women who had just graduated from college. Jack loved that O’Shaughnessy’s former saloon had been converted for such a noble purpose. O’Shaughnessy would fucking hate it.
“Our goal,” she said to the crowd, “is to improve the community from within. We will work for the neighborhood by working with the neighborhood. No one will be turned away based on ethnicity, education level or religion. Our model will remain similar to that of Jane Addams’s Hull House in Chicago.”
Many in the crowd nodded, familiar with the name. Jack knew of Hull House and Jane Addams only because Justine had introduced him during a trip there this past October, when he’d researched potential brewery sites in Chicago. They hadn’t settled on a location yet, but having Justine to himself for three weeks had been glorious.
The speech soon concluded and applause broke out. The mayor went to shake Justine’s hand, the flash of photography nearby sending smoke into the air. It would be several minutes before she could break away so he watched the crowd.
“Don’t look now,” Clayton muttered at Jack’s side. “Here comes your soon-to-be father-in-law.”
Sure enough, Duncan Greene was glad-handing his way through the crowd, straight toward Jack and Clayton. Jack straightened off the lamppost he’d been propped against. “Shit.”
“Smile. You’ll want to make a good first impression.”
“Fuck off.”
To date, every member of the Greene family had welcomed Jack . . . except Duncan. Even Justine’s grandmother had invited him for tea, where they conversed the whole time in French. He’d won her over with humorous stories from his days in Lower Manhattan. By the end of the visit, she’d hugged him and invited him to Newport for Christmas with the family.
Duncan, on the other hand, pretended as if Jack didn’t exist. He told Justine he wasn’t ready to welcome another former criminal into the fold. Jack didn’t care whether Duncan approved of him or not. The only person who mattered to Jack was Justine, and she assured him her father would come around. Eventually.
Clayton chuckled. “The good news is that you make me look like a saint.”
“Stop grinning,” Jack said. “You’ll scare the small children.”
An out-of-breath Florence slid in next to Clayton. “I’m here. Sorry. I saw him working his way over and so I ran.”
“That was unnecessary,” Clayton said, kissing her hand. “He’s not coming to harass me.”
“Still, I must protect Mulligan, seeing as how Justine is preoccupied.” She turned just as Duncan stepped up. “Oh, hello, Daddy.”
“Florence.” Her father leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You are looking well. Good morning, Clayton.” The two men shook hands.
Jack said nothing, merely waited for the cut direct. Oh, the horror.
“Daddy, have you met Mr. Mulligan?” Florence gestured toward Jack.
Duncan grimaced but turned. “Mulligan,” he said and stretched out a hand.
Hiding his surprise, Jack shook the other man’s hand. “Mr. Greene. A pleasure.”
“My wife and my mother have both informed me that I may not hold on to this grudge any longer. I suppose that means we must meet to discuss the terms of your marriage.”
Jack hadn’t yet proposed, but no use splitting hairs with her father. He would marry Justine when she was ready, not when others pressured them. “No need. I want nothing but your daughter.”
“Call me skeptical, but I do not believe that.”
“I always say what I mean. And, I have plenty of money.”
“Yes, ill-gotten gains, no doubt,” the other man muttered. “What about property?”
“I have a home on Bond Street.” Justine would soon be moving in, a day he looked forward to with unholy anticipation. He planned to fuck her in every room of that house.
“Oh, so you are not interested in an old factory in Chicago that could easily be converted into a brewery?”
Jack’s brows shot up. The crafty old devil. “I might be, if it’s the right size. We’ve been looking for a space there.”
“I heard as much from Julius Hatcher. He seems quite relieved that you’ve given up your former pursuits.”
Hatcher had eagerly come on board to the national brewery corporation once Jack had relinquished his criminal empire to Rye and Cooper. The refrigerated train cars were now in production and they were in negotiations to purchase a railroad.
Duncan waved his hand. “Perhaps this property could be traded for stock in the company.”
“Perhaps.”
“I’d receive double the property value in stock, of course.”
“Would you, now?” Was Duncan honestly trying to swindle him?
“Yes, I would.” The older man stepped in and lowered his voice. “I figure it’s only fair seeing as you seduced and ruined my youngest