He certainly didn’t sound happy about that.Which spoke volumes.
“Listen, the Left Hand doesn’t like the fancy shit.We’re only interested in Adelmo’s portion.We’ll stay out of your business, I promise.”
“Afteryoudecimate it like you did with Vincent’s boys?”
“Do you have problems like he did?”
His reply was short.“No.”
“Then there’s no need to fix them.Is there?”
His eyes traveled to the boarded-up slider and the crime tape.“I think you need to fix your own house first.Then I’ll have more confidence in your ideas.Until then, you owe me.”
He strode away, turning his back on me.That cut me to the bone.
“Can I get you another?”
Molly’s offer snapped me back to the present.“I’m good.”
“Ellie says it’s on the house.”
All the more reason to turn it down.I laid a banknote on the bar.“Make sure the staff, not the management, splits this.”
Her eyes widened just a little.
It was a large enough denomination to warrant the shock.And, it could buy that bottle of Ellie’s premium Irish whiskey.“I’m not Porciello.I don’t need her charity.”
Molly snatched the money up.She tucked it into a bundle of singles, then stuffed it into the pitcher behind the bar.Her guilty glance at me turned into a blush.I ignored it and studied the rest of the bar.In particular, the back hallway Molly ran off to when I asked about Ellie.
Soon enough, she and Kat emerged.I picked up my drink and met them at the far end of the bar.
“Ringo.”Kat’s greeting was cold.
Ellie’s wasn’t much better.“You’re not going to stay here all night, are you?”
“Only until you leave.Then, I’ll go with you.”She would not be left alone again if I could help it.
“You know, this whole jealous Jedi vibe you got?It’s kind of suffocating.”
That was cute.“Do you want me to back off?”I’d also called Don Manca and Mario and filled them in.Don Manca had expected my change of heart.Mario?
He didn’t take it well.He threatened my life at least a half-dozen times.
Kat, who’d only been eavesdropping until that point, spoke up.“Would you?Would you leave her?”
Never.“That isn’t on the table.”I’d gotten the green light from Don Manca.Hewantedthis union.If only to ease the tension between his grandson and me.But Mario was dead-set against it.He feared I’d break Ellie’s heart.
Judging by the hope in her eyes, I’d say leaving her would do that.“I can ease up a little.But you need to be safe.And I don’t want to see any of your friends hurt while you’re doing that.”I slid a glance at Kat to convey the message.
Ellie frowned.“He’s right, Kat.Johnny showed up last night after you drove away.”
“What?!”She glared at me.“Where were you?”
“Getting the car.”
“You fucking moron!”Kat took two steps away, then circled back around to yell at me.“Tell me you killed him.”
“I didn’t.”Couldn’t.I was too busy worrying about Ellie.
