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“Just some friends visiting from out of town,” North said, dismissing the pair as he tried to change the subject to something safer. “I got a shipment recently that you might be interested in.”
Dom was still trying to see around North without being too obvious about it, but the mention of more goods served as enough of a distraction to draw his attention back to their conversation. “That so?”
North nodded. “Nitewein. Prime vintage from what I can tell.”
“Interesting.” Dom scratched at the day-old stubble on his chin. “Word is the Chicago Outfit got raided earlier tonight. A lot of the product went missing. Turns out, though, it wasn’t actually the Feds.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t know anything about that,” North said easily, hooking his thumbs through the loops of his jeans. “I doubt the shipment I’m looking to unload is anything as powerful as the stuff from the Green Mill.”
Dom’s expression turned wry. “Especially not after you dilute it.”
Since there wasn’t any heat in his words, North took it to mean Dom was interested and that he didn’t particularly care about the source. “I’ll put you down for a case or two.”
“Best make it three,” Dom said. “Demand has been up lately. I assume we can discuss the price when you deliver? Or did you want to settle that now?” His gaze again traveled to the others with North.
“Later is fine,” North said, trying to draw Dominic’s attention back. They made a few quick arrangements for the delivery, and then North held out his hand and Dom took it, sealing the deal between them. “There is one other thing.…”
Dom’s bushy brows rose a little. “Oh?”
“Everyone at the market knows that if there’s something happening, you’re the first to know,” North said, laying it on thick. He could sense Esta and Harte growing impatient behind him, but he ignored the two of them and focused on Dom. North knew the old man well enough to handle him.
“I can’t deny that I tend to know a thing or two,” Dom preened.
“It’s just that, well… usually I wouldn’t pay rumors any mind, but since I brought my boy with me, I feel like maybe I should be a little more careful. Maggie’ll be none too happy if I let anything happen to him. You know how she is.”
“Your Maggie?” The old man shook his head, probably remembering the one run-in he’d had with North’s wife. “I sure do.”
That’s what Dom got for trying to swindle his girl, though. Maggie had torn the old man up one side and down the other when she realized he’d been trying to get out of paying her for a delivery of some Quellant. After that, Dom wouldn’t have anything to do with Maggie, and she didn’t want North to have anything to do with him either. But Dom was too good a contact to cut out completely, so North dealt with the old man alone.
“Anyway, I’ve been hearing some whispers in Chicago about something big happening. I don’t suppose you know what’s in the works?” North asked.
Dom frowned, the bushy brows drawing together like woolly bears creeping over his eyes. “I haven’t heard anything about anything. Things have been quiet all around.”
“Are you sure?” Esta asked, breaking in like she was part of the conversation.
North stepped in front of her again. “She’s not used to big cities,” he explained when Dom looked suddenly wary from her interruption. “Gets nervous about things.” He lowered his voice a little. “You know how women can be.”
That seemed to mollify Dom a little, even if North could practically feel the heat of Esta’s fuming behind him.
“So you haven’t heard of any deeds in the works?” North asked again. “Because I’d hate to get in the middle of something unexpectedly, especially with my boy here.”
“If anything is happening, it’s not part of the usual network. No one would be stupid enough to start trouble with the convention in town—too much security and too much risk for anyone with any sense.”
“That’s what I suspected,” North said, his mind churning at the implications. Esta had plenty of reasons to lie about the attack. She knew how he felt about her wanting to go back to change the past, and he had a sinking feeling this was another one of those misdirections of hers. “I appreciate your confirmation, anyway.”
“Anytime,” Dom told him, still trying to get a peek at the strangers with North. “Give Maggie my best.”
“Will do,” North said with a tip of his hat.
He wouldn’t, of course. Maggie would have him by the short hairs if she knew he was dealing with Dom again. Especially if she knew he’d introduced the man to Everett.
With a jerk of his head, he got Everett and the other two moving, but all the while he could feel a headache building. North wasn’t sure what Esta and Harte’s game was, but he didn’t plan to be a pawn in it, not this time.
He led them back toward the entrance of the market but ducked into a side aisle that was empty once they were well out of Dom’s view. He closed the distance between himself and Esta, snagging her wrist so she couldn’t get away from him.
“You got about two minutes to tell me what you’re playing at,” North hissed at Esta, using every inch of his height to tower over her.
“Back off,” Harte said, the words coming out like a growl from low in his throat as he stepped toward them, but Everett had read the situation and was already between them, pistol drawn. Harte took another step forward, apparently not caring that he didn’t have any chance against a gun.
