Page 113 of The Bluffing Game

“Oh, what do you mean? So then, why did you tell her he didn’t want to speak to her? Why did you⁠—”

“It’s Jimmy, Dalton.”

“What do you mean, it’s Jimmy? Jimmy who?”

“It’s Jimmy the Fish.”

“Jimmy the Fish. No way. What on earth? What are you saying? It can’t be. He doesn’t have kids, does he?” I pause. “Fuck. I know he used to go to New York with my dad all the time, and I knew he used to sleep around, but, fuck, Brett, what the fuck?”

“I couldn’t tell her. I spoke to Jimmy a couple of days ago. I urged him to tell Sage the truth. He’s known for a while that she’s his. I guess she looks a little bit like her mom did when she was younger. And when you and I talked about looking for the dad, I guess he overheard a lot of the conversations, and he put two and two together. He used Mikey’s name on a lot of those trips in case women came looking for him.”

“What the—” I curse under my breath. “So, why won’t he tell her? He freaking saw her crying the other day.”

“He’s scared, Dalton. There’s a lot going on. He did a lot of bad shit—way more than you. A lot of different mob bosses would love to take him down. And if they knew he had a daughter, they would use that against him. You know this.”

“Fuck,” I say because I know it’s true.

Jimmy did a lot of bad work for my dad, but he left with me. I know he wants to be a different guy, but just because we chose a different path doesn’t mean that people aren’t still out for him.

“He’s doing it for her,” Brett says. “He said to me that he would be the most dangerous thing in her life, that he doesn’t think he’s a good enough guy, that …” Brett sighs. “Anyway, he thinks it’s better if she doesn’t know, but you and I, we have no secrets.”

“I know. So, he really won’t tell her?”

“I thought when I came in the other day, that would force his hand, that would make him want to tell her, but he didn’t.”

“So, what the fuck am I supposed to do with this information, Brett? I cannot lie to her again. I’ve done it twice already. I don’t …”

“Let’s see what happens in the next couple of days. Maybe he’ll reconsider. Maybe we can force his hand. Maybe. I don’t know, but don’t tell her just yet. Can you keep it a secret?”

I let out a deep sigh. “I guess I can. I’ve done it before.” I look to the bedroom door and think about Sage. I don’t know if she’ll ever get over this if she finds out that I knew. “This is a big thing, Brett. She deserves to know the truth.”

“But don’t you want her safe?” he says. “At the end of the day, isn’t this all about keeping her safe? Sometimes, the truth puts people in danger—you know that.”

“Yeah. Anything else I should know before I get off the phone?”

“Just that I’m sorry. I’m thinking I might go out of town for a couple of months. Things here … well, they’re getting too emotionally complicated and weird, and I don’t know that⁠—”

“What are you talking about, Brett? What is getting emotionally weird and complicated and⁠—”

“Nothing. I just think it might be time for me to work on some other things right now. I’ll be back in a couple of months.”

“Brett, I don’t understand what⁠—”

“Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll speak to you later, Dalton.”

He hangs up before I can continue the conversation.

Fucking Jimmy the Fish. I want to call him, but I know whatever conversation I have with him, it has to be in person. I don’t even know how I’m going to be able to look Sage in the face, knowing what I know, but I’ll have to do it. I’ll protect her heart with my life.

I open the door and head back into the bedroom, a wide smile on my face. I don’t want her to know anything about the conversation that I just had.

She looks up from the bed. “What’s got you so happy?”

Her hair has started to come out of her ponytail and hangs by the side of her face, and I want to reach over and tuck it behind her ear, but I know that’s not my place.

“Nothing,” I say. “I think it’s time for me to go to bed.” I grin at her. “I hope you don’t mind.”

I pull off my shirt and throw it to the ground, and she swallows hard as she shifts over.