Brennan offered another laugh, a nervous one this time. “Oh, I know you do.”
“Uncle V. is telling me you’re in the red with us. He said he called you this morning to arrange for payment, but you’re broke?” Angelo contorted his face. “How the hell does that happen?”
“Well, y’know…” Brennan slipped one hand in his pocket and casually held out his palm. “It’s not that we’re broke, it’s just that—”
“Oh good,” Angelo inserted. “That’s good to hear. Then I’ll be seein’ ya at the usual place on Saturday.”
“Oh, well, I mean,” Brennan started to say, but Angelo slapped his shoulder, jarring him and then pulling him into a creepy side-hug. He squeezed hard enough that Brennan felt like a tube of toothpaste on the cusp of spilling all its innards.
“Nowthat,” Angelo said, switching gears, “that is a spectacular young lady you’ve got with you tonight. I haven’t seen her around here before. She new?”
Brennan’s gaze drifted to Skye, who was laughing with Jeffrey and patting the table as he dealt more cards, and his face went cold. “Oh yeah. Yeah, she’s visiting from out of town.”
“Very nice, very nice.” Angelo smacked his lips. “I hope you’ve had a chance to show her a good time. Did you two enjoy that jazz brunch this morning? Or how about Les Mis tonight? Folks were saying it was a grand performance.”
Brennan’s heart palpitated. “Yeah, yeah. We’ve had a great time.”
“I bet you did. Pretty girl. She looks like a real sweetheart. I hope she enjoys the rest of her visit.” Angelo’s damp, rank breath was now right next to Brennan’s ear. “It sure would be a shame if something were to happen before she leaves. You know, New Orleans really depends on those tourism dollars, and it would be such a shame if something were to happen. I sure hope she gets home in one piece so she can come back and see you again.”
There was no point in responding. The message was clear. That was a threat on her.
It was suddenly really, really good that Skye was leaving soon, but now Brennan also needed answers from her about exactly when that would be so he could personally escort her to the airport. Despite his big plans to take her out again the following day and every single day she’d be there, they would have to spend the rest of her time here safely barricaded in his house.
Angelo slapped Brennan’s shoulder before releasing him. “Well, you kids have fun tonight. I hope you enjoy your plans tomorrow.”
“Right,” Brennan said flatly.
“Hey, why don’t you bring her with you on Saturday? I know Uncle V. would love to meet her.” He pointed a finger-gun at Brennan. “She like baked ziti? She looks like she could use some baked ziti. She’s even skinnier than you.”
Angelo slipped away, and Brennan glanced behind him, watching Angelo mosey away. He paused after a few feet, turned back to Brennan, and offered a sinister grin. And then he disappeared into the darkness.
It was times like this that made Brennan wish the Corps hadn’t saddled him with his guilt-induced commitment to a life of nonviolence, because a threat like that made him wish for his old rifle.
Although, Brennan had never been threatened in such an overt manner, not even from Vito. The establishment must’ve gotten pretty desperate recently. Maybe the business was folding. It’s not like this was still the 1920s. Running an underworld crime circuit in New Orleans was probably no easy task, especially after the resident crime family had all but died off in the 90s and early 2000s.
Maybe this was some kind of idle threat.
Besides, as far as Vito was concerned, burning a bridge with Brennan like that wouldn’t exactly contribute to his bottom line. They had established a clear give-and-take relationship over the years, and though Brennan was currently in the red, Vito knew Brennan had access to more money than his establishment would see in three lifetimes.
Brennan huffed as he adjusted his jacket and tie, shrugging off the threat.
Fuck Angelo. Speed-walking was probably enough to deter Angelo, lest he be crippled by a fucking heart attack like his fucking brother. This was nothing to worry about, but just to air on the side of caution, Brennan would simply keep Skye home until it was time for her to leave.
After all, the privacy of closed doors was exactly where Brennan wanted to keep her for the remainder of their time together. They’d had a full day of fun, and with her leaving forever, he wanted to soak up as much of her as he could get. Because of those feelings.
Because—it suddenly dawned on him—he was going to miss her.
Brennan strolled casually back to the Blackjack table and stood behind her chair, slipping his hand around her waist and kissing her temple. “How’s it going, Lady Luck?”
A smile pulled in a dimple on her cheek, but it disappeared when she met his gaze. “Going fine. How are you?”
“I’m fantastic.”
A crinkle formed between her brows. “You’re a really bad liar.”
“Babe,” he said amidst a chuckle. “I’m not lying. Everything’s fine. I was just saying hi to an old friend of mine. His brother had a heart attack recently, and he just wanted to give me an update.”
She tugged her lips into a tight smile and turned back to the table. “You think I’m stupid. That’s okay.”
