the Capos, too. And our new Irish friend sent me what’llreallycure me.” He gives me a wink and nods at one of the smashed beer cans.
There’s a silence as I take in exactly what he just said, while Frank grins at his own wit. “What new Irish friend?” I ask casually.
Frank’s smile dies away and he glances at Aidan. “Eh, forget I said anything.”
I turn to Aidan. “Aidan, how about you go get a coffee? Take Hudson with you.”
“Oh, I try to avoid stimulants, including caffeine,” Aidan says serenely.
“Aidan, get the fuck out of the room,” I sigh. Hudson is already on his way out. At least the kid has learned when to make himself scarce, even if heisuseless in a firefight, according to what Luca told me.
Priest Boy’s eyebrows shoot up. “Oh. Right. Sorry.”
Once the door shuts behind them, I turn back to Frank and repeat my question. “Whatnew Irish friend?”
“IknowI'm not supposed to know about the deal with the Irish. But you can't keep a secret in this town for long.”
Frank has his familiar, bullish expression, which he gets when he’s thinking about his position in the Family. Luca has told me more than once that he's not cut out to be Underboss, or even a Capo, which is why he made Frank his Enforcer instead.
Frank’s not a thinker, and there was wisdom in Luca’s decision. I wonder if Frank even knows about Angelo’s promotion yet, or if Luca’s waiting until Frank is out of the hospital to break the news. Probably the latter, I think, based on the fact that Frankisn’tbitching about it right now.
“What deal with the Irish?” I ask carefully. I don’t want to step unknowingly on another mine and have Frank blow up at me. “What exactly have you heard?”
Frank looks between me and Marco, the first flush of uncertainty blossoming. “Youknow. How you all are gonna take out Maggie. Gus told me.” Marco and I stand there staring back. “Come on, Finch, I fucking know, alright?” Frank snaps. “How you and him have a deal to join up and get the Donovans back under control, with Gus heading them up. I get why you kept it quiet, but I can keep a secret too. If Gus trusted me with the intel I don’t see why my own brother won’t.”
Marco shifts uneasily next to me.
“You meanUncleGus?” I ask, my head swimming.
“Yeah, he’s an okay guy, your uncle. He’spolite, for one thing, doesn’t treat me like some second-rate muscle-head. We’ve been hanging out now and then when he’s in New York.”
Marco and I exchange a look.
This isn’t good.Noneof this is good.
“Frank, why the hell have you been spilling to this guy about our business?” Marco demands.
Frank looks surprised, then furious. “I’m no fuckin’ rat! I never said anything to him. Healreadyknew stuff, and…” He stops, remembering. “And okay, maybe I gave him a wink once or twice if he asked if we were planning a specific job, but I never told him nothing he didn’t already know!”
I feel like my heart is deflating. That’s the thing, isn’t it? Frank wouldn’t see how much information he was giving away, even while refusing to talk about something, but doing it with the kind of chuckle that tells the listener exactly what they want to know.
“I don't know why you're being such a dick about this,” Frank goes on. “The guy’s your own uncle, he hates your sister Maggie, and he’s looking to make deals with us here in New York, so it’s not like there’s any problem. He’s on our side.”
“Theproblem, Brother Frank,” I say softly, “is that Luca and I were not aware that Uncle Gus wason our side,as you put it. And you’ve been buddying up to him.”
Frank folds his arms. “Well, that guy’s been a better buddy than Luca has, lately. At least he comes out drinking with me. And hegivesa shit; sent me the Guinness.”
“What thehell?” Marco asks. “You’re telling me those two idiots standing guard out there let some fucking Irishman walk in—”
“No!” Frank is just as angry as Marco.
