more dollars.
Then Joe Masseria and his consigliere came to the door.
By now, Carmine was able to dress properly and just kept his right arm in a sling. Danny was dressed too, but certainly not in a fine suit.
Still, Joe wanted to speak with both of them. Alone.
There was a library on the upper floor of Carmine’s house, so the three of them sat down in there. After some handshakes and an offer of wine, Joe put his hat on the table beside him and looked at both of them. “Listen, gentlemen. The other night left a whole lot of messes that need cleaning up.” He locked eyes with Carmine. “And I’m thinking you might want to get out of New York for a while. Let things…simmer down.”
Carmine swallowed. “Get out of New York? And go where?”
“Anywhere else.” Joe seemed to consider it for a moment. “You’re good at what you do in this business. Be a shame for you to walk away from it.” He shrugged. “There’s people in Chicago who’ll put you to work.” His eyes flicked toward Danny. “Both of you.”
Danny stiffened. “You want me to go with him?”
“I think you’re both better off someplace other than New York for now.” Joe shook his head. “Salvatore won’t be a threat to anyone anymore, but there’s a lot of people who blame the both of you for some of the blood that’s been spilled recently. It may be safest for you to lay low.”
“Lay low someplace else,” Danny said.
Joe nodded. “I’ll handle things here in the city. The Pulvirentis—they’re in good hands.”
“What about the il Sacchis?” Carmine asked.
“They’re in shambles right now.” Joe grinned. “Their leadership is gone and no one’s running the show. So I suspect we’ll handle them too.”
Carmine chuckled. “I suppose you will.”
“What about my crew?” Danny asked. “If me and Carmine are gone…”
Joe seemed to consider it. “They’re good at what they do, and the other night, I saw with my own eyes just how smart and fearless they are. They want to keep running liquor?” He nodded once. “I’ll keep ‘em working if they want the job.”
Nodding, Danny could feel some tension easing from his back and shoulders. “I’ll tell them that. Thank you.”
“And for that matter,” Joe went on, “consider your family under the protection of the Morellos. Anyone crosses them?” He tapped the middle of his chest. “They’re crossing me.”
A rush of relief went through Danny. “Thank you.”
Joe nodded. “All right. I won’t keep you.” He reached for his hat again, and he rose. “I’m glad to see you’re both on the mend.”
Carmine and Danny both stood too, if a bit slower than Joe, and they shook hands with him.
“Thank you again, by the way,” Danny said. “For helping that night.”
Joe smiled and gave Danny’s shoulder a squeeze. “You’re welcome, kid.” He turned to Carmine, hand still on Danny’s shoulder. “I knew this was a smart one. Keep him around.”
“I’ll do that, sir.” Carmine shook Joe’s hand.
Joe left, and when they were alone again, Carmine and Danny exchanged smiles.
“You’ll keep me around, hmm?”
Carmine laughed. “Well, I wasn’t going to explain what I meant, but…” He shrugged.
Danny chuckled, but he quickly sobered. “What about Chicago? Are you going to go?”
Carmine seemed to think about it. “Will you come with me?”
“There’s a whole lot here I don’t want to leave behind.” Danny sighed. “But there’s a whole lot of people who’ll be safer if I do.” He met Carmine’s gaze. “And if you’re going, I’m going.”
That brought a smile to Carmine’s lips that made Danny think there was a chance that, even if it wouldn’t be for a while yet, the two of them might share more than a kiss again.
On the train platform, Danny put down his suitcase. “Well.” He turned to James and Carmine. “I suppose we’re off.”
“I suppose you are.” James smiled sadly. With his walking stick, he tapped Danny’s shoe sharply as he said to Carmine, “Take care of this one, will you?”
“Of course,” Carmine said. “Someone has to keep an eye on him.”
“Hey!”
James and Carmine both chuckled. Danny did too, but it was hard. This was the goodbye he’d dreaded the most. Head still throbbing from the farewell drinks he’d had with the crew last night, heart still aching from his parting conversation with Rowan this morning, he wasn’t so sure he was ready for this.
“Who’s going to look after you in Chicago?” Rowan had asked, eyes full of concern.
“I don’t need looking after.”
Rowan had arched an eyebrow. “Horsefeathers.”
Danny