Joey's grin faded, the room suddenly heavier. He knew Winn's scars ran deep, carved by betrayal and loss, stitched together only with work, women, and whiskey. For years, Winn had locked his heart behind iron gates.
Joey understood. He'd been there through the wreckage of Irene's betrayal "Look, man," Joey said, running a hand through his hair. "Irene damn near gutted you, but Morales isn't her. My advice? Ease her into it like you said. Have a real conversation. Find out more about her beyond the fact that she's smart and intelligent."
He gave Winn a pointed look.
Winn exhaled sharply, scrubbing his hands over his face. "I don't have time for slow pacing, Joey. I have three months. Three goddamn months. The investors want me married by then or they'll pull the plug. And if they pull out, everything collapses."
