Page 45 of Roses and Murder
Neco tugged me away.
“They are going to get pretty graphic because they know whatyouare like in bed, but not me. They love shit-talking on their down time because they can’t do it when they are with a John unless they pay for that.”
“Noted.”
Neco took me to his apartments. Theda looked like she was feeling better like Mom was, but still wasn’t at one hundred percent. Rowena practically snarled when she saw me and I really didn’t want her to punch me in the tit again.
“So, Lance is really Lucy. I’ve been in love with her since we were kids, but I thought she was my brother, so I started this whole feud with her. It wasmyfault, Rowena, not hers.”
Rowena’s face brightened.
“So, I did good when I chose to punch you in the chest instead of the dick because you don’t have one!”
“Good thinking, runt,” Neco said, ruffling her hair.
“Excuse me, as the owner of the tit she hit, it hurts. Would you like a sympathy dick punch?”
“My sister would avenge me.”
“I would.”
I fell out laughing because Rowena would definitely maul me and I wouldn’t lay a finger on her because she was just a kid. Neco joined me. Theda looked at us like we were both insane and Rowena just smiled shyly.
“Well, I’m happy you reconciled with your friends, but I could have told you that your best friend wasn’t your brother.”
Neco rubbed his neck sheepishly.
“She could have, too, if I’d just asked her. I didn’t handle it well at all.”
“Do I need to punch you in the dick?” Rowena asked solemnly.
“I’ll hold him down,” I said, tackling Neco and tickling him.
Most people in Guttertown didn’t know that the big, brooding, one-eyed giant happened to be really ticklish when he was a kid. Neco yelped, but Rowena just dog piled on him because, apparently, she knew this and he was the same as an adult.
I caught Theda staring as we held Neco down and tickled him. Her kids were the most important thing to her, even if their father was a total arse. She looked content. Probably happier than I’d seen her since they had to go to the brothel.
I got it. It was probably hard onherto when Neco decided to cut everyone out to go on his assassin mission to protect Theda and women like her because all Theda saw was Neco isolating and not talking to his friends.
I loved Neco, and really much more than just a best friend, but he was a complete moron with tunnel vision sometimes.
We were just going to have to keep him close and make sure he didn’t do shit like that anymore. We weren’t kids anymore.
Neco’s tunnel vision could get him killed now.
Neco’s family was one of the most important things to him, so I wasn’t all that shocked he stole me from the tavern to present me as Lucy and someone important to them. It would make Theda happy and it was probably stupid since she was a kid, but I really wanted Rowena to like me.
We hung out for a while and Neco lied through his teeth about being completely done with his father and serial killers. Unlike Goran, I wasn’t a snitch, so I wasn’t going to tell Theda a damned thing, I’d just make sure he never got caught.
Neco brought me straight back to the tavern because he knew it was important to me and we could make a killing tonight at this party. Our kitchen wasn’t that big, but it was packed. The Madame had rolled up her sleeves and was baking sweets.
Ugh. The Madame and Keeva were both amazing cooks, but only one decided to do that professionally. Having the Madame bake for the Whispering Raven was ahugehonor because she only usually did it for her girls and the kids at the brothel.
“So, I did a little meddling,” the Madame said. “The Whispering Raven can’t fit everyone in Guttertown at the same time and everyone is going to come out for this. The people with food stalls are going to drag them into the square near the brothel and the tavern. Some people in Guttertown don’t drink or pay to fuck and they should be able to celebrate, too.”
“Good call! Thanks.”
Because yeah, a lot of people did drink in Guttertown, but there were some that didn’t. Some came in because we had decent food, but they weren’t frequent guests. They came a little more often now that we had music, but yeah, all the merchants in Guttertown should be out for this. Everyone should have something they enjoy at a party and everyone should get a chance to make a little money.
