Page 38 of Dangerous Devotion

“Yeah, and a little bit during, like I wished he’d just hurry up, you know. I think he liked holding out so I had to do it longer. Plus, he probably didn’t want to look like he couldn’t last very long in front of the other people there.”

My heart goes out to her, and I pull her into a hug. “Maye don’t go out with him again,” I whisper.

“No, he’s great! We’re going to this club opening tomorrow night—he knows everybody who’s anybody. I think this could really get serious between us,” she says.

“Did you tell him that you don’t want to do that again?” I ask, knowing the answer.

“That would be so weird. It was just a spontaneous thing when we were partying. He isn’t going to expect that every time.”

“Okay,” I say. “I know I sound like an old woman, but make sure he wants you for you and not because he thinks he can get head at a club whenever he wants it.”

“God, you’re not my mom!” she says, sounding annoyed but her eyes look hurt. I want to hug her again, but I know not to.

“I want you to be okay and happy, Cay,” I offer. “Have fun and send me a pic, okay? I’ll be working the cash register while you’re off partying.” She shrugs at my lame attempt at apology but doesn’t walk out.

We talk a few more minutes, and I’m reassured she’s not suspicious about my recent ex. I just don’t want to leave any loose ends and wind up with Jack finding out about the pregnancy I’m hiding.

20

JACK

“Don’t waste time on this. The cargo needs to be moved tonight,” I tell Louie.

“I know that man, but the only way to get it to the drop is across Carbini’s docks.”

“I’ve got a call in to Vinny. He’s supposed to call me back. His secretary gave me the runaround. Once he gives us the okay to cross his territory, we move,” I say.

“What are the odds he’s gonna sign off on that?” Lynette asks.

“About sixty-forty. We’ve been in a truce for what? Almost two years? I don’t see him throwing that out to be petty. We keep to our borders and show respect. No point in getting stupid about it. I’m asking his indulgence on this one shipment because the buyer got antsy and wants the drop on the other side of town. He’s a businessman like me, and I don’t think he’s gonna act unreasonable.”

I’m not really that confident he’ll agree, but I’m not about to let my inner circle know I’m a little nervous about this gamble. The fact is, Vinny Carbini’s a real prick and has been since I was a kid. His twins were about my age growing up and one of them ratted me out for chewing gum in church during a funeral and I got my ass whipped over it. Carbini laughed about the whole thing that day, and I’m not confident a guy who thinks that kind of crap is funny will be very reasonable about us moving product across his territory as a courtesy.

“Didn’t Carbini send us that shitty fish for a wedding gift?” Lynette asks Louie who shrugs.

“Hell, if I know. I didn’t pay attention to that. I was gettin’ hitched to the woman of my dreams.” Louie says it all syrupy sweet.

She smiles at him. Now I feel like I got an ulcer now because I remember how it felt when Serena used to look at me like that.

“You, okay?” Louie asks me.

“Yeah,” I say.

“Not sweating the message from Old Carbini?” he prods.

“Nah, Lou, he’s sweating the girl that didn’t answer him back when he said he missed her.”

“She playin’ hard to get?” Louie asks. “No, she just walked out on me.”

“The night he got stabbed,” Lynette supplies helpfully.

“That’s gotta freak her out if she didn’t grow up in the life. It’s been a minute. Call her up, see if she changed her mind once she calmed down.”

I look at him, a frustrating bloom of hope in my chest. I cut my eyes to his wife. She’s not giving me encouragement with her look.

“You think I should call her?”

“You think you gotta ask my permission?” she counters, sassy as always.

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