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“I don’t know exactly where, but she’s in New York somewhere.”
A smile tugged the corner of his lips. She went to New York like they had talked about. “The point is, I’ve learned it’s senseless to wonder. I did what I did, you did what you did, and we are where we are. We just gotta do what we gotta do.”
“You know, you mask it with the alcohol and profanity, but you’ve grown up quite a bit this past year.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think Corrado would agree with you,” Carmine said. “He threatens me at least once a week. I’m just waiting for the day he catches laryngitis and can’t say, ‘I’ll kill you,’ so he just does it instead.”
Vincent laughed, shaking his head. “He’s threatened to kill me before. I’ve threatened to kill plenty of people, too, like Haven. It’s how we’re taught to control people, so it becomes second nature. Most of the men we deal with fear nothing except death.”
“You know, it’s fucked up how nonchalant you are talking about killing the girl I love.”
“You still love her?” he asked curiously.
Carmine nodded. “I think I always will. Regardless of all this bullshit, she’ll always be my hummingbird.”
“Hummingbird,” Vincent echoed. “Why do you call her that?”
“Uh, I don’t know. Kinda just came out one day and stuck.”
“Your mother would’ve loved that nickname.” Vincent smiled to himself. “I haven’t seen any in ages, but in the summertime hummingbirds used to swarm the tree in the backyard. Maura loved them; the way they could hover and fly backward and never tire. She was convinced the souls of the pure and innocent lived inside of them, and that’s why they defied nature.”
Before Carmine could respond, his phone chimed. He tensed when he saw the familiar message:
The docks, Third and Wilson.
Carmine slipped the phone back away. “Guess I gotta go.”
Vincent nodded as he lit another cigarette, not appearing surprised, and made no move to get up.
“You wanna go inside?” Carmine offered. “It’s still your house.”
“No, I’m just going to sit here for a few minutes and then be on my way.”
lo looked at him warily, raising his eyebrows. “I hear your Carmine is friends with my Remy.”
“Ah, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad kids,” Vincent said. “Maybe just a little misguided. I was the same way, and you wouldn’t call me bad, would you?”
“No,” he said at once, but Vincent could see the truth in the man’s eyes. Yes, yes, an unadulterated hell yes.
Vincent let out a laugh as he walked away.
* * *
Carmine sipped his drink, lounging in the white wicker chair as he listened to his friends and family chatter on. He relaxed, almost enjoying himself for once, until a gruff throat cleared right behind him.
He stiffened at the sound.
“This is for you two,” Corrado said as he reached across the table, holding a box wrapped in shiny green paper. Carmine turned to face his uncle, who looked exhausted but otherwise fine. “I apologize I missed the ceremony, but I had unexpected business.”
“Thanks, Unk,” Dominic said as he took the gift. “It’s understandable.”
Corrado walked away without even looking at Carmine. Carmine watched as he approached Celia, motioning for her to follow him. Corrado’s eyes darted around nervously and Carmine’s heart pounded rapidly when Dominic’s voice rang out. “Twinkle Toes.”
Carmine turned to him so quickly he nearly knocked over a glass of champagne, wondering why he had said that name, and saw he had pulled the card from the top of the gift.
“Read it to us,” Tess demanded.
Dominic sighed. “Dom and Tess, I wish I could give you this in person, but I’m tied up with things here. I bet Tess looked beautiful in her dress. Maybe someday I’ll get to see pictures of it.” He paused, glancing at Tess. “She’s right, babe. You’re always beautiful but especially today.”
