There was nothing 'of course' about it, as far as Hagar could tell, and Lot's indignation could go the way of Mouse and his aching balls. She had eyes; she saw the proprietary arm wrapped around Mustang's waist. Much more of this and folks were going to start talking.
"Bite your tongue," Hagar said, smiling with half a mouth. "Nothin' against homeboy, but there's a reason you're the chieftain around here." More than one, but chief among them was Lot's talent for cajoling and conning where Niro seemed only to bark orders. Not that he didn't have a lovely voice; Hagar had often listened to him shakedown clients on her behalf in the early days and she recalled that he did it with great finesse.
Mercifully, her clients had since learned to pay up on time and Niro wasn't called out as often. It only meant the hound was getting his kicks elsewhere.
"And you, sweet pea?" Hagar asked, her gaze sliding to Mustang. "You working tonight?"