noirsealed part 3

The next night, she was relaxing in the bar again when that same girl came up to her with a glass of gin and vodka. It was what Cucali usually ordered - and as a regular, they all knew what she liked.

Cucali glanced at her, tilting her fedora up. "You want somethin', doll?"

"I, I just wanted to thank you for the other day," Paloma said as she put the glass down on the table in front of her. "Since you saved me..."

The mercenary put a hand up, silencing Paloma. "Nope. You got it all wrong, girlie. That was just business."

"Still..."

"If the situation'd gone differently, might've been I'd killed you myself."

"Regardless! You saved me, and I thank you."

"I don't want your thanks, doll, an' neither do I need 'em. You just scurry off and do your job."

"All right," Paloma said, not quite able to hide the disappointment in her voice. She left Cucali, and the woman took a drag of her cigar. What was that girl's deal? Actin' like she'd done her some sort of personal favour... tch.

Soon enough, Paloma was singing again, and Cucali had to admit she was happy the girl wasn't dead. Dead girls don't sing, see?