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“Yo, Peter. I’ve been around.”
“Around but not responding to my texts or calls after getting me mixed up in your shit?”
He downed about half his beer. “From what I hear, things didn’t turn out so bad for you. All those protests about how you didn’t want a sugar daddy, and now you’re shacked up with Lucien Marchesi.”
I shushed him, looking around to see if anyone seemed to be paying attention to our conversation. Thankfully, no one was. “How do you know what I’ve been up to?”
“Word gets around. If you know who to listen to.”
“Who are you listening to, Jimmy? Who are you working for, and why did you send me to take your place that day?”
He fiddled with his beer glass, not meeting my eyes. “I told you. I got a better offer.”
“Marchesi didn’t offer you a job. You owed a debt.”
“I decided I’d rather pursue an opportunity that would earn enough to pay him back.”
He was going to get himself killed, and I didn’t want Lucien to be the one to do it. “Jimmy, that’s—”
“Look, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of it.”
“You’re making trouble for yourself.”
He shook his head. “I was in trouble, but now I’m doing real good.”
I knew better than to believe that. “I’m worried about you.”
“I should be the one who’s worried. You’re way too naïve to be under that monster’s control. You’re the one who needs to be careful so things don’t end badly.”
Was he right? There was no doubt I was in over my head with Lucien, but I believed Lucien when he said he would protect me. But how long would that last, and what would happen to me afterwards? Those were the questions I tried not to think about.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking someone like Marchesi cares about you,” Jimmy said. “Men like that only care about what you can give them.”
“Then why did you send me to him?”
Jimmy shrugged. “You needed a job. I found you one, and it sounds like you’re making the best of it for now. You should be thanking me, not bitching at me.”
Before I could come up with a response, Jimmy polished off his beer and slid from his stool. “I’ve got to go.”
“Be careful. I don’t know what’s going on in your world right now, but—”
“You’ve made it your world too, and you’re not ready to play in it.”
“You’re right, but you seem to think you’re invincible.”
He huffed. “Not invincible. Just smart.”
Smart was not a thing Jimmy had ever been. He was impulsive, conniving, a charmer, and a halfway decent petty thief, but he would never be the brains of any operation. And if he thought he could outsmart a man like Lucien, he was way off base. “Think before you jump into something you can’t get out of.”
Jimmy just laughed. “Too late.” He turned and walked away.
My uncle noticed me then. A few moments later, he brought me my favorite beer. “Whatever he was telling you, ignore it. He’s in a pisser of a mood tonight.”
“Do you know why?”
Uncle Mac frowned. “I’ve overheard a few things. I’ll be taking a break in about fifteen minutes. If you can hang around, meet me in my office.”
“I’ll do that.” I was hoping my uncle might’ve heard something useful. If my suspicions were right, and Jimmy was working for the man who was moving against Lucien’s family, what would I do? Would I tell Lucien what I learned and put my loyalty to him over my loyalty to my family?
Did I really owe loyalty to Jimmy, though? Sure, he’d protected me when we were kids, and he’d been kind to me in the past, but he’d tricked me into paying his debt for him. Technically, anyway. As it turned out, I was happy to do it. He knew who Lucien was and what he was capable of, yet he’d handed me over to him, not knowing how he’d treat me.
“So what did you hear?” I asked Mac when he joined me in his office.
He studied me for a moment. “Before we get into that, tell me how you’re doing. Don’t think I’ve missed that you have somebody watching over you. I know you’re involved in some of the same shit as Jimmy.”
“It would be better if you didn’t know too many details.”
“I’m sure it would, and it might be best if you didn’t get involved in what I heard Jimmy talking about.”
“I’m worried about him. I think he’s gotten involved with the wrong people.”
“And you haven’t?”
“I… Maybe, but I’ve been safe so far. Please, tell me about Jimmy. I really am worried about him.”
He sighed. “You and me both, kid.”
I laid a hand over his. “I know you’re worried about me too, but I’m really happy where I am.”
“I can tell that. You look better than you have in a long time. I’m just worried about what will happen down the road.”
