Fine in Lingerie (Lingerie 11)

I was the only thing that mattered.

“Just one drink.”

We returned to the bar we’d visited the previous week. We ordered the exact same thing. Scotch—neat. The bar was busier than it was last time since it was closer to the evening, but we got a booth in the corner—away from unfriendly ears.

Like every other time we interacted, it was tense in the beginning. Neither one of us was certain where to start since we started over so many times. It didn’t matter what words were exchanged, it didn’t change the context of our situation.

Crow swirled his drink before he brought it to his lips. “What happened to your face?”

My left cheek was still red and puffy from where Vanessa had slapped me a few hours ago. I considered telling him the truth, to teach him a lesson about asking questions. But I figured that would scar him, so I kept it to myself. “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

Crow didn’t press it. “Pearl wanted me to tell you she says hello.”

I stared at him and enjoyed my drink. I was beginning to realize that being with Vanessa meant I would have to be with her parents too. These people would never disappear. Crow would constantly try to connect with me, whether he was doing it for himself or Vanessa. This would be an uphill battle, and the more I fought it, the more it would grow.

“How are you?” Crow Barsetti wasn’t much of a talker, but he forced a conversation with me anyway.

“Never better.” I woke up to Vanessa beside me every morning. I went to bed with her there too. There was nothing else I needed. “What about you?”

He shrugged. “I’ve been better.”

“What’s got you down?” I blurted the question out before I could stop myself. His family was safe, so there was nothing that could be keeping him down.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about, but I hope you understand it’s separate from the relationship I’m trying to establish with you.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“I don’t want to ask you for anything. You’ve done enough for my family. But you’re the best person to turn to, and since it involves the safety of my family, I can’t keep you out of it.”

I set the glass on the table and leaned forward, the blood pounding in my ears. “I’m listening.”

“I need your help with the Skull Kings.”

The Skull Kings were a group of thugs that made their fortune in lots of ways. They kept their power because of their unpredictability. Even their most loyal followers could be cut down without notice. Equally emotional and logical, they balanced on the edge of a knife. They weren’t the best men to do business with because you had no idea how they would feel the following morning. “What about them?”

“They’re the ones that ordered the hit on Conway.”

“I’m aware.”

“It’s been quiet on the front for the last month,” Crow said. “But I don’t think it’s going to stay that way forever. I need to shut down hostilities before they grow again. My son is finally back on his feet, and I don’t want another war to break out. All my family wants is peace.”

“And what does this have to do with me?” I’d already saved Conway once. Now my only concern was the woman waiting in my apartment.

“I know you have a relationship with the Skull Kings.”

“Every criminal does.”

“Is yours any different?” he asked, his head cocked to the side. “Is there any information you can give me that might help? Should I approach them head on? Should I do nothing? I have no idea what move to make.”

I’d visited the Underground for entertainment. I’d never bought a woman, but I liked the drinks from the bar and the connections with the other men who participated in the bidding. I had a relationship with Tony, one of the main Skull Kings. They’d commissioned me for work in the past. “I know them well enough. They’ve hired me to take out a few of their enemies.”

“Good to know.” He drank from his scotch. “If I have to hit them hard, I will. If I have to round up as many men as I can find and hit them when they aren’t expecting it, I will. But the last thing I want is a war. I don’t want bloodshed. All I want is peace. If there’s a way to establish that, I’d prefer that.”

“You know the Skull Kings aren’t big on peace.”

“Unfortunately.”

“My guess is they figured out what Conway was doing with the slaves.” The Skull Kings cared about money above all things. The fact that Conway was making a bigger profit off their hard work must have infuriated them. “On top of that, it may have pissed off their buyers. These women were taken for revenge, but then the revenge never took place. If you meet with the Skull Kings and offer to make up the difference that Conway profited, that would be a strong way to start the meeting. But for that second part…I’m not sure how you can make amends for that.”