Speak Easy (Speak Easy 1)

It was all there. Five grand.

I counted it again. And again. Every time, the small bills, nothing larger than a twenty, added up to five thousand dollars. “Oh, Joey,” I sighed, scooping up armloads of cash and lifting them in the air. The money fluttered down to my white bedspread. “I adore you.” And at that moment, I really did. Dropping to my knees, elbows on the bed, I clasped my hands together. God, please let him be safe in Chicago. Don’t let the cops or the DiFiores catch him.

I crossed myself and stacked the bills, grateful I wouldn’t have to sell the necklace right away. I knew I’d have to do it eventually in order to pay Joey back, but as of this moment, I had enough money to get Daddy released without Ralph the Bookie’s help. I’d clean up, take a streetcar down to the club, and pay off Angel tonight.

It’s almost over, I thought, my insides jittery with nerves and excitement. Daddy would be released, and my life would return to normal.

I honestly believed that.

#

I put the cash back into the envelope and took it with me into the bathroom. I considered taking the gun too, but I didn’t know if it was loaded and had no idea how to use it anyway. Instead I’d shoved it into my underwear drawer. It looked so strange—black metal peeking through white cotton and lace.

I bathed quickly, washing my hair with one eye on the money. When I was done, I wrapped myself in a towel and scooped up the envelope of cash from the sink. My hair dripped on my shoulders as I walked back to my room, which was dark. That’s strange. Had I turned off the light? I could’ve sworn I hadn’t. Suddenly the lamp across the room clicked on, and I gasped.

Enzo leaned back against the dresser, arms crossed.

I dropped the money and slapped a hand to my chest. “My God! You scared me half to death! How did you get in here?” My pulse drummed in my ears.

“The door. I told you I was good with locks.”

I tightened the towel around me, wishing I’d grabbed a bigger one. It barely came down over my butt, and if I inched it any lower, my breasts would peek over the top. No way could I bend down to pick up the cash at my feet. What the hell is he doing here? “For God’s sake, why don’t you just knock like a normal person? I’m not even dressed.”

“I don’t mind.” Electricity crackled in the air between us. He wasn’t wearing his fedora or full three-piece suit anymore, just the trousers and a white shirt without a collar or tie. It was unbuttoned at the top, loose enough to see his collarbone. Something stirred inside me.

Don’t even think about it. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“I came to apologize.”

“You did?” I’d never heard a man like him apologize, especially to a woman.

“Yes. You might be right about Raymond. I haven’t been able to find him today.” He paused. “And I shouldn’t have been so rough with you earlier. I’m sorry about that.”

“You should be.” My skin prickled, and a dozen questions formed in my mind. Was he being sincere? Had he made calls to Chicago? More immediately, was he going to leave so I could dress?

Then I noticed the necklace dangling from one hand.

He lifted it up. “Where did this come from?”

I froze. “It was a gift.”

“From who?”

“From my father. For graduation.”

He lifted one eyebrow. “A three thousand dollar Tiffany necklace for high school graduation?”

My insides twisted uncomfortably. How did he know what the necklace was worth? “What do you want, Enzo? You made your apology. Fine, I accept. You want the rest of the ransom money? I’ve got it right here.” Carefully, I dipped at the knee and picked up the stack of bills, keeping the towel together with one hand. “I was planning on bringing it to the club as soon as I was dressed. In exchange, you’ll release my father. Tonight.” I tried to appear tough, but it was difficult in bare feet and wet hair.

He answered my demand with a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” My face burned.

“You. Standing there in a towel, issuing orders to me after I catch you in a lie.”

“What lie?”

He nodded at the necklace. “I bought this for Gina almost a week ago, but I hadn’t given it to her yet. Then last night, probably during the raid that wasn’t really a raid, it disappeared from my apartment at the club, which had been broken into. Because of all the chaos over the hijacking, I didn’t notice it until this afternoon. And now it’s here, in your possession.”