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He eyed my glass. “What are you having?”
“Bourbon. Dante only stocks the good stuff.”
“Sure.”
I waved at Venus for another bourbon.
“Dante called me,” Boone said. “Told me to meet him here.” He glanced around. “Fancy.”
I lifted my chin. “Norcross said you had a personal protection job down this way.”
“Yeah. A guy from Shreveport who’d been getting a few threats. Job was uneventful.”
“The best kind. How’s Vermont?”
“Good.”
“Atlas?”
“Fine. Except my dog will be pissed that I left him with our grizzled, old neighbor. Rex doesn’t spoil him like I do.” Boone glanced at me. “Heard you’re hunting Wayne Cullen.”
“Yeah.” I tossed back more of my drink. “He got away from me today.”
“You’ll catch him.”
“Just worried it won’t be before he hurts another woman.”
“That’s not on you, Colt.”
I looked at Boone. “I could probably say the same to you about a bunch of shit that you’re dragging around from your time in the military.” Boone had been under Vander’s command as part of Ghost Ops. The best of the best of the military’s special forces, sent to do the worst jobs in the worst places.
Boone swirled then sipped his drink. “Yeah. And like you, I know it doesn’t always help.”
We drank together in silence, and finally I pushed my empty glass across the bar. “I’d like to stay, but I need to go. I’m sure Dante will be down here to catch up with you soon.”
Boone nodded. “You have a daughter to get back to.”
I cleared my throat. “And a woman.”
Boone’s eyebrows went up. “You? A woman? I knew Dante had taken the fall, but not you.”
“We’re still…working things out. She has an ex who doesn’t want to be an ex.”
The other man’s face hardened. “If I can help you out with that, let me know. For some reason, Vander’s put me up in a hotel for a few days before I fly home.” He scowled into his drink.
Vander Norcross was forcing Boone to spend some time in the city and socialize.
“Thanks, Boone.” As I rose, I saw Dante coming our way and waved. I didn’t stay to talk to Dante. He’d see I was tired, frustrated, and pissed.
It only took me a few minutes to get from Ember back to home. I let myself in and headed up the stairs.
When I stalked into the kitchen, I paused. A floor lamp was on low, as was the light above the stove. They cast a warm, homey glow around the place. I was used to coming home to darkness. Occasionally, one of my brothers might leave a bottle of bourbon for me.
I dropped my keys on the island.
“You’re home.”
Macy’s voice made me spin. I spotted her now, tucked up on my couch. There was an open book discarded beside her, and the red throw blanket that Lola had made me was tucked around her body.
