it’s all the same to you, I reckon we’ll just keep trying not to get caught in the first place.”
“Even better.” Carmine tapped his fingers on the desk. “Anything you can do to not get caught, and to bring in as much as you can so I can compete with that bastard in Hell’s Kitchen.”
For a moment, Danny seemed to consider everything Carmine had said, and then he shrugged. “More cargo means more money for my crew. We’ll do what we can.”
“All right.” Carmine nodded toward the door. “I won’t keep you.”
“Thank you.” Danny started to go, but he paused, meeting Carmine’s gaze across the desk.
Carmine’s heart went wild just like always. Those eyes. They’d long since lost the hate and contempt from the first time Carmine and Danny had met, but now… Now there was something that was softer, and yet seemed to burn even hotter than that hatred had in the beginning.
Or maybe Carmine was seeing what he wanted to see. Because, damn him, he wanted to see his own hunger in Danny’s eyes. Not just the mischief of a thief given carte blanche to do more of what he did best. Not just the camaraderie that came when one man made another rich. No, he wanted more than anything for those blue eyes to look at him like he couldn’t help looking at Danny.
Abruptly, Danny cleared his throat and dropped his gaze, motioning toward the door. “I’ll be off, then. I’ll, um…” He glanced at Carmine again, cautiously this time, the harsh lights from the bare bulbs illuminating the blush in his cheeks. “I’ll be back soon.”
Carmine nodded, his mouth going dry. “Right. Yeah. I’ll see you soon.”
Danny offered a flicker-fast smile, and then he headed for the door.
A moment later, the door closed behind him, and just like Carmine did every single time, he released a breath. He never wanted Danny to leave, but he was always relieved when he was gone.
And admittedly, the information about Dwyer hadn’t necessitated a summons to the office. Carmine couldn’t really explain why he’d called him down here instead of waiting until the next time he saw Danny…except that he’d wanted to see Danny. Yes, he’d needed to fill Danny in on Dwyer’s strengthening connections to Tammany Hall and the Coast Guard, but doing it had been little more than an excuse to be in the same room as Danny again.
But all too soon, Danny was gone. Carmine closed his eyes.
Come back, damn it.
Even though I can’t breathe when you’re here.
Chapter 15
Danny took in a deep breath of fresh air as he stepped out of the butcher shop. The first time he’d left this place, he’d been rattled and angry. Now he’d been here more times than he could count, and he still hadn’t once walked away without a pounding heart. What was it Carmine did to him? And why was it more intense every single time they parted ways?
As if he didn’t know.
He could dwell on it later, though, because Giulia was waiting for him up ahead. Without a word, they fell into stride together, and a few blocks later, found Bernard waiting in one of Carmine’s trucks. From there, the three of them rode out to Long Island to meet the rest of the lads outside a marina where they stole boats from time to time.
It didn’t take but ten minutes for the entire crew to decide Giulia was one of them. Probably because, as soon as they’d laid out their plan, she’d offered one that sounded far better.
Bernard was, as always, dubious. “And what if they don’t fall for it?”
Giulia fixed a smile on him that was half sweet, half wicked. “Oh, they will.”
Bernard frowned, but he looked around at the other lads, and he gave that sigh he always sighed when he knew he was outnumbered. “Fine. Fine.” He gestured sharply at her. “But it better work.”
“Tell you what.” She narrowed her eyes. “If it doesn’t, then on the next run, you can have my cut.”
That gave him pause. The rest of the crew snickered.
Mathew gave Bernard’s shoulder a hearty smack. “She’s got you, ain’t she?”
Bernard actually blushed, even as he glared at Mathew, but he grudgingly conceded and agreed to Giulia’s plan.
Mathew, Tommy, and Liam stole a decent-sized fishing boat and headed out to sea. They meant to cut a lazy path toward the ships, fishing all the way, and do the same on the way back in, so it would be hours before they