“I don’t mean to come off that way, Liam, but you and I…we don’t keep secrets from each other. Don’t start now. It’s already bad enough that Kit does.”
“Your change of topic’s giving me whiplash.” Liam braced his elbows on the counter behind him. “What do you want to start with? Kit, or you tracking down this guy on your own?”
“I got him to talk.” I explained what I’d learned that afternoon.
“Fuck, that Ghost guy works for the Grimaldos? That’s too much of a coincidence, right? Are you thinking the Grimaldos know about Kit?”
“That’s what I thought at first, but on the ride here, I gave it serious consideration, and I honestly don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
I popped the cap of the beer off and took a gulp. “According to the bouncer, this is something Ghost did every week.”
“Fuck. Can you imagine how many boys he would have succeeded with, Sullivan?”
It’d crossed my mind. Too bad they wouldn’t know that they had nothing to worry about from him ever again. He couldn’t hurt anyone anymore.
“If this is something he’s done repeatedly, then it might really just be a coincidence. It fits his pattern.”
“True, but what if it doesn’t?”
“Believe me, that’s also at the forefront of my mind. Whatever happens, I have to protect Kit at all costs.”
“Of course. How’s he doing?”
“Mending. A bit skittish, but me being around for him helps him to feel safe.”
“It’s a damn good thing Pinelli approved your request for leave.”
“Hmm.” But what would he want me to do for him in return? I wasn’t naïve to think he’d granted me the time off out of the goodness of his heart. He would have had to possess a heart first.
“What do you propose we do now?”
“We need to prepare to face off with Grimaldo.”
“It’s just the two of us, Sullivan. They have a whole family.”
“I know, and I’m trying to work out something. We can hire soldiers, but we need loyal people who will keep their word to stand by our side. Those are hard to find.”
“And in the meantime?”
“We lie low and keep in touch often. I’ll see if and what any of our informants know about what the Grimaldos are planning. Be prepared to leave the city at any time should things get heated. I’ll make sure our safe house is in order if we need to hide there for a while until we figure this out.”
Liam nodded, looking glum. “And Kit? You said something about him earlier.”
I placed the empty bottle on the island and wiped the droplets from my upper lip with my hand. Maybe I should talk to Kit and tell him I knew he’d lied about who he was on the phone with two days ago. There was no way he could have been talking to Tack. His friend had called my phone directly to let me know he couldn’t get through to Kit.
“I need you to trace a number for me. Can you do that?”
“Haven’t I done this for you before?”
“It’s important, and don’t mention this to Kit.”
He cocked his head. “Why? Keeping secrets in your relationship, Sullivan?”
“Not me.”
“Kit?”