Quicksilver Passion (37 page)

Al almost protested, then fell silent. He must begetting soft in his middle age. What did it matter to him what happened to the girl? After all, no one had ever looked out for him much since he’d been left on the orphanage steps in a basket. Whoever left him there didn’t even care enough to write a note or give him a name, so the nuns gave him one.
Trovato
. Like the word trove as in treasure trove or something found. A
foundling
. It was a name nuns sometimes hung on an illegitimate baby. If it hadn’t been for Brett, Al would still be a street tough struggling to survive.

Then it’s settled.” Brett stuck his thumbs in his silk vest and beamed at the girl.
I have several other young lady employees. But first, I’ll take you to the kitchen and get you something to eat and maybe one of the other girls will give you some clean clothes. Al, will you, ah, take care of Mr. Dallinger and see him out?”

The blonde heaved a sigh of relief, looking out the window at the blowing snow. Al realized she hadn’t had any place to go tonight and was certainly hungry. Those wide, innocent eyes betrayed that. When she found out what she was into, she would wish she’d stayed on the street and taken her chances, but after tonight, it would be too late.

Brett escorted the girl out of the room and down the hall of the elegant Victorian mansion.

Al sat on the corner of Brett’s desk.
I always thought you were a rat, Dallinger, but I think this is a new low, even for you. God, you stink! Don’t you ever take off that smelly fur vest or take a bath?”

The scout laughed and poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter on the polished walnut desk.
Gawd Almighty! You don’t hurt my feelings none! If I hadn’t found her, she might have ended up in a worse place than this! At least she won’t be workin’ some cheap crib near the stockyards. Maybe one of the fancy gentlemen will even buy her off Brett!”

She must be either innocent as some country lamb or desperate to trust the likes of you!” Al got up and went to open the safe.

Said she hadn’t et for two days and was lookin’ for work.” Dallinger grinned, helping himself to the expensive cigars in the humidor on the desk.
I knew Brett had just the kind of work a beauty like that could do and get me a nice piece of change for bringing her in.”

Al didn’t say anything as he worked the combination. Why was he objecting? Hell, it was no skin off his nose and his allegiance was to Brett. Because of him, Al had a comfortable room here at the house, plenty of pocket money, and a life of virtual ease, except for an occasional bit of action with his fists. He could even take his choice of the girls when he felt the urge and they wouldn’t dare turn him down just because he was ugly. As Brett’s right-hand man, Al Trovato was a man of influence and importance. He counted out the money and closed the safe.

Trovato,” Jake drawled,
Brett must sure trust you. You got the combination to his safe and the run of the place?”

Al handed him the money.
He trusts me because I’ve proved to him I won’t let him down. And I’m grateful for everything he’s done for me.”

Jake Dallinger grunted as he accepted the money and counted it.
Plumb touching! Being a trusted fool and looking out for others is what gets a man in trouble. Do you even get your choice of the women? Now I’d like that!”