The Venetian and the Rum Runner - L.A. Witt Page 0,65

with firepower and wherewithal Danny’s boys would never have. The crew’s advantage was in their wiles, and his gut told him Giulia had those in spades. “I say we bring her aboard. It’s a risk, but a wise one.”

Tommy seemed to consider it, then shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

“That means splitting the money nine ways now,” Peter groused.

“And it’s still more money than any of us is gonna make elsewhere,” Tommy said.

Mathew pursed his lips. “If she’s as useful as Danny thinks she’ll be, there’ll be more to split anyhow.”

Murmurs of agreement went through the group. Bernard still didn’t look convinced. Francis and Paddy didn’t seem quite sure one way or the other.

Tommy tapped his cigarette on the ashtray. “The question, lads, is if bringing her aboard is worth the risk. Just like when we started, and we asked if it was worth getting involved with Sicilian gangsters.” He shrugged. “We’re already in with one foot. We might as well jump in and get rich.”

“Or killed,” Bernard muttered.

“The men who get killed are those crackpots in the speedboats,” Mathew said. “They just try to outrun the Coast Guard or get into gunfights with them.” He shook his head. “Our way’s not nearly so dangerous.”

“Yeah?” Bernard challenged. “And if we run into the likes of Bugs and Meyer again?”

“Well.” Danny smiled. “I suppose having a pretty lady who can talk her way past them is…” He half-shrugged.

“You think she can talk that smooth?” Mathew asked. “Smoother than any of us?”

“She did talk Danny into taking her aboard,” Francis said.

Danny felt himself blush, and he nodded. “It’s true.”

The lads all exchanged looks.

“I say we give her a chance,” Tommy said. “Take her out on a run, and…” He finished the thought with a shrug.

One by one, the others nodded. Bernard looked around, and as he often did, apparently realized he was outnumbered. Sighing heavily, he shrugged. “All right. All right. We’ll give her a chance. One chance.”

No one protested.

“Now how about we celebrate?” Francis picked up the bottle from the middle of the table. “Let’s drink like the rich bastards we are!”

And oh, they did. With the money they’d earned from their most recent run on top of the money they’d already been earning these past few months, none of them objected to ordering some bottles of the good stuff to split between them. By the time they called it a night a few hours later, Paddy and Francis were both weaving, Bernard was talking more than he ever did sober, and young Liam had been sick twice, which had them all howling with laughter.

Sometimes Danny walked back with Gladys, but she wasn’t here tonight, so he made the journey home alone. He was still a little drunk, but not so much he’d veer into the road or collapse in a gutter. The night had been a good one. Good liquor, good company, good money tucked into his overcoat—he felt amazing.

As he walked the last couple of blocks toward home, Danny was dazed, but the more he thought about it, the more certain he was it didn’t have a thing to do with all that he’d drunk with his crew. All day and well into the night, even as he’d gone deep into those bottles, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about this morning.

The way Carmine had looked at him in that office…

The way he’d looked at Carmine…

What is wrong with me?

He scrubbed a hand over his face. His family would disown him in an instant if they knew he was working for the Sicilians. If they knew what went through his mind and weakened his knees every time he looked in those near-black eyes? What he thought and felt and wanted whenever he was in the company of this gangster? This underboss?

He shivered, and not from the chilly wind. Whatever it was he was thinking and feeling, he needed to get it out of his mind. Carmine paid him and his crew to run liquor. That was all. And Danny was going behind his back now and bringing his sister along. If Carmine ever found out about that, the looks he gave Danny would be nothing like those he’d given him a few hours ago.

So he needed to get his head right and stop imagining things that would never be. Besides, it had been nearly three months now since he’d started working for Carmine. He should be able to be in the same room with him without getting dizzy