Page 4 of Deathless & Divided

Damian was beginning to feel like this conversation might turn into some kind of therapy session. Nobody wanted that shit.

“What did you need me for today, anyway?”

Dino smirked, but it faded fast. “I wasn’t the only one who took a liking to you, was I?”

Damian didn’t know what the hell his friend was getting at. “Pardon?”

“Terrance.”

The Outfit’s boss.

“I do okay with him, if that’s what you’re dancing around,” Damian replied.

“Just okay. Right, Damian.”

“What?”

“You don’t even realize it, do you?”

Obviously not.

Damian was too tired to play word games. “I do what the boss wants, Dino.”

“Christ, Damian. If you spent the same amount of time paying attention to your surroundings as you do working to blend in, you would have it made.”

“It’s not killed me yet,” Damian said, grinning.

“Good thing.” Dino shoved his hands in his pockets. “Joel’s never gonna make it as boss, not under Terrance’s watch.”

“He’s his grandson. It would make sense for Joel to take over when it’s time.”

“So? Like I said, Terrance knows better. A good boss is partly made, but mostly born, Damian. Joel doesn’t have it. Terrance knows it. Hell, the Outfit knows it. What nobody really knows, is who will take it.” Dino barked out a laugh, adding, “Well, I think I know who Terrance is looking at for it.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I’m looking at him.”

Damian turned to ice in the June air. “You’re fuckin’ kidding me.”

“Hey—”

“That’s not even funny, Dino. I’ve never wanted that or even suggested that I did.”

“I’m aware,” his friend murmured.

“So what the hell?”

“I didn’t say you did want it, Damian. That knack of yours, being invisible, wouldn’t work very well if you’re the boss.”

“Exactly,” Damian said. “And I like being able to come and go as I please.”

“But you don’t, not really.”

Damian didn’t challenge Dino on that because he knew it was true.

“Terrance has never mentioned anything of the sort to me,” Damian said, wanting to get Dino’s mind away from that.

Whatever plans the Capo was scheming up, Damian didn’t want to be a part of them. If someone got wind of that shit, he’d be six-feet under in a makeshift grave before he even got the chance to apologize for anything.