Page 19 of Beni

“If you say so, nipote,” Tommas returned. “So, what do you think? You up for the task.”

Sure.

Why not?

“What about what I have been doing with Bene? That’s a two-man job.”

Since they arrived in Chicago six months ago, their uncle put them in charge of looking after the streets, and those working for them in the city. Daily, they were running from one end of the city to handle dealers, or inside a bar picking up messages or money from bookies. It was a lot to keep track of, but it also allowed the Capos of the Chicago Outfit a bit of legroom with their people. They didn’t have to be everywhere all at once when they could focus on their crews and let Beni and Bene do the heavy lifting elsewhere.

“We’ll have others take that over,” Tommas said.

“With Bene?”

“No, two new people.”

“What will Bene—”

“As far as I know,” his uncle interjected calmly, “he’ll be heading back to Toronto soon. Something he worked out recently with your father. Homesick, I believe. You would have to ask him. You didn’t know?”

Suddenly, that strange yeah comment from his brother that morning made a hell of a lot more sense. They were supposed to be here—together—for at least a year. Here it was, six months in, and already his brother was leaving.

Arranged it behind his back, apparently.

Why?

Why hadn’t he told Beni?

“So, he’s going home,” Beni said quietly, “and I’m staying here?”

“Looks like it. It wouldn’t hurt for the two of you to spend some time apart, Beni.”

“It’s not about being apart.”

Mostly.

Kind of.

He didn’t want to be separated from his brother, but that wasn’t why he was pissed off, either. That was because Bene hid it from him.

Tommas raised a brow, murmuring, “If you want me to believe you’re not angry about being separated, perhaps you should stop looking at me like you’re going to come over my desk with a tone that suggests the same, yes?”

Fuck.

Beni said nothing.

Tommas seemed to be okay with that. “You’ll begin work with the crew soon. And stop to say hello to your aunt before you leave, understood?”

“Yeah, I got it.”

But now he had a lot of shit on his mind, and he didn’t know how to deal with it. Not the first clue.

“Only you could pull that look off in a club.”

August glanced down at her attire at Camilla’s comment. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“I didn’t say anything was wrong with it. I said you are the only person who could pull that look off in a club, hon.”

“Do you know how much I paid for this jacket?”