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“I’ve put the ring away. The one that allows me to see him.”
“So…” He looked confused. Well, I was confused, too. “Why?”
I sighed. “I can’t face him. I can’t figure out payment for Lady G., the mambo. And I can’t even manage my life. I’m broke. I can’t gamble. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”
“How’d you manage before?”
“Nothing I’ve ever done has been enough. New Orleans is not cheap. Why do you think there are so many homeless?”
“I thought it was to feed me.” He grinned, baring a little fang.
I shook my head at his stupid joke. “Speaking of that, Carlos let you off your chain?”
Sloane gave a fake laugh. “You’re hysterical. I’m never on anyone’s chain—but I was actually hoping I’d find you. I have something for you. Turns out Carlos adores me, and our arrangement has been very beneficial.” He pulled a small backpack from his back and zipped it open. “Here.” He shook a velvet pouch at me.
“What’s this?” I took it, feeling its weight.
“It’s for your Luc. It’s very valuable.”
I opened the pouch and peered inside. A stone rested in the luxurious material. I pulled it out, the streetlight shone down on it, making the red sparkle. “A ruby?”
“Yes, but this is no ordinary gem, my friend. No. This is the Blood Stone. The right witch, or in this case, voodoo queen, canstore immense amounts of power in this.” He tapped it with a long fingernail painted black.
“Where did you get it?”
“Like I said. Carlos adores me. Turns out, he had it. He can’t really do anything with it. It’s too precious to cut or set. So I asked him for it.”
“He’s not going to come looking for me for it?” That was the last thing I needed, Marcello on my ass again.
“No. Not ever. Now take this and go fix your Luc. And afterward, I’d like to hear him play. I’ve heard he’s fantastic. That sounds like fair payment to me.”
I couldn’t say a thing. Not a word. My throat was tight, closing up and threatening to choke me. I nodded. I put the stone back in the bag, and as I tucked it in my front pocket, I whispered, “We can do that.”
Sloane clapped my shoulder. “Good.”
Then he was gone as if he’d never been there. I didn’t even see which way he went. But he’d given me such a gift. And more than he even realized. He’d given me hope.
Maybe—just maybe—we could figure out how to make enough money to survive. If Luc wasn’t too pissed at me.
I pulled the ring out of my pocket.
And put it back on.
Masonic Temple Cemetery
Luc
“What the hell?” I was so angry. Never in my entire life—or afterlife—had I been this angry. “What happened totogether? What happened to figuring this out? I thought we were going to make a go of it. No. You lock me away? Like I’m your plaything?” I’d taken a chance on Austin. I cared for him. Wanted somethingwith him that I’d never thought I could ever have, and he gave me hope. Then tore it all away.
“Luc. Luc, no. Please.” Austin held his hands up to placate me.
“Well, I never. I’m done. Take the ring off, Austin. Take it off.”
“No. I’m not. Luc, please. I’m sorry.”
I turned my back to him and stared out across the intersection. It was nighttime again, but it could have been any night for all I knew. I couldn’t feel heat or cold, but I could see the lights and colors, the old buildings, and in the distance, the much taller and newer ones. So much had changed, and yet so little. “I’m too damn old for your games.”
“No games. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see me so…broken.”
