Texas Proud and Circle of Gold (Long, Tall Texans #52) - Diana Palmer Page 0,47
he fires at enemy agents.”
“You’re kidding!” Bernie gasped.
“Oh, no, I’m not,” Paul chuckled. “The man was a maniac when he was after a perp. He’s calmed down somewhat since he married, but he’s still good at what he does.”
“He was a patrolman here, working for Chief Grier as cover on a covert federal assignment, for a while,” Bernie said as she nibbled cake and sipped coffee. She laughed. “There was gossip that Chief Grier wanted to put him in a barrel, drive him to the border and send him down the Rio Grande. They did butt heads a few times over procedure.”
“The chief butts heads pretty good,” Paul assured her. “He’s lowered the crime rate with a vengeance since he’s been in charge of our local police.”
“Nobody thought he’d stay here when he first came,” Bernie said. “He was really tough. Then they made a movie here with the Georgia Firefly, Tippy Moore, and before any of us realized it, he was married to her.”
“She’s a knockout,” Paul said. He slid his hand over his wife’s. “I’m partial to redheads, you know,” he added, grinning as he studied Sari’s red, red hair pinned up over big blue eyes.
She grinned back. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“So what do we do about Cotillo and the trial and Tony Garza?” Mikey asked as he finished his pie and his coffee.
“First things first,” Paul said. “We’ve got tails on Cotillo and his men, with interagency cooperation. Cotillo’s killed a lot of people trying to forge new alliances and take over territory. He’s made enemies.”
“The killings are going to get him in trouble,” Mikey said. “The big guys don’t like that. It invites the feds in. They want problems solved with dialog, not automatic weapons.”
“Well, they do kill people who rat them out,” Paul replied solemnly.
Mikey nodded. “Omertà,” he agreed. “Loyalty is life itself in the outfit. The number-one sin is selling out your people to the feds. Nobody likes a rat. They get put down and sometimes their whole families do as well, as a warning.” He ground his teeth together when he saw his cousin’s face. That had happened to Paul. His first family had been gunned down when Paul locked up one of the minor bosses and shut down a lucrative illegal operation. The man had gotten even in the worst possible way.
“I’m sorry,” Mikey told his cousin. “Truly sorry. I should never have brought that up.”
Paul’s face relaxed. “It was a long time ago. Still stings,” he said, and his eyes were filled with horrible memories.
“Just the same, I’m sorry.”
Paul smiled. “We’re family. Don’t sweat it.”
Mikey sighed. “You’re the only family I’ve got. Well, except for Tony’s family.” He glanced at the feds. “I hope you guys understand that I’m only cooperating because Tony’s being falsely accused. I’m not selling out my people. Not for anything.”
“We know that, Mikey,” Paul said quietly. “Nobody’s asking you to rat out your colleagues.”
Mikey sipped coffee, not looking at them. “I took a blood oath,” he said very quietly. “I made a solemn promise. I swore to it, like you’d make a vow in church. I won’t break it. Not if they lock me up forever.”
“We only lock up people when we can prove they’ve broken the law,” Paul assured him. He leaned closer. “So make sure we can’t prove anything on you,” he chuckled.
Mikey laughed. “I don’t do that stuff anymore. I have a legit casino and I run it like a legit business.”
“I know that,” Paul replied. “You’re not as bad as you make out, Mikey. You saved Merrie’s life,” he added, referring to Sari’s younger sister. Both women had been targeted by an enemy of their late father, victims of professional hit men. Mikey’s input had helped save both of them. “In fact, you helped save Sari’s, as well.”
“I just made a few calls,” Mikey replied.
“Well, those few calls helped us catch all the perps,” Paul replied.
Mikey grinned. “I like Baby Doll,” he said, referring to Merrie. “How’s she doing?”
“She and Ren are expecting again,” Sari said with a wide grin. “She’s over the moon.”
“She still painting?” Mikey asked.
“Oh, yes. She never gives that hobby up,” Sari told him.
He glanced at Bernie with real hunger. “I’d love her to do a portrait of Bernie for me,” he said.
“You know she’d be happy to!” Sari said. She glanced at Bernie, who was flushed and beaming. “Bernie, do you have a few photos of yourself that we could send her?”