25. Trouble Lurking

It wasn't like he was psychic. After years in this business, and even more watching his Da... Max Kane knew what trouble looked like, felt it in his guts. His men knew when he said "I've got a bad feeling about this," it really meant, hit the dirt or haul ass shit's about to hit the fan. It had probably saved his life a dozen or more times. Saved Carmella's at least once, back in Rome when things got bad. So she should trust him right? Trust him that, this guy... he was trouble.

It was awkward, sitting across from her at lunch at a restaurant they frequented. The Kane's owned it a few tiers down in the organization so they were mostly left alone. And even if it was a fancy restaurant, the kind men saved up to take their girl's out too - - - Max could order pancakes for dinner if he wanted to. Being the boss totally owned. It was also good because they were in the private dining room, presumably so they could discuss business.

Carmella started in, "I've just gotten a message from my brothers, they have a job for ..." she started to say, while at the same time Max began to say, "Babe, you need to dump that guy, he's all ..." before he stopped too. Both parties stopped short. Staring at their partner in crime. Literally.

Carmella, as always, recovered first, "What's wrong with Thomas?" She asked evenly, anger edging her tone. Max was a constant interference in her life, always ready to jump in where he wasn't wanted. And yet, she thought, he hadn't said a single thing about her boyfriend since she started them and then it had only been a "I don't like him." Granted, she had calmed him up by means of he fist to his jaw, but that never stopped him long. If he hadn't said anything until now ... maybe this was something serious.

Max responded, "I don't know he just gives me the heebie jeebies."

...or it could also not be serious.

"you do realize that is not at all a valid for me to dump my handsome, charming, and accomplished lover." Carmella retorted, letting her words trail over the word l-o-v-e-r, knowing that Max would hate that. To his credit he didn't flinch. Visibly.

"Mel. Baby." He began, looking at her very seriously. "He gives me a bad feeling." He paused to lean back in his chair, taking the time to phrase it so she'd understand what he was saying. "Something's not right. A guy with you? He would know how lucky he was, he would protect you, care about you, treasure you." His voice was softening and he was revealing too much. He coughed slightly and forged ahead, "this guy, he seems to care but he doesn't actually. I can tell. He doesn't get between our fights, he just watches." Max decided to take the plunge, go for the final example that had pushed this man over into 'possible threat' territory.

"Do you remember in Quebec last weekend?" He asked, keeping a level voice though it was an emotional topic. They had both been traveling with a few friends and companions, including Thomas. And a bomb had gone off. His sister and one of Carmella's attendants had been injured, not seriously but still. Bombs...Bombs were still scary to both of them, still left memories of burning houses and crumbling stairs and Max's back, and Carmella's legs. Both still scarred.

"Of course." Carmella responded, remembering that a moment before the blast Max had looked at her, laughing, teasing. Thomas had been there too, idly holding his drink. When the bomb went off, he'd jumped out and away, rolling safely away. Carmella would have done the same, but she's been trapped under Max's weight when he jumped on her, wrapping his arm behind her head. Encasing her in his body. "You saved me when I didn't need it."

Max sighed, letting his head dip. "Any man, that doesn't do that. Doesn't jump toward the person he loves most in the room and try and protect 'em? They're a sketchball. No doubt." He said, dropping his voice in a way that indicated the conversation - was over. Carmella didn't let herself think about what Max meant by person he loved most, they were partners after all. In her own way, that she'd never say out loud, she loved him most too. But only like I retarded puppy that you kept around because you liked the way it limped. Yeah. Like that.

So the conversation dropped, and two weeks later when it turned out that Thomas was a mercenary spy, Carmella wasn't all that surprised. And Max wasn't surprised at all. And they totally kicked his ass.