“Ex-fiancé,” I clarified.“And I’m glad you did.In fact, I can pay you a half a million for it.”I glanced around.“Lord knows you could use some money to renovate the hovel.”
He shook his head despite laughing.“There’s a reason I’m here.You realize that, right?”
I stared at him.He needed a good reality check.“Are you on the lamb?”It was hard to keep a straight face at my pun.Yet I managed.Barely.
One of the little bastards bleated, which made me lose my shit.But the tears were also too close, so I sobered.“Bridget lied her ass off to keep your name out of that mess with Pornstach.”
For the first time since I walked up, he looked me in the eye.“She shouldn’t have.What did that cost her?”
“A calling.Life on the light side of the force, that sort of thing.But I think she’s happier now.Not many people can suffer a stick up their ass for an entire lifetime.”
He smiled.“Speaking of…” His voice trailed off, letting me pick up his unspoken question.
“It’s-a-me-Mario is his usual surly self.My sister is happy, though.”
Ringo dipped his head to hide his expression, and yet I caught his smile.“Does he still frown when you call him that?”
“Every damn time.”
Firenze snorted, reminding us both we had an audience.When we turned to glare at him, he composed himself.With his finger pointed toward the the ridge, he said, “I’ll be over there.Scream if you need me.”
Ringo waited until he was out of earshot.“Seriously, Ellie.You wasted a trip.”
“I stepped in goat shit.More than once.Isn’t that worth more than what you’re giving me?”
“I can’t give you a life.”
I sat on a rock, checking the surface first.I also checked the crevices and overhang for snakes.Finding none, I crossed my legs and studied him.
He’d grown a full beard.“Are you going to keep growing that scruff and become a hermit?”
“You know what I do.”He tossed a rock he’d picked out of the dirt.
“You’re the best hitman I know.”
His eyes shot to me.“That’s the point, Ellie.I kill people.I can’t marry you.”He didn’t pause long enough for me to disagree with him.He stood up and gestured at the horizon.“Where are we going to live?You can’t stay at the bar with your friends because I can’t live in Chicago.You’re not going to want to live here because it’s too… rustic for you.”
“I’m marrying you.”
He frowned and lifted his cap to scratch at his hair.That had grown longer, too.“You’re not listening.”
“I stepped in goat shit for you.GOAT SHIT!”My voice echoed against the hills.
“There’s goat shit on my shoes, Ringo.”
“That’s the point.Eventually with me, you’ll step in shit.Those nightmares you have?Try multiplying them by a thousand if someone wants me gone.You’ll be in danger.You’ll be watched just like you were when you were a kid.”
“Why are you telling me what I want and don’t want?And fuck you if you’re not going back to Chicago, you have a family to run.Don-fucking-Conti-Messina was inmybar trying to find you.You’re lucky I’m a damn good liar and told him Don Manca had a job for you because he was ready to do something and I don’t fucking know what.”
Firenze stepped into the clearing, “Everything okay?I heard yelling.”
“Goat shit.”
Ringo ignored my outburst.“She’s just working stuff out.It’s cool.”
Firenze turned but Ringo stopped him.
“Hey, you were supposed to let me know if there were people coming after me.Ellie says they aren’t.”
