The Venetian and the Rum Runner - L.A. Witt Page 0,75
safe, and started pulling out cash.
Danny watched him silently. Sometimes he wondered which was the greater thrill—stealing other men’s liquor, or the way Carmine grinned at him when he told him how they’d pulled it off. He would never admit it out loud to his crew, but there were times he felt drawn toward the wilder and wilier plans simply because he knew they’d amuse and impress Carmine.
What is the matter with me?
And damn him, he’d nearly slipped twice and mentioned Giulia’s role in executing the plans. He had to keep his head together and remember that while Carmine’s approval was lovely, regaling him with tales of the crew’s shenanigans was risky in and of itself. It wouldn’t do to be trying to impress him, only to infuriate him by casually mentioning that Giulia was involved.
Today, Danny had kept from saying her name, and Carmine paid him, unaware that his own sister would be getting a cut.
After he’d wrapped Danny’s money in butcher paper, Carmine leaned against his desk. “I don’t suppose you’ll stay for a drink.”
Danny’s heart fluttered like it had no right to. He was sometimes in a hurry to leave because his crew was waiting, but now he had a little time before he was meant to be at Daisy’s. “I won’t say no to brandy that good.”
Carmine chuckled, and he took a bottle and a couple of glasses from beneath the desk. He poured some for each of them and handed one to Danny. After they’d clinked the glasses together, they sipped in silence.
Danny needed to get out of here and go pay his crew. They needed to plan their next run. And there was some part of him—some part still certain his brothers were rolling in their graves—that knew he should get away from this dangerous gangster.
But he…didn’t want to.
More and more each time he came down here, he wasn’t so quick to run out. Not even when he needed to meet his crew. Instead, he was quietly grateful each time Carmine wanted him to stay long enough for a drink. Back in January he’d have tossed the brandy in Carmine’s face and reminded him he belonged in hell, but now…
I don’t know what’s changed. Only that something has. And it changes a little more each time I see…
Bloody hell, your eyes are so…
He took a deep swallow of brandy, letting the burn distract him from his own thoughts.
Carmine brought up his glass, and Danny’s heart did a little flip as he watched the man’s beautiful lips. Then his throat. Then he looked again at those dark eyes that were watching him right back.
Danny dropped his gaze into his drink, hoping the heat in his cheeks was from the liquor and nothing more. This wasn’t like him. Every damn time, from the moment he walked into this office, he couldn’t think. It wasn’t like the first time when he’d been afraid of Carmine and worried about keeping his friends out of the workhouse. No, there was something else, and every time he looked at Carmine, every time he was in the underground office with him…
What is the matter with me?
And why am I so sure that whatever ails me, it’s you that’s the cure?
Danny needed to get out of here before he went even more insane, so he drained his glass and set it on the desk. “Thank you. I, um… I should…” He gestured at the door.
“Of course. But before you go, there’s one more thing.”
His heart clenched, and this time it was in a nervous and scared kind of way, but he didn’t let it show. There was always one more thing, it seemed, and this time he had a reason to worry that Carmine knew something he shouldn’t. Something that could splinter this precarious and confusing warmth between them. Playing it as casually as he could, he asked, “Is there?”
Carmine gestured at a newspaper on his desk. “The laws have changed. The Coast Guard’s now got jurisdiction to twelve miles offshore, not three.”
Danny straightened. He tried not to look relieved he hadn’t been caught taking Giulia out with the crew, but any relief was probably hidden by his surprise at the news. “Twelve miles?”
With a scowl, Carmine nodded. “I don’t know if word’s gotten to the ships yet—it probably will before too long—but you and the boys? You keep it in mind.”
“Aye. We will.” Danny frowned. “It’s already harder to steal boats, what with people coming out in the warmer weather.”