Page 13 (1/2)

"You broke up?"

Carmine nodded

"After what everyone risked for that girl, you’re not even together anyain, he nodded

"She’s off on her own? Free to do as she wishes?"

Another nod

"And you’re not"

Not a question that time, but Carmine nodded anyway

After a bout of strained silence, Sal broke the tension by laughing once again, abruptly loud and genuinely amused "Well, I believe there’s a lesson to be learned in there somewhere"

"What’s that?" someone else asked

"No matter how beautiful you think a woman is," Sal said, "she’s never worth the trouble"

TheSal’s words, while Carlass, he sipped the hot liquor, absorbing the bitterness into his bloodstrea brunette, putting his ar, "Not you, baby"

She blushed and giggled, while Car sick

"There is an upside, though," Sal declared, glancing back at Carmine "You can join in the fun around here There’s no reason for you to have to go hoht I’ood time"

Carmine looked to the blonde when Sal motioned toward her She s, and judging "Absolutely"

Shaking his head, Carmine looked away from her "No, thanks"

"Not your type?" Sal asked "There are plenty irls in all shapes and sizes Just pick your poison"

"I’odson, not interested in a woift to you"

Carmine tried to think of a way to explain it that didn’the wanted to do was expose his biggest weakness in front of so ht now"

"You don’t have to be in theTenfor "

"I see , but wasn’t it because of a girl? A girl you’re no longer with, at that Maybe you should’ve just left her where she was Maybe we’d all be better off"

Anger swept through Carht to keep it fro him to react

"Co out directly behind Car hi him locked in place so he couldn’t turn around "Cut the boy some slack Even you knohat it’s like tocautious so he doesn’t make another"

"I suppose that’s adain as he took a sip of his drink "The last thing I want is another careless man on my team"

"Especially one that’s careless with a wohed bitterly "Like his father Vincent’s only flaas his choice in females Talk about a man who made mistakes"

Car He shifted forward a fraction of an inch at the insinuation about his ht, but Corrado’s grip on Carhtened

"You live and you learn," Corrado said "Car as he reht now, his place is at ho"

"True, true" Sal waved his hand dismissively at Caro of Carlanced around the table one last tiht, sir"

He briskly walked away, relief soothing his nerves as he bolted for the exit As he approached the bouncer, the man suddenly jumped from his seat and stood at attention Carmine’s brow furrowed at the reaction until he heard Corrado tell theout behind him

"Thanks for that," Car a deep breath of the cold night air A cloud surrounded him as he exhaled

"You’re welcome, but I won’t always be around," Corrado replied "You have to learn to control yourself, no matter what he says"

"I know, but I just didn’t expect that I uard"

"He’s testing you," Corrado said, "and based on the little bit I saw, I have to say you’re going to fail"