they use the little ’uns like girls. Some of them are real fond of little boys.”
Maria’s eyes narrowed. “This Mercutio . . .”
“No! Mercutio, he’s a ladies’ man. But he looked out for me. Kind of let it be known that he’d deal with anyone who tried anything. Helped me out with food and—and a bit of coin a time or two. Showed me a few things that Claudia and Valentina left me to find out the hard way. And—he made me laugh when I needed a few laughs.” Stubbornly: “I can’t just turn my back on him. I can’t, Maria.”
Maria nodded. She understood this level of loyalty. It made her think better of Benito, actually.
“Si. I can see that, ’Nito. But there’s a difference between being a friend, maybe sitting at Giaccomo’s, talking, and doing the kind of crazy thievery and stunts that he likes to pull. You’ll get killed. So will he.”
Benito shrugged again. “That’s what Claudia always says. But Mercutio—he’s lucky.”
Maria shook her head. She hadn’t really gotten through to him. “Luck runs out. You stay away from his stunts, Benito.”
Some of the grimness in that must have gotten to Benito. “He’s out of town anyway, Maria. From what I can work out, no one’s seen him since two-three days after Caesare took sick.”
Maria smiled. “I know he’s your friend, but I hope he stays away.”
Benito’s brother walked in, looking preoccupied. “Morning, Marco. You been to see the patient? Hope you not lookin’ like that ’cause he’s going downhill.”
Marco smiled. “Sorry. I was just . . . thinking about something. Si, I’ve been to see Caesare. He’s fine, Maria. It’ll take him a little while to get his strength back. His endurance, rather—his strength’s pretty much back to normal.