When there was nothing left that Vinnie could do to help, Earl Berryman told him to wait outside.
“I’ve done all I can,” Earl said. “It’s up to them now.”
Vinnie looked down at the clown prince. He’d never seen Jimmy in such a sorry state. The young Bozo had gotten closer to death than he’d ever gone before. Blue Nose hoped the guy learned something from the ordeal. He wasn’t indestructible. He had to use caution or the next time would be his last.
Outside, Vinnie lit up a blue raspberry cigarette and walked over to the Frenchman, who was waiting with the same impatient look that Vinnie’d had all morning.
“The doctor said your brother will likely pull through,” Vinnie said, offering him a cigarette. “He’s one tough bastard.”
Vinnie lit the cigarette for him.
“You’re damn right he is,” Jean said. “When he was four years old, his nose was bitten off by a stray dog. He didn’t cry or complain after it happened. Instead, he quietly chased the dog down and bashed its head in with a brick. Can you believe that? When our father asked him what had happened, he just said, ‘My nose fell off.’ Like it was a shoe or something. Just a little thing that he didn’t even need.”
Vinnie nodded. “He’s quite a character.”
He could tell that François was the stronger of the two brothers. Without him, Jean would’ve been lost. Just looking at how shaken up the juggler was, Vinnie knew that had François died, half of Jean would’ve died with him.
“So what do we do now?” Vinnie asked. “Are we going to go back to killing each other two weeks from now or can we resolve this peacefully?”
Jean thought about it for a minute before speaking. He said, “You might have nearly killed my brother, but you also saved his life. We have no quarrel with you.”
“And what about Jimmy?”
Jean inhaled his cigarette so loud Vinnie could hear the sucking sound. Then he exhaled in an annoyed moan. “I’m sorry, but Jimmy Bozo must die. He killed my dear cousin Pierre. This cannot be forgiven.”
“If you kill Jimmy it will be all-out war between the two families. Little Bigtop will become a war zone. Is that what you really want?”
“It’s blood for blood. It is only fair.”
“But how many others will have to die? Don Bozo will not rest until you and your brother pay for the murder of his son.”
“Then so be it,” Jean said, tossing his cigarette in the street. “If it must come to war, my people are ready.”
Vinnie shook his head. He didn’t understand why everyone had to be so stubborn all the time. “Then I guess the next time we meet, I’m going to have to kill you.”
As Jean walked up the steps to return to his brother’s bedside, he turned to Vinnie and said, “Tell me, Blue Nose. Why do you risk your own life to protect that worthless son of a bitch? I see it in your eyes. You want him dead just as much as I do.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Vinnie said. “I owe that man everything.”
“Everything?”
“No matter how much trouble that idiot causes, I’ll always back him up.”