Speak Easy (Speak Easy 1)

Daddy’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Tiny. This is all my fault. I should’ve never ignored those black hand letters asking for payment.”

“No. You shouldn’t have.” A spark of anger shot through me. “Especially not after Vince. You know what these guys are capable of.”

He straightened up a little. “I know, but it’s never been like this! A man could make his money the way he wanted to, without paying up to anybody.”

“Those days are over, Daddy,” I said, recalling what Joey told me about independent bootleggers. “Everybody pays up now.” A glance out the lone window revealed no sign of dawn. My eyes had adjusted to the dark, and the four walls seemed to close in on me. How had things gone so wrong? Just hours ago I was standing naked in my bedroom next to Enzo. A little hope nibbled at my despair. Maybe he can help us.

I took a breath. “Angel’s older son, Enzo, came to see me today.”

“Why?”

“Because a gang hijacked a shipment of rum he had sent from New York, and he wondered if I was behind it.”

“Why would he think that?”

“Because the guy who was behind it, Sam Scarfone and the River Gang, used your hearses to transport the load. A few men were killed.”

“What! Jesus Christ, Tiny!” The cuffs rattled against the metal bed frame as Daddy got agitated. “Why the hell did he have my hearses?”

The ropes chaffed my wrists as I jerked my arms around in frustration. “Because I gave them to him. I had to, so he’d allow me to get the whisky I needed to make the ransom mon

ey. See, Sam and the River Gang control bootlegging on the water now,” I said bitterly. “You want to smuggle whisky from Canada, you’re gonna pay him for the privilege.”

His shoulders squared. “The hell with that!”

Unbelievable. “That attitude is what got us into trouble in the first place! This is how it is now—you want to run booze, you’re gonna have to pick a side and pay up.” I had to whisper, but my tone was raw with ferocity.

Daddy scratched his face, which was covered with days-old beard growth. “What’s Joey say?”

“Joey made his choice. He’s working for Scarfone, and right now he’s in Chicago trying to unload that stolen rum. He’s the one who gave me the last five grand to spring you, which is now in Harry and Raymond’s stash.”

“Jesus. Musta been a big load.”

“It was. Not only of rum, but opium too, which I don’t think Scarfone knew.” But just then I realized he might have known the whole time. Maybe that’s why he wanted that shipment so badly. “But we’re not lining up behind the River Gang. I made a deal with Enzo.”

Daddy jerked his chin at me. “What kind of deal?”

“In exchange for their leaving our family alone, I promised to get some information out of Joey, just enough for Enzo to get back what he lost in that heist.”

He was silent a minute. “So then we should line up behind Scarfone—at least, we should make it look like it.”

Was he right? I supposed so, although the duplicity involved made my skin crawl. One false move in either direction could land Daddy—or me—in big trouble.

“But we’ve got to get out of here first,” he went on. “If we can escape the cabin, do you know how to get back to the city?”

“No. We’d need a car. We’re way out of town.” Sitting up taller, I made a decision. “I’m gonna ask them what they want. I can’t stay trapped like this.”

“No!” The cuffs rattled on the bed frame. “Don’t go out there alone. They might hurt you.”

“They could have done it already. I don’t think that’s what they want.” I stood up and tried the door. Unlocked. Squinting at the light, I walked into the front room.

“Hey, who told ya you could come out?” asked Raymond. He and Harry were sitting at the table, counting all the cash I’d seen behind the panel.

“Enjoy the reunion?” Harry snickered.

“Listen,” I said. “You got the money. What else do you want?”

“We’re still thinking about that.” Raymond got to his feet and stretched. His bulky chest strained against his shirt, which probably used to be white but was now grayish with yellowed underarms. It was amazing how someone who looked so much like Enzo could disgust me so much. “My first idea was to take your money and buy some dope to sell. I’m tired of being cut out of all the deals my father and brother make.”