Looking up, he flashed his fangs at Giorgio, who took a step back. “Why the hell did you text me? I’m not helping get Tony out of jail if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Tony’s old news. I come bearing a message from Carmine Doukas.”
“Doukas?” Viktor frowned. The Doukas family was much like the Manzanos, except they originated from Greece. Tony and Carmine had been rivals for years. “Your family loyalty didn’t last long. Did the Manzanos stop paying you?”
“Bah.” Giorgio flicked his hand, wandering over and leaning against the alley wall, before pulling out a packet of cigarettes. “Everyone over at the big house is running around like headless chickens, aren’t they. No one knows who’s controlling the money. The family is wailing and carrying on, trying to order people to storm the damn jail. It’s ridiculous. Tony’s lawyerhas been around, bringing messages about how Tony is still in charge, and he’ll beat his murder charge, but yeah, gossip from the jail is that he’s going crazy. All he keeps talking about is ghosts. I prefer a more peaceful life with a solid paycheck.”
“And you think you’ll get that from Carmine? Good luck with that.” Viktor winced as he felt Ant getting closer. His poor mate must’ve run from the office. “You’d best fuck off. My mate’s on his way. He’s not happy, and when he sees this shirt, he’s going to be even more upset.”
“Hey, no need for me to run. I’ll wait and get an introduction. It saves me saying the same thing twice.” Giorgio lit a cigarette and blew a puff of smoke in Viktor’s direction. “From what I hear, this guy you call a mate is only a little guy, and it’s not like he can use his magical woo-woo on the whole alley, like he did with his house. Mr. Doukas wants to speak to him. Unlike Tony, he can see value in having a magical being who knows a lot of judges on his side.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Viktor moved to the opposite wall as Ant came running around the corner, Able at his side. Viktor saw it – the moment Ant clocked the blood on his shirt and the sneer of the man standing opposite him.
“Able. Restrain.” Ant pointed in Giorgio’s direction.
The change in the dog was instant. Gone was the happy German shepherd smile and wagging tail. Able’s hackles went up as he showed his teeth, and he didn’t break a stride as he sprinted in Giorgio’s direction, his growl loud enough to be heard on the street.
“What the fuck?” Giorgio threw his cigarette on the ground as he started running down the alley, away from the advancing dog. “Call him off,” he yelled. “Call him off. Aargh.” There was a thud as Able leaped and landed on his back. “Get him off me!”
“Six blocks.” Ant’s chest heaved as he stood in front of Viktor, totally ignoring Able and Giorgio. “Six blocks I ran because I was worried about you.” He poked at Viktor’s stomach. “I felt the pain when that knife went in. I felt it, as if someone did it to me. How could you be so careless!”
Viktor immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry, my mate,” he said softly, putting his arms around Ant’s back and encouraging him closer. “I didn’t ask to be stabbed. It just happened.”
“The same as you just happened to be in this alley, I suppose. When you told me you wanted to take Able out. Able doesn’t frequent alleys unless he’s searching for dead bodies.” Ant’s eyes were flashing. Viktor quickly pushed down his arousal that seemed to happen anytime Ant was feeling feisty.Wrong type of feisty.
“I was walking Able, and then I got a text…”
“So, you sent Able back to me, with no leash on.” Ant’s voice was low, but Viktor had no trouble hearing him. “You’ve been on edge for weeks, and now this. I was worried sick.”
Ant’s shoulders were trembling, and Viktor learned a dose of guilt was a great cock-blocker. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to you more. We’ll find something to do…”
“Bridget has some projects for us. They’re in my satchel. I was going to talk to you about them over lunch.” Ant huffed as he stepped back. He rested his hand on Viktor’s shirt, and Viktor felt a brush of magic as Ant did his thing. Within a blink, the rip in Viktor’s dark blue shirt was gone along with the blood stain. “We’re supposed to work together,” Ant said firmly, pulling out of Viktor’s arms completely. “So, who is this guy, and what does he want?”
Wanting the connection, because Ant’s upset was still flowing through their bond, Viktor took Ant’s hand, leading him overto where Able was doing a great job of keeping Giorgio in place. “This is Giorgio, former bodyguard for Tony Manzano and now messenger boy, apparently, for Carmine Doukas. Doukas apparently wants to meet you.”
“Would you get this fucking dog off me? He weighs a ton.” Giorgio grunted as Able slapped a paw on his head, forcing his face into the ground.
“Able, get off,” Ant said quietly. “Good boy. You don’t want to hang around someone like that. You don’t know where he’s been.” He patted Able’s head as the dog came and stood beside him. “Why would I want to meet Carmine Doukas? I’ve already met him. I don’t need to do that again.”
“You already know him?” Viktor looked at Ant in shock, noticing Giorgio’s mouth had dropped open, too. When Giorgio noticed Viktor looking at him, he quickly scrambled to his feet, brushing the dust and gravel off his clothes.
“I met him a couple of years ago.” Ant nodded. “He was one of Bridget’s disastrous dates. She didn’t know he was a gangster when she invited me to dinner with them. He told her he was an investment banker. He’s one of those annoying people who insists on shaking a person’s hand.”
“Ooh. That wouldn’t have gone well.” Viktor knew his magical mate struggled with any casual physical contact with a person. Just the briefest touch could cause Ant to see every bad thing that person had done in their life, or at least the previous week.
“No, it didn’t. Bridget and I went and got burgers that night.” Ant looked at Giorgio. “Were you waiting for a message to take back to Carmine?”
Giorgio looked between Ant and Viktor and then nodded quickly. “He wants to meet up with you. He’s got important matters he wants to discuss with you.”
“I want lunch, and Able needs water. That’s the most important thing to me right now.” Ant’s foot tapped on the asphalt as he glanced in Viktor’s direction. “Did you want to meet with and hear what Doukas has to say?”
“I’ve met the man before, too,” Viktor said slowly. “It’s always interesting to hear someone’s proposition before refusing them,” he suggested. “Although having lunch takes priority.”
“I know,” Ant grumbled. “I ran six blocks. I don’t do that for anyone.” He glared at Giorgio. “Run back and tell your master we’ll be available for a meeting at two this afternoon. We should’ve finished eating by then. He can find us at the Mandalin. He can join us for coffee if he wants to see us so badly, but we won’t be waiting around if he’s late.”
“Er…er…” Giorgio had the look of a hunted rabbit. Viktor mentally chuckled. Ant could have that effect on anyone.
“Mr. Doukas insists you go to meet him,” Giorgio said quickly. “That’s how it’s done. If anyone wants to see him, then they have to go to him.”
