The bartender returns with our drinks. I take down half mine in a couple gulps. “To be clear, it’s been a long day.”
“I see that. Want to talk about it?”
I snort, which is undignified, but I’m past the point of caring. “Not really. Would you even listen?”
“We’re getting married. If you need me, I’ll always drop what I’m doing.”
That gets me. It’s a surprise, and for once, I don’t think he’s joking around. His face is utterly sincere.
What the hell is with this guy? One second, he’s teasing me, being a total ass just for the heck of it, and the next he’s saying stuff like that.
“Luke blew me off earlier today. I knew I shouldn’t have asked him about that stupid alley and those guys he was meeting with but I couldn’t help myself.”
Liam takes that in. “You thought I was wrong.”
“Hoped you were, anyway. Maybe convinced myself too?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, love.”
“I’d better get used to it.”
“Funny though. Luke’s the reason I’m here.”
“Did you look into him? Like I asked?”
He nods, taking his time. “That I did.”
“And? What did you find?” A big part of me doesn’t want to hear. It’s one thing, guessing that Luke’s up to no good and getting sucked deeper into the bad side of the family business, and it’s another to know he’s selling guns.
“I can tell you that he’s trusted. I don’t know the details of his jobs, but they’re important. He’s been working his way up the ranks with the help of his father for years, and lately he broke into the big time. I don’t know how or why or what he did, but he’s marked.”
“Marked? What’s that mean?”
“Sort of like the Italians and their Made Men, but different. Luke’s got his mark. That means he’s one of us.”
My heart sinks into the floor. I lift my wine and finish the rest of the glass. I watch some of the remaining liquid seep down the side, pooling at the bottom, my guts churning. My shoulders feel heavy.
“I remember when he was little. He used to get in so much trouble. God, but Dad never punished him the way I got punished. I thought it was unfair, but then I realized something. Dad expected things of him in ways he never expected them from me, and that was liberating. I knew Luke would have a harder time of it, especially as we got older. Maybe not with the rules… but the other stuff. The business stuff.”
“Family is complicated,” Liam says, watching me carefully, his attention warm across my chest. Or maybe that’s the wine.
“Mine worse than most. I told myself I could help Luke, keep him out of the darkness, maybe save him, you know? But now I realize I’ve been kidding myself.”
“He’s not your responsibility.”
“But he is though? I mean, he’s my brother, that’s how it works. And Luke’s so kind, he’s the gentlest person I’ve ever met, which is why the thought of him selling guns is striking.”
“That’s not the image you have of it.”
“Right, and it hurts, you know?”
Liam grunts and brushes his fingers against my hand. “It’s hard when your idea of a person gets ripped to pieces. You have to rebuild it, and the rebuild is never good.”
“That’s exactly how it feels. Like Luke’s been torn up.” I lean back, breath leaving me in a rush. Why am I opening up to Liam right now? And why does it feel like he’s really listening and understands me? “I don’t know. It’s dumb, the whole thing’s dumb.”
“I’m sorry, love. I know me being here and telling you these things doesn’t help.”
“I need to hear it though.”
