“What do you want with her?” he asks.
I cock my head. “She’s a little young for you.”
Red flushes over his cheeks. “It’s not like that. She’s like a granddaughter to all of us.”
I can see that. She obviously cares for them. “She’s going broke feeding all of you.”
“We try to help,” he protests. “It’s not like you get Social Security for working in the mob. Plus, don’t you have a lot of money now? Rumor has it your funds were released.”
I cock my head to the side. “Rumor has it, huh? So you do have a couple of people still in the organization who know you’re alive.”
“Yeah, but I’ll never tell you who they are.”
I believe him. He’s legendary. Some men just don’t crack. “That’s fine. But Hendrix and Lillian have no idea you’re alive.”
“Of course not,” he says, “or I’d be dead.” He snorts. “Rumor has it you’re stepping back up.”
“Rumor’s true,” I say quietly. “You want back in?”
His gaze is hard. “No. I’m eighty-two years old. I want to be completely out.” His hands shake slightly, and I hope he doesn’t accidentally shoot me. “But if you do anything to hurt Rosalie, I will kill you.”
I read the sincerity in his eyes. “She cares about you, and I don’t want to kill you,” I return easily. “She is my future, and I plan to rebuild my entire organization. If you have a problem with that, you should probably shoot me right now.”
He gulps, and the saggy skin around his neck moves. “What do you mean she’s your future?”
“Exactly that,” I say. “I’m keeping her, Percy. I’ll make sure she’s safe and well taken care of. She’ll never worry about money again.”
“When the hell did you decide that?”
Probably the first time she glared at me in that prison meeting room. “Doesn’t matter.”
He stares into my eyes and reads something there that finally has his arm lowering. “I don’t know that she wants that kind of life.”
“Too bad. That’s the life she’s going to have.”
He tucks the gun at the back of his waist. “If she asks me to kill you, I’ll do it.”
I smile. “Fair enough. Are we done?”
He nods. “For now.” He starts to walk away and then turns. “You’ve changed.”
“I hope so,” I say dryly. “I really was an asshole back then.”
He gives one short nod. “How many men do you have?”
“About ten,” I say. “I won’t give you names.”
He stands straighter, still stooped over. “I can get you a few more,” he says. “Hendrix is not well-liked.”
We’ll still be outnumbered, but that’ll be a good start. “I appreciate the assistance.”
“I expect to be paid,” he says instantly, looking around at the flowers.
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I turn and head toward the private entrance to the top floor. I walk up the stairs, for the first time taking a really good look at the keypad next to Rosalie’s door. Oh, I know the code because I saw her key it in, but it’s much nicer than I expect at this little house.
In fact, it’s absolutely top of the line. How does she afford this?
I key in her code, open it, and walk inside to see the shoe boxes neatly lined up against the far wall. I smile. I hope she enjoyed the treat. I hear a shower running, and my blood starts to hum. But as I walk by the little kitchenette, I note her purse flopped over. Looking closer at the desk, near her little fireplace, I see her phone plugged in.
