The Venetian and the Rum Runner - L.A. Witt Page 0,68
wasn’t so sure he liked the idea of working for another boss. He’d seen how other organizations could change dramatically once a new boss took over. How quickly they could shift from terrorizing people into submission to operating like businessmen…or vice versa.
But Maurizio was right. An alliance was unavoidable unless they wanted to be crushed like the Irish gangs who’d tried and failed to push out the Italians.
Carmine brought up his drink again, and hesitated. Meeting his boss’s gaze, he quietly said, “Before you decide, maybe you should talk to the Man Uptown.”
Maurizio’s eyebrows rose.
Carmine shrugged. “He knows the business better than anyone else. Seems like he might have some advice here.”
Maurizio scowled, but he said nothing. Carmine wasn’t surprised—the patriarch respected Arnold Rothstein as much as any man did in this business, but he didn’t fully trust him. Unlike some of the other men who distrusted Rothstein because he was a Jew, Maurizio insisted that he was dubious of trusting any man slick enough and connected enough to rig the World Series and get away with it. Everyone knew Rothstein had orchestrated the whole thing, but even while the Black Sox were punished, no consequences had come his way except more money, more influence, and more respect. Perhaps it was too much to ask for Maurizio to trust a man like that to advise him on something as delicate as forming an alliance to save the Pulvirentis.
“Well.” Maurizio downed the rest of his drink, then cleared his throat. “I suppose we’ll see what happens.” He met Carmine’s gaze. “I understand business has been good for you recently.”
“It is. I brought in a new crew of runners who can get the job done.” He grinned. “They’ve been out there since January, and they’re good.”
Maurizio nodded with approval. “We’ll need all the advantage we can get, especially now that Dwyer’s got his hands so deep in Tammany Hall and the Coast Guard, no one bothers him or his crews.”
With an unhappy grumble, Carmine brought up his glass. He took a small sip, then lowered the glass and looked at his boss. “He knows who to bribe, that’s for sure.”
Maurizio grunted. “Just means he’s going to be bringing in more liquor without spending so much on security and speedboats. We can’t let him undercut us when he starts selling it cheaper than we can.”
Shaking his head, Carmine said, “I’ll make sure that’s not a problem.”
The capo raised an eyebrow. “Will you, now?”
“Yeah.” Carmine brought up his drink, and he grinned. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You wanted to see me?” Danny sounded vaguely annoyed, but mostly suspicious.
“I did. Thanks for coming in.”
Danny fidgeted, glancing toward the door. “The lads and I are meant to be going on a run this evening. I should be on my way to Long Island.”
“I know. I won’t keep you long.”
Without speaking, Danny shifted a little, and he watched Carmine uneasily.
“Listen.” Carmine leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk. “Word on the street is that Big Bill Dwyer’s got Tammany Hall wrapped around his finger. The Coast Guard too.”
Danny huffed. “Slimy bribing bastard.”
“He is, and he’s got a chance to sell his liquor cheaper if he doesn’t have to spend so much to get it. So I need you and your boys to keep doing what you’re doing—bring in the shipments with as little overhead as possible.”
“All right.” Danny shrugged. “So, nothing changes for us, then.” In his puzzled expression, he added a silent, Why did you call me down here to tell me to keep doing the same thing?
“You keep doing what you’re doing,” Carmine acknowledged, “but you need to be careful out there. You’re not the only crews hijacking other people’s shipments, and Dwyer’s boys are just gonna get bolder now that they’ve got the cops and Coasties on their side.”
“Oh.” That apparently convinced Danny this was worth a conversation.
“You can also use this to your advantage.”
Danny’s brow furrowed. “How so?”
“Anyone gives you trouble out there—cops, Coasties, anyone at all…” Carmine shrugged. “Tell ‘em you’re with Big Bill. Nobody out there’s gonna risk crossing him.”
Danny pursed his lips. “I don’t suppose this is why you hired Irishmen for this job?”
Laughing, Carmine shook his head. “No, it isn’t. I didn’t know when I hired you and your crew that that bastard would be slipping past the authorities. But under the circumstances, having an Irish crew is certainly an advantage.”
Danny eyed him, then chuckled. “I suppose it is. All right, then. We’ll keep it in mind. Though if