Chapter 20
20
W hen I woke the next morning, Enzo was gone, but I could smell him on my skin. Bringing an arm to my face, I inhaled, and the scent put a smile on my lips and a flutter in my belly. I got out of bed and stretched, discovering I was sore—not only in the expected places, but in my stomach and leg muscles too. I located my underwear and chemise on the floor and pulled them on, wondering what time it was. Actually I wasn’t even sure what day it was.
In the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror and experienced the same giddy rush I had last night. The eyelet of my chemise was torn at one shoulder, but I had no idea when that had happened. My night with Enzo could be called a lot of things—fiery, explosive, passionate, shocking—but sweet and tender?
Nope.
Really, I was surprised the thing wasn’t shredded completely.
Examining my reflection closer, I touched the bruise at my temple. It reminded me of Joey’s injury, and I swallowed hard, guilt slamming me like a fist in the gut. I had to deceive him into providing me with information for Enzo, and Joey didn’t deserve deception. I owed him Daddy’s life, and probably mine too. Squeezing my eyes shut, I exhaled slowly. Don’t think about that now. Figure out how you’re going to get your clothes from the next room and get out of here.
I went back into the bedroom and noticed an envelope had been slid under the door. When I picked it up, I shivered. It was identical to the one Enzo had handed me at the store last Friday afternoon. I tore it open.
Your things will be delivered shortly by a maid. Your father is expected at one o’ clock today, after which you will be free to go and my driver will take you home. We should not be seen together in public, although I do look forward to seeing you again. You are mouthy and demanding, and your temper rivals Vesuvius, but so does your passion.
Until then,
Enzo
While I fumed at his backward compliment and the fact that I was still being held here against my will, I looked for something to cover up with. What would the maid think if I answered the door in a ripped chemise? I was thinking of wrapping myself in the sheet when I saw Enzo’s gray coat on the dresser. I shrugged into it, the sleeves hanging far below my hands, and the length sufficient to cover me nearly to the knee. Tightening it around me, I buried my nose in the collar and breathed him in. The sexy smoke-and- tobacco scent made me dizzy.
But my anger still simmered. Why should he be the one deciding when I could leave? And what did he mean, in public ? That my company was welcome for a romp in his bed but not for a drink at his club? Go to hell, Enzo .
A knock sounded on the door and I heard it being unlocked, but no one entered. The knock sounded again. I rolled my eyes—this prisoner/guest business was wearing on my nerves. I opened the door and the same maid from yesterday brought in my dress and shoes, along with towels and toiletries. She laid everything on the bed and left without saying a word, for which I was grateful. Although she didn’t make direct eye contact, she had to have noticed I wore nothing but a man’s coat.
Banishing that thought, I washed up, brushed my teeth, and dressed. I wished I had a comb or even a hat, but I did the best I could with a little water and my fingers. When I was finished, I returned to the bed and sat. How long would I have to wait here? Drumming my fingers on the spread, I stewed that even after last night, Enzo still wouldn’t allow me to go. Was this any better than having a father who controlled my every move? On a whim, I tried the door, but it was locked from the outside.
Grimacing, I moved to the window. My car is still down there somewhere , I realized, although my keys were long gone. Harry had taken the money from my purse Thursday night, but who knew what he’d done with the rest of its contents? I shivered, recalling Harry’s death in the cabin—I’d seen some surprisingly gruesome things in nursing school, but nothing so immediate in its violence. And Raymond—what would he do now? He’d be furious with me and with Enzo, looking to get revenge. Would his father be able to rein him in? I turned from the window just as Enzo unlocked and opened the door.
Despite my anger, the sight of him still wound me up. His hair was perfectly coiffed, his collar tight, the bruise on his cheek not dark enough to mar his handsome face. “You really need to learn to knock,” I snapped.
A smile tipped his lips as he closed the door behind him. “You’re not happy to see me?”
I crossed my arms. “What are you doing here? I thought you were sending your driver for me, so we wouldn’t be seen together in public.”
He came toward me, detangled my arms and slipped his around my waist. His lips pressed to mine, setting my heart pounding, but I didn’t open my mouth. How badly I wanted to give in and fall back into bed with him, but this wasn’t the pattern I wanted to set. Our affair had to be secret, but he didn’t get to make all the rules, deciding how and when we could see each other.
I pulled back. “I’d like to go home now, Enzo. I haven’t been there since Thursday night. I need to let my sisters know it’s safe to return, and I want a bath and some new clothes.” Tilting my head, I added, “Or am I being too mouthy and demanding?”
He put his face in my neck and kissed my throat. “Mmmmm. You smell good. But a bath could be arranged.”
I twisted out of his embrace. “No. Not here.” “Why not?”
Gesturing toward him, I said, “I see you’ve managed to get cleaned up—I don’t even have a comb, let alone clean clothes.” I pulled my navy dress from my body. “You do realize I was wearing this the night Harry kidnapped me. Is it too much to ask that I be allowed to change out of it?
He smiled. “I’ll help you out of it.”
I sighed and shut my eyes, my shoulders slumping. “You’re impossible.”
“For God’s sake, Tiny, you’re more fun when you’re mad.”
My eyes snapped open and my voice took on a hard edge. “You want me to get mad? Now there’s something that could be arranged.”
“Ah. There she is.” He straightened his coat. “I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait. I can’t let you leave until your father arrives and some kind of agreement is reached, or my father will have my head.” He was so cool about it, as if last night hadn’t happened at all.
“You once said our fathers’ business had nothing to do with us.”
“Yes. I believe that was before you sold Sam Scarfone the hearses which he then used to hijack a very pricey shipment of mine.”
“I told you, I didn’t know what he was?—”
“Shhh.” He reached for me again. Wrapping one arm around my back, he brushed my tangled hair back from my face. “Things are what they are between us, Tiny,” he whispered, digging his fingers into my waist. “But let’s not tarnish them with more lies.”
My lower lip quivered. His eyes were black as night and his expression was tight—whether he was controlling his rage or his passion, I couldn’t tell. I said nothing as he traced my lips with one finger.
“I believe this affair could be mutually beneficial,” he went on, “but in order for that to happen, you and I are going to have to trust each other a little bit. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes.” My voice cracked.
“So tell me the truth.” The arm around me tightened further, bowing my back. “Did you know Scarfone was planning the heist?” He rubbed one finger back and forth across my lower lip.
Suddenly I was tired of lying about what I’d done. There hadn’t been a choice. I looked him in the eye and lifted my chin. “I did what I had to do to protect my family.”
His brow twitched, as if he were surprised I had admitted it. “Yes, you did. I like that about you.” His finger slipped inside my mouth, and without thinking I ran the tip of my tongue across it. He smiled. “You have a talent for deception, Tiny. And I’m glad, because you’re going to need it. This is only the beginning.”
He removed his finger and put his lips on mine again, more insistent this time, his tongue slashing into my mouth. Despite my earlier decision not to give in, I craved the pleasure and pain our bodies could bring to one another, and I wanted the powerful abandon I felt making him lose control. When the kiss grew reckless, I struggled to get my arms free and reached for the buttons on his coat.
He shocked me by grabbing my shoulders and setting me at arm’s length from him.
“What?”
After a moment, he said, “You can go.”
“Huh? ”
“You can go home.” He lowered his arms and adjusted his collar. “I’ll have my driver come for you in ten minutes.”
I stuck my hands on my hips, tempted to slap him again. “I hate your games.”
He pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “How much do you owe him?”
“Who?”
“Your friend. Lupo. How much did he give you to pay my father off?”
My jaw tightened. Something about this scene was too familiar. “None of your business.”
“Goddammit, Tiny.” He pointed a finger at me. “You’re not to owe him anything—not money, not information, not favors. This is part of our deal, now tell me what he gave you.”
I had to think about it, Joey had given me so much. “Fifty-six hundred.”
“Fine.” He counted some bills in his wallet—five one-thousand dollar bills and six hundreds—then held them out.
I looked down at the money in his hand. “Why are you doing this? You think you can buy me?” Straightening my shoulders, I stood a little taller. “I’m not for sale.”
He picked up my hand, smashed the money into my palm, and curled my fingers around it. “Sweetheart, everyone’s for sale.”
As he stormed out, I took off one shoe and hurled it at him, but it hit the door just as it slammed shut.
I got home in time to see Daddy before he left for his meeting with the DiFiores. Although I was desperate to clean up, I needed him to know how important it was that he co-operate with them and not say anything rash or foolish. I found him in the kitchen, heating up the iron on the stove. His best shirt and trousers were draped over the kitchen table.
He was thrilled to see me, but I didn’t feel as if he understood there was still danger ahead, even though he was free. “Just agree to what they say,” I begged him. “If they ask for a percentage, don’t argue.”
He nodded, but his face darkened. “I’ll say what I have to, but I hate them for what they did to us. You can bet if I find a way to pay them back, I’ll take it.”
My head, which had been aching for days, threatened to split wide open. “Please, Daddy. You have no idea what I went through to get you released, to keep the girls safe. I need you to avoid the mistakes you made before. If you want to be in the bootlegging business, you pay up. Either that or find something else to do.”
I thought he might argue but he didn’t. Instead, he turned from the stove and took me in his arms, kissing my head. “You’re so like your mother,” he said. “She was no bigger than a minute, but she was smart and feisty and brave, just like you. Thank you for everything you did. I’ll make things right, I promise.”
Given his temper and his proclivity for gambling, I wondered if that was possible. My throat closed and I took deep breaths to keep the tears at bay. He smelled like himself now—soap and shaving cream and maybe a hint of gasoline. He patted my back. “Don’t worry about anything.”
Before he left, he told me that Bridget had phoned this morning, frantic with worry. He’d assured her everything was fine and that it was safe to come home.
I nodded, hoping that was true .
Once Daddy was gone, I ate two pieces of toast and phoned Evelyn’s house, but her father said she was working. I thanked him and hung up, thinking maybe I’d head over to the bakery after I bathed and dressed. What a story I had for her. I wasn’t even sure what I should tell her, or what would be safe for her to know. After trudging wearily up the stairs, I undressed and ran a bath.
Slipping all the way under the water, I held myself there until my lungs felt like they might burst before surfacing again and rubbing the water from my eyes. After washing my hair and scrubbing myself with a bar of Ivory soap, I dried off and dressed in a white blouse and black skirt. When my hair was combed and dry, I put on a little makeup. Checking my reflection in the mirror, I noticed something on my bed that hadn’t been there before. I turned around to look more closely, and saw that it was the blue Tiffany box.
I sat down and stared at it. Had I missed it earlier? I lifted off the top, and there it was. Underneath it was a note.
You made it yours the other night.
I scowled.
How dare he give me this after the way he treated me this morning? Who does he think he is? He bought this for another woman!
But within seconds, my blood settled a bit. Hold on. You got what you wanted this morning, didn’t you? He let you go. And he gave you the money to pay Joey back.
Except I couldn’t let it go. Enzo had told me what ultimately mattered to him—power, wealth, control. I’m just one more cog in the machine he’s building to get everything he wants. What about what I want?
I held up the necklace, watching the diamonds catch the sunlight through my open window. Never in a million years had I thought I’d own a piece of jewelry like this. I went to the mirror over my dresser, draping the necklace around my neck. Then I frowned. Where the hell would I ever wear it? My life was no different than before, was it? I was a still just a struggling nursing student with one short leg, living at home, working for and answering to Daddy. Wasn’t I?
Not exactly—you answer to Enzo now too , said a voice inside me. And he’d promised to pay me not only enough for tuition, but more. What would that mean?
Stomach jumping, I clasped the necklace, lowered my arms, and stared at myself. The truth was, I wasn’t the same girl at all.
So what did I want now ?
Before I could articulate an answer, I heard knocking on the front door. Quickly I ran into Daddy’s room to look out the front window. A shiny red Buick Touring was parked on the street, glinting in the sunshine. Clapping a hand to my mouth, I recalled where I’d seen it before—at the boathouse, being driven by Sam Scarfone. Why was Sam here to see me? Should I open the door? What if he knew what I was planning to do?
A voice from below floated through the screen. “Tiny, are you there?”
Joey.
I ran down the stairs and yanked the front door open.
My heart went ka-whump. The car wasn’t the only surprise.
He wore a brand new suit, a three-piece dark blue pinstripe, with a lighter blue shirt and a gold silk tie. The coat fit snugly over his broad shoulders and chest, narrowing at his trim waist. And that wasn’t all. Gone was his scruffy hairdo and floppy cap. He removed a light brown fedora, revealing neatly styled hair, the curls controlled with pomade. He was clean- shaven, a hint of a smile on his wide mouth—until he saw the diamonds at my throat. Then it slid off his face, as if he knew where they had come from.
He cleared his throat. “Can I come in?”
“Of course.” I stepped back. As he passed me I caught his scent—something new, maybe shaving cream or hairdressing. It certainly didn’t smell familiar. And he was looking at me so oddly, as if he wasn’t sure it was me. I pushed the door shut and faced him again, my fingers twisting together. “Daddy was released yesterday. Thank you for everything—I couldn’t have managed without you.”
“You’re welcome. You got the package then?”
I nodded, reluctant to tell him about the whole ordeal just yet. “Why don’t we sit in the front room?” My voice sounded strange in my ears.
Joey waited until I sat on the sofa before lowering himself to the chair across from me. We both sat stiffly, as if we had never been alone together before. This is ridiculous! It’s Joey, for crying out loud !
“How did it go in Chicago?” I asked.
“Good.” He nodded and fooled with his hat in his lap. “Real good. We got the entire load sold and set some connections in place for the future.” He didn’t mention the opium and I didn’t ask. “Actually, I might be moving back there.”
“Oh, really?” I fought a momentary onslaught of panic. If Joey left town, my connection to the River Gang was gone. But I was torn, too—Joey would be safer in Chicago. “That’s—that’s good. I saw in the paper that police are looking for someone who fits your description. Because of the shootings.”
Joey focused his attention on his hat. “Yeah. I should lay low for a while.” He sneaked a peek at me. “You look good, Tiny. Different.”
I rubbed my lips together, although I hadn’t put on the red lipstick. “I have makeup on.”
“It’s not the makeup.”
We stared at each other for a few seconds, my face growing hot. “You look good too. I like the new suit.”
He sat a little taller. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. You’re even wearing a tie. I thought you didn’t prefer them.”
“Guess I’ve changed my mind about some things.”
I coughed. “And a new car, I see?”
“That’s Sam’s. I’m just driving it while I’m here. What happened to the window?” He gestured behind me, where cardboard covered the shattered glass. Daddy must have taped it up.
Thinking fast, I said, “Accident. Baseball game in the street.”
“Oh.”
Unable to hold his gaze, I stared at his shiny brown shoes. “Oh! What’s the matter with me?” I stood, and he did too. “I have something for you. I’ll be right back.” I rushed from the room and up the stairs before he could ask questions. In my bedroom, I gathered together the bills Enzo had given me, pausing to look in the mirror. My cheeks were flaming. What’s the matter with you? Get down there and pay him back. Say thank you. And quit acting like a skittish doe or he’ll know something is up!
When I got to the bottom of the steps, he was standing near the front door with his hat on already, as if he couldn’t wait to leave. Was this the same man who cooked pancakes and spaghetti in my kitchen? I handed him the money, and he stared at it.
“Where did you get this?”
“Well... Daddy’s back now,” I answered vaguely.
“Your pop had this money somewhere?” His expression was suspicious.
“I’m—I’m not sure where he got it.”
He tucked the money into his coat pocket and nodded. “That’s a hell of a necklace. Diamonds?”
I swallowed as I brought my fingers to the stones at my throat. “Yes.”
“Where’d you get it?” A cool tone had crept into his voice and his eyes were downright hard now.
“It was a gift.”
“Really. Well, I should get going.”
“Aren’t you going to ask who it’s from?” I blurted.
“I know who it’s from.” He looked at me one moment longer, and understanding passed between us.
He knows what I’ve done.
“You’re making a mistake, Tiny.”
I bristled. “You don’t know anything about it.”
“I know you. I’ve always known you.”
Suddenly he grabbed me by the shoulders and kissed me. A little squeak of surprise escaped my throat, followed by a soft sigh of pleasure. Joey’s lips were so lush and soft, and the way he pressed them to mine was insistent without being demanding. He opened his mouth and gently swept his tongue between my lips. I shocked myself by meeting it with mine, wishing I could feel his chest against me. But he kept my arms pinned fast.
Then he stepped back, breathing hard. “ Good- bye, Tiny.” He was out the front door and sliding into the Buick before I could even form a coherent thought.
I watched him drive off, bringing my fingers to my lips. My heart hadn’t stopped racing since he’d kissed me. My God, what am I doing?
I’d thought when Daddy was released, my life would go back to normal. But now I knew that was impossible.
Enzo’s words from this morning echoed in my head so clearly I could feel his breath on my ear.
This is only the beginning.