Speak Low (Speak Easy 2)

“I told you to forget about that,” he snapped.

“Have you forgotten about it?”

&n

bsp; “It was a mistake. One of many I’ve made where you’re concerned.” His glare was more blistering than the sun.

“OK, fine. But I’m worried. I don’t know exactly what Enzo is thinking, but I do know that things aren’t going to go according to your plan.”

“Switching sides already, doll?”

Jesus—I hadn’t thought of it like that. Was I? Had I ever really been on Enzo’s side? Before I could think it through, Joey went on.

“And what the hell do you mean by that, anyway? He shook on that deal.”

A gust of wind threatened to carry off my hat, and I reached up to hold it to my head. “I don’t know anything for certain, but I do know that you shouldn’t underestimate him. When he wants something, he…” I swallowed hard. “He knows how to get it.”

“I bet he does.” He slapped his cap on his head. “You tell him I’ll be in touch. I want this deal done fast so I can get out of this town. Nothing here but bad memories.” With one last look at his father’s stone he stomped away, and I noticed he’d traded his new shoes for his old work boots too.

He exited the gates and got into an old Model T parked on the street. Even the fancy red Buick was gone. A pang of regret squeezed my heart. It was the old, familiar Joey in every way except one—he despised me. And he had every right to. Until that moment I had no idea how much that would matter.

I broke into a run.

Chapter Five

Joey was just starting the engine when I reached the windowless passenger door. “Wait,” I said breathlessly. “I want to talk about this.”

“About what?” Joey spoke loudly over the noisy motor. “There’s nothing left to talk about, Tiny. Just go home.”

Without being invited—in fact, I’d been dismissed—I opened the door and hopped in. “No.” I shut myself in the car, put my hands in my lap and looked at him. “I can’t. I won’t.”

Joey turned off the engine and squinted at me. “Have I told you how annoying you are?”

“Not today.”

“And also how weak and impulsive? And for such a smart girl, how stupid you act sometimes?”

I squirmed, but it was no less than I deserved. “Go ahead. I can take it.”

“You deliberately betrayed me, Tiny. After everything we went through last week. I told you something in confidence and you went right to him with it.”

“I didn’t! I swear to you, I didn’t. He surprised me by showing up in my room late last night”—and here Joey flinched—“and we went for a drive. We got to…” I flapped a hand in the air, unsure how to proceed. “…Talking, and he started in about taking revenge for the heist into his own hands because he owes money to a whiskey distributor. I got scared for you, Joey, I had to tell him!”

“I told you, I can take care of myself.” Joey’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

“I’m sorry. I know I did the wrong thing, but I never meant to betray you. It just came out. Please forgive me.” I put a hand on his forearm, and he shrugged it off.

“You should have left it to me like I asked you to.”

“You asked me to set up a meeting!”

“No, I didn’t! You offered, and if you recall, at the end of the night, I told you to drop it. And I meant what I said.”

“I know, but…”

“But nothing.” He stuck a finger in my face. “You fucked up. If we hadn’t been at the boathouse last night, he would have taken those drugs and left me with nothing.”

No point in reminding Joey he’d stolen the drugs to begin with—these guys all played by their own rules. “I wouldn’t have let him.”