The Venetian and the Rum Runner - L.A. Witt Page 0,120

damn about protocol.”

Danny studied the box, and his eyes turned distant in that way men’s eyes did after they’d come back from the Great War. As if the horror of his ordeal were sinking all the way into his bones. “All right. I’ll… Okay.” He pulled it closer to him and drummed his fingers on its lid. Meeting Carmine’s gaze, he said, “I’ll keep it with me all the time. I promise. And…thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m just sorry I couldn’t get you out of there sooner. The instant Giulia told me you were all—”

“Giulia!” Danny was suddenly ramrod straight. “She’s all right?” But then he paused, blinking. “You… Right. You said that. I…” He shook himself, then swore and rubbed his eyes. “God Almighty, what’s the matter with me?”

Carmine put a gentle hand on Danny’s shoulder. Danny jumped, but then relaxed, and he seemed to lean into Carmine’s touch, sliding his own scraped and battered hand over the top of Carmine’s as if to tell him not to pull away.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” Carmine said softly. “After something like that, any man…” He didn’t know how to finish, especially not when Danny looked at him with exhausted, bruise-ringed, and pleading eyes. All he could think to say was, “Giulia’s fine. I promise. She sounded the alarm that someone had grabbed you all.”

That did seem to help, and Danny closed his eyes and exhaled. “Thank the Lord. We were all sure she’d been killed when the trucks were burned, and…” He shook his head, then sheepishly looked at Carmine again. “I’m sorry. I went behind your back and let her come out with us, and—”

“Danny.” Carmine chuckled, giving Danny’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “God Himself isn’t going to tell her what she can and can’t do.” Sobering a bit, he sighed. Truth was, he did want to be furious with Danny and Giulia, and if he’d found out any other time or any other way, he would’ve raged at both of them. And Francis, for that matter. But he couldn’t. Not now. “I didn’t want her out there with your crew or any other, but if she hadn’t been with you, then it would’ve been hours longer before I found out. So I’m… I’m glad she was there.”

Danny exhaled. “Still, I’m sorry. About having her along on the runs, and…” He avoided Carmine’s eyes. “I, um… I know you didn’t want her out there, and we—”

“I mean it, Danny. If it wasn’t for her, God knows what might’ve happened to you and your crew. By the time il Sacchi left your boys at my house, I already had half the organization ready and waiting to start busting down doors and breaking kneecaps.”

Danny’s eyes widened a little. “You did?”

“I did.”

He swept his tongue across his lips. “But I—”

“Don’t,” Carmine whispered. “Giulia’s all right. So are you.” He looked Danny up and down. “Aren’t you?”

Danny avoided his gaze. “I think so. I’m alive. I’ll heal.”

Carmine nodded slowly. “Thank God for that.”

“Aye.” Danny managed a faint smile. “Thank God.” The smile faded. “And Giulia? Does she… Does she know about Francis?”

Nodding again, Carmine softly said, “She’s devastated, but she’ll be relieved to know you and the boys are all right.” His hand still resting gently on Danny’s shoulder, Carmine pulled him in close. “You’re both safe and alive. Once she’s had a chance to grieve, me and her will have some words, but tonight…” He closed his eyes and just held Danny to him.

Sighing heavily, Danny leaned into him and returned the embrace. “Thank you. For not leaving us out there.”

“I would never.” Carmine carefully stroked his hair. “The second I knew what happened, I was turning Manhattan upside down looking for you.”

Danny drew back enough to stare at him in what seemed like disbelief. “But why? Why’ve you done all this? I know the game, same as you. We don’t deliver, we don’t get paid. We work for you, but we ain’t part of the family. But…” He gestured at the case containing the gun and the plate where his sandwich had been. “Why?”

Carmine wasn’t sure how to answer. He finally settled on, “I told you the Pulvirentis would do their best to protect you. And as much as humanly possible, I will honor that promise.”

Something about the look in Danny’s eyes asked if that was the only reason. It wasn’t, but Carmine didn’t know how to say it out loud. Or if now was the time for it. Danny had