The Venetian and the Rum Runner - L.A. Witt Page 0,131

he couldn’t help thinking of who wasn’t here. Francis had been a part of this crew longer than Danny had, and the emptiness he’d left behind had Danny’s ears ringing.

Giulia wasn’t here either; no one knew if her brother had forbidden her from coming, or if grief kept her away. Maybe both. He just knew he was secretly glad she hadn’t come along. The responsibility for one less life on his conscience was more than welcome this day.

As they all smoked in silence, Danny looked from one man to the next, quietly assessing his crew. Everyone’s bruises were fading. Some had taken on that sickly greenish look that meant they’d be gone before long. Others were still deep and purple, ringed in green and probably painful to the touch. The side of Paddy’s jaw was still puffy; Danny was pretty sure he’d lost one or two teeth. Same with Mathew.

Liam’s right hand was still wrapped in plaster and would be for some time, and he still kept it protectively against his side. Sometimes his gaze went distant, and he wasn’t as quick to laugh as he’d been before. Danny just hoped that was something that would heal like broken fingers and bruised faces. Everyone in the crew was obviously shaken, but Liam seemed to be far more shaken and haunted than any of them. Just watching him smoke a cigarette, his good hand trembling and his eyes focused on something miles in the distance, was heartbreaking. Liam hadn’t said anything about what had happened after he’d been separated from the rest, but the gashes, bruises, broken fingers, and the black eye that he’d only just been able to open again told enough. Those bastards couldn’t have done it to one of the older members of the crew? To Danny himself? They’d had to hurt the youngest among them? The one that was barely a man at all?

“Danny?” Mathew’s voice pulled Danny out of his thoughts.

“Hmm?” Danny turned as he brought up his cigarette.

Mathew blew out some smoke, and he gestured toward the marina with his own cigarette. “Same plan we discussed last night?”

Danny considered it, mentally running through what they’d agreed to in the back room of Daisy’s. Then he nodded. “Aye. Unless anyone’s got an objection?”

Everyone exchanged glances, and one by one, the lads shook their heads, save for Liam, who was watching the water.

“Hey.” Danny waved a hand in front of Liam. “You with us, lad?”

Liam jumped, sucking in a breath. Then he shook himself and brought up his cigarette. “Aye. Yeah. I’m with ya.” He looked around. “So, the plan? Same as last night?”

Danny regarded him silently for a moment before turning to the others. “Mathew, you come out on the boat with us. Liam, you stand watch with Peter and Tommy.”

“What?” Liam demanded. “You can’t kick me off the boat!”

“He’s right, though,” Peter said. “Liam, you’ve been through—”

“And you lot haven’t?” Liam tossed his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out, flinching as if the movement hurt his still-healing body. “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t—”

“Liam.” Peter shook his head. “You shouldn’t be—”

“I’m fine,” Liam snapped.

Peter started to protest, but Danny stepped in. “Why don’t you lot get the trucks hidden, and the rest of you get us a boat? Liam.” He made a beckoning gesture. “Come here a minute.”

Liam watched the others go, but he reluctantly stepped closer.

Danny rested a hand on Liam’s shoulder and looked into his bloodshot eyes. “Your brother’s right that you’ve been through hell. We all have, but especially you. I can’t have you coming out and getting hurt because your head’s someplace else.”

Liam glared up at him. “If you don’t trust me anymore, then just come out with it. Don’t try to—”

“That ain’t it at all.” Danny shook his head, and he kept his voice gentle. “I still trust you. We all do.”

“But after…” Liam’s bravado collapsed, and suddenly he looked even younger than he was. “I’m sorry, Danny. I didn’t want to tell them anything. I tried not—”

“I know. I know.” Danny carefully kept his voice gentle. “No one blames you, Liam. Not us. Not Battaglia. No one. You wasn’t the only one who broke.”

Liam’s jaw worked as he avoided Danny’s eyes.

“You dream about it?” Danny asked softly. “What happened?”

Liam shuddered. “When I can sleep at all.”

“Me too.” Danny nodded toward the rest of the crew, who were throwing surreptitious glances toward the pair of them. “I reckon none of us is sleeping like we should be,