“Never mind about that,” I snapped.
“I need to go,” Joey said. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Soon,” said Enzo.
Joey nodded. “Soon.”
“I’ll call someone to escort you down.” Enzo picked up the telephone on the desk and Joey and I stood in silence. It felt a little like we were two kids in the principal’s office, waiting for our punishment. I thought of the time five years ago when Joey’d had the brilliant idea to steal and bootleg the sacramental wine from church. Michigan had just gone dry and he was positive it was a brilliant scheme, sure to make some quick dough. I’d had the brains to turn him down, thank God, but he’d gotten caught. That’s when he’d entered the Bishop School, a sort of reform school for kids needing a last chance, and met the future members of the River Gang. He’d been tossed out of there for running crap games in the yard.
But he’d once beaten the tar out of this neighborhood bully named Timmy Toos for repeatedly eating out of my lunch box and stealing my milk money. And he’d threatened to cut off Mary McCarty’s long hair in her sleep if she didn’t stop calling me a dwarf. And when he found out I’d won a prize for mathematics in twelfth grade, he embarrassed me by announcing it at a family dinner at Bridget’s that Sunday. At the time I thought he’d just done it to annoy me.
Now I saw it differently.
“Grazi,” Enzo said before hanging up. “Someone will be here in a moment to take you both down.”
“Me too?” I said, surprised.
“Yes. I have some more business to do tonight. And I can’t leave the club just yet—my father is at his new establishment. With your father, actually,” he finished, smiling. “I wonder who’s having more luck at the tables.” His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
“The house always wins.”
Joey spoke quietly but firmly.
“That’s true,” agreed Enzo. “Now, darling, why don’t you go back to your friends and I’ll find you later.”
“I might not be here later. It’s already midnight, and I have to get up early.” It was a lie, Molly was ready to handle things at home in the morning, but I didn’t want Enzo to think I would just wait around for him.
“Oh? What a shame. Well, I guess I’ll be lonely tonight.” His tone implied he’d be anything but lonely.
A moment later, a couple moon-faced guys in dark suits showed up and took us back to the club. The music was still jumping, the dance floor was still packed, and the crowd at the bar was even thicker. All of it annoyed me. I marched ahead of Joey on stiff legs and flopped into our booth, across from Rosie, who, despite her threat, was still waiting for Joey.
“There you are!” shouted Evelyn over the music. She rushed from the edge of the dance floor over to the table and fanned her face, which was pink and sweaty. But her blue eyes were lit from within, and the glow in her skin was becoming.
“Here I am.”
Her brow wrinkled at my glum face. “Everything OK?”
“I’m fine,” I promised her. She deserved a good time tonight. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rosie tug on Joey’s arm until he sat next to her. “Really,” I went on. “Go enjoy yourself. I just have a bit of a headache, so I’m going to rest here a bit.”
“All right.” She glanced at the table and giggled. “Ted bought a couple bottles of champagne—it’s the bee’s knees! Maybe that’ll cure your headache.”
I plastered a smile on my lips. “It might. Go on, dance.”
“All right.” She tilted her head. “Sure you’re OK?”
No. I looked across the table. Joey’s face was stony; Rosie’s was triumphant. She stroked his arm and whispered something in his ear. “I’m sure.”
She patted my arm and hurried back to Ted, who scooped her up close. I didn’t see Walter anywhere and figured he’d given up on me altogether. Smart guy.
“So where’s that handsome man of yours? He dump you already?” Rosie’s shrill voice grated my last nerve. My nostrils flared as I took in her bobbed blond curls, perfectly coiffed around her flawless face, set off by a headband that sat low on her forehead. Her porcelain skin appeared even whiter than usual behind splashes of scarlet on her lips and cheeks, like blood in the snow.
“He’s busy.” Turning my attention to Joey, I gasped. “You’re still bleeding.”
Rosie squealed and shrank away from him. “Ew, what happened?”
“Nothing.” Joey pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed at his face. “Just a bloody nose.” He met my eyes and the secret passed between us. My heart beat a little faster.
“Oh. I’ve never had one of those.” Rosie sounded as if we were talking about a giant wart or a festering wound.