Page 91 of Burn this City

“Exactly.”

Cassaro also stood, and Jack followed. “Listen, Jack, we respect you. If you need some new hunting grounds, we could use a good head like yours if you’re interested.”

“Thank you. I’m here strictly as an independent to help with the negotiations. I’d say Mr. Rausa doesn’t quite have my depth of experience when it comes to keeping the peace.”

Cassaro’s eyes sparked with amusement—he probably remembered that scene at the wedding too. “And after this?”

“Might be in everybody’s best interest if I accept Sal Rausa’s offer to join him. He’s in desperate need of a consigliere. I did consider retirement, but it’s not the right time.”

“He’s taking you in?” Cassaro raised an eyebrow. “How do you feel about that?”

Very good, thank you very much.

“It’s a good way to keep the peace. At least Sal Rausa isn’t a hothead like Andrea was. Nothing has changed. I still believe peace is better than war, and Port Francis is large enough for all of us.”

Cassaro and Dommarco exchanged a glance. That was clearly a surprise to them, and Jack assumed unease warred with relief. Sal would make an effort to sweeten the deal; it wasn’t Jack’s place to do that, except of course he’d coached Sal on exactly what to say. In the future, they’d probably be glad Jack kept Sal in check. The deeper dynamics were none of their business.

They shook hands and Cassaro, Dommarco and their little security detail left the bar to, no doubt, discuss the new information Jack had given them. Taking his time, Jack finished his coffee.

As he walked back toward Sal’s suite, it struck him as strange how much more clear-headed and optimistic he felt about these negotiations. Not only were they negotiating from a position of strength, but Jack, even though he had no official role as yet beyond “independent”, felt much more at ease about his own situation and much better in his skin. For the first time in his memory, that self-loathing and darkness wasn’t clawing against his skin from the inside. That, alone, was a blessing he could barely fathom.

But when he slid the key card through the lock to Sal’s suite, and entered to the sound of the shower from the generous bathroom, a warmth and calm came over him that made him positively giddy. The real challenge now was to not smile at Sal too fondly, or touch him in public. Much like the exact things they got up to in the bedroom, their love was a secret between them, and one that Jack gladly kept.

Speaking of what they did in the bedroom, they had four generous hours before the negotiations with the Dommarco started, and he’d finally decided that the rope color that complemented Sal’s skin best was black.