Speak Easy (Speak Easy 1)

I’d never thought of our operation as a criminal racket, just a business. Before all this, my biggest fear had been a bust by the cops. “So now what?”

“So now the younger guys have decided to break from the old gang altogether,” Joey went on. “We’re gonna do our own thing on the river.”

I grabbed his arm. “We! Joey, have you lost your mind? After what happened to your father, how can you get involved in this gang stuff?”

He shook me off. “Forget about me. The point is, Angel doesn’t have any right to be over here, running booze or anything else.”

“Oh, but it’s OK for the River Gang to come out of nowhere and start demanding a percentage from any bootlegger on the water?”

“That’s the way it goes.”

“Jesus.” I collapsed back onto the sofa. “I just want out of this. And how the hell am I going to do that when I can’t even make my own runs anymore? I don’t have any money to spare for your friends.” I spat the last word. “And I’m sorry to say, I don’t see a damn bit of difference between what they’re doing and what Angel’s doing. He just happened to nab Daddy first.”

“Well, there is a difference. And if you’re smart, you’ll respect the way they want things done. The only reason they didn’t bother us tonight is because I told them what happened with Angel. Sam wants to make a deal with you.”

“Who the hell is Sam?”

“Sam the Barber. He’s head of the River Gang.”

“Swell. What kind of deal?”

Joey cleared his throat. “Well, they’ll allow you to run your own small loads to pay Angel off, and in return, you give them the hearses and…some information.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Information about what?”

“About Angel’s operation. About the club. About any big shipments they have coming in.”

My spine snapped straight. “They want me to be their spy? No chance, Joey!” I splayed my hands on my chest. “You think I’m crazy? Angel would kill me or Daddy or maybe both of us if he found out! And it’s not like the DiFiores are my friends—they have my father hostage!”

Joey remained infuriatingly calm. “Still. You’re able to get closer than they can.” He paused. “And you said Enzo likes you.”

I glared at him. Of course he’d bring that up, now that he needed it to be true. “What if I say no?”

“I’m not sure you have a choice. It’s either work with them or pay for their services. I can’t promise I’ll be able to hold them off.”

“Oh my God.” Struggling to breathe, I lowered my face to my knees, covering my head with my hands. “How did I get into so much trouble?”

“You never could stay out of it.”

“It was always your fault.” Resting there for a moment, I was surprised when I felt a hand on my back. Joey and I didn’t touch each other like that.

“Hey.”

I looked over at him. He’d moved closer to me, and his expression was serious and almost tender. I sat up. “What?”

“You’re not alone in this. I mean, you don’t have to be.”

His tone was cajoling, but his asking price was too high. “No. I don’t want to be a soldier in any gang war, Joey. I just want to get the money, get Daddy released, and turn this problem over to him.” Heaving a big sigh, I stood. “And after that, I need to get a new job. Secretary. Phone operator. Dog catcher.”

“That’

s probably a good idea.” He picked up his cap from the couch. “You got the twelve cases sold?”

“Nearly. Tomorrow I just have to deliver and collect. Then I need to buy more whisky.”

“Tomorrow night?”

“Yeah.” I met his eyes. “Will your friends bother us?”