evil.
Turning smiling eyes onto me, Danny motions to his uncle. “We’re reminiscing.”
“Yes,” Ernie chirps. “I was just reminding Danny of the time he stole a cop car downtown.”
I strain a smile as a bowl of tomato soup is placed in front of each of us. I don’t see tomatoes. I see blood. “I don’t feel too well,” I blurt, desperation taking over logic. I turn to Danny. “I’m sorry, do you mind if we go home?”
His face falls somewhat, an epic frown creeping onto his forehead as he looks me up and down. “Now? You want to go now?”
“Yes, now.”
“Nonsense.” Ernie chortles. “You just got here.”
“You’re pale.” Danny scans my face as he places his spoon down and reaches for my forehead. He retracts his hand when he touches me. “You’re burning up.” He goes to stand, pulling me up by the hand. “Sorry, Unc, I should get her home.”
“Sit down,” Ernie orders flatly, pulling Danny’s attention back his way.
“What?”
“You deaf, boy?” he spits. “I said, sit down.”
A confused half-smile creeps onto Danny’s lips. “I’m sorry?”
“Sit down,” I murmur, lowering myself and pulling Danny down with me. “Just sit down.” Ernie had no intention of letting us leave tonight. None at all.
Danny’s confused look passes between me and Ernie, and then he turns, looking over his shoulder. I follow his gaze, finding two handguns pointing our way.
“What the fuck is this?” Danny’s confusion soon moves aside for anger.
“This, dear boy, is the beginning of your end.” Ernie takes a condescendingly casual sip of his drink. “Cheers to that.” He nods past us, an order of sorts, and I hear the sounds of safety catches disengaging. “Kill them.”
My heart lunges.
“What the fuck?” Danny roars.
The first bang sounds, and I slam my eyes closed on a flinch, waiting for the pain to kick in, just as the second shot fires. But the sounds aren’t nearly as loud as I’ve heard before. Silencers.
And I feel no pain.
I swing around on my chair to find the two men in the lobby face down, Brad and Ringo standing over them. Danny’s men are looking past me. Cool as cucumbers. What the hell? I shoot back around and nearly pass out from shock at what I find. “Oh my God,” I breathe, flying up from my chair, holding the table for support. Danny has a steak knife held at Ernie’s throat. There’s no confusion on his face now. There’s not even anger. All I see is a calm, stable psychopath, with a whole load of crazy in his eyes.
“Actually, dear Uncle Ernie,” Danny whispers, menace rife in his tone. My legs give, and I drop back to my seat, staring across the table at Danny looking positively murderous, and Ernie looking half-shocked, half-furious. “I think you’ll find that this is the beginning of your end.” Danny draws a neat line across Ernie’s throat, not too deep, but enough to show he’s not fucking about. Then he releases him, picking up a napkin and wiping the blade through the material before retaking his seat next to me. What is he doing? Danny picks up his spoon and stirs up the soup in his bowl, reaching for some bread as he does. “Tell me all about your plan to kill me off. I could do with some laughter in my life right now.”
Ernie sneers, wiping at his throat with a napkin before inspecting the blood staining it. Then he knocks back his drink. The action stretches his neck, forcing the slice open, beads of blood trickling down and meeting the collar of his shirt. “You’re nothing but a bastard,” he spits.
I flick nervous eyes to Danny, seeing his hold of the spoon tighten to the point his knuckles are bloodless. “How long have you and Nox been friendly?” Danny asks. “Ten years? Or did you have dealings before you gave Rose to him after rescuing her from the streets and having her raped?” Danny sinks his teeth into the bread and rips off a piece, eyes trained on Ernie.
“He wants rid of you,” Ernie states. “I want the boatyard and you gone too. Perfect partnership.” He motions to me, smiling evilly. “You made it easier when your dick took charge of your brain.”
“Except it’s you who’s sitting here now with two guns aimed at your head.”
Ernie looks at me like I’m dirt. “As far as whores go, she’s a good one, yes?”
I cry out when Danny literally throws himself across the table, taking Ernie from his chair and