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“Wow, one day at work and you have a future planned?” he teases.
I smile. “I’ve never had to think about it. Or never wanted to, I’m not sure which. But I know this is the first step, and it felt good today. I had a purpose to get out of bed and do something other than hang around the club and look after the kids.”
“And Arthur, what’s he like to work for?”
I laugh. “He’s grumpy, busy, and hardly in the office, so it’s fine. Although Rosey stopped by. I think she and him have something going.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I think Rosey likes him.”
“Well, they’re suited to one another. Crazy and the beast,” he jokes. My heart twists again. Everyone sees it, they’re perfect for one another.
“They are,” I mutter. “I hope he works out for her. She deserves it.”
“And you?”
I look up, my eyes wide with panic. “Me?” I ask.
“Yeah, are you gonna find someone and settle down? Is that part of your future plans?”
“I’m in no rush,” I mutter, lowering my eyes to my empty plate. “And you don’t exactly make it easy.”
He nods. “I know. Rylee had words with me.” He laughs. “I’ll try and back off. I just . . . with everything that happened, I wanna protect you.”
“I know. I’m lucky to have you.”
ARTHUR
“It’s not like you,” says Albert.
I knock back the whiskey and wince. “What?”
“Drinking like this. You hate drinking that shit. What’s wrong?”
“Who said there was anything wrong? Maybe for one night, I fancy letting go, forgetting about everything and getting wasted.”
“You’ve always said you shouldn’t let go because that’s when you’re vulnerable.”
I groan, slamming my glass down. He’s like a fun sponge sucking out the light. “You’re right. I’ll go back to running the family, keeping every fucker safe, and letting this fucking world suck the life outta me.”
He sits beside me at the bar. “Start talking.”
“Is it so wrong that I want one night off?”
“Is it a woman? Is it about what you said the other day, with the angel and demon on your shoulder?”
“I came close to giving in,” I confess. “The demon was right there for the taking, and I lost control for a second. I never do that.”
“I’m assuming the demon is a woman or this is really weird.”
“I just don’t understand, Albert. I’m around women all the goddamn time and I don’t care. I don’t notice. I can fuck any one of them and never see them again and I don’t give a shit. But with these two, I want them both for very different reasons. And why? I’ve never thought about settling down and . . .” I realise I’ve said too much, and Albert is staring at me like I have two heads.
“You wanna settle down?”
“I didn’t think I did, until now. Maybe I’m ready.”
“How the fuck is a wife gonna fit in to what we do, Art? Think about it. When you’re gone all night or when you’re home covered in blood, no sane woman would put up with it.”
