Swan Song Read Online Free Page B

mind flashes to the terrifying night of the Hawthorne and I worry that one of the Capones is dead. What will that mean for The Outfit, this club, and everyone inside? Unseating the king means a scramble for power. The savage dogs that lap at his scraps will tear each other apart, and those of us living on the fringe will be casualties of a potential civil war or forced to try to make a life elsewhere.
    As Tommy stares down at me, I wonder how he’d fair. How high he’d climb.
    I worry he’d try to drag me with him.
    He frowns down at me. “Say it out loud.”
    “Yes,” I comply. “I can handle it.”
    “Good, because I need you on top of things out there. I can’t be bothered with it tonight. I got other things, bigger things that I gotta attend to. I need you to keep the girls in line. You gotta keep ‘em calm, you hear me?”
    “Yeah, I hear you, but what’s happened?”
    “You know who Hymie Weiss is?”
    “Of course I do. He’s been the leader of the Northside Gang ever since O’Banion died.”
    “Not anymore. He’s dead.”
    I gasp, shocked. “No.”
    “It happened just an hour ago. Gunned down in the street.”
    I’m dying to ask who did it. Who ordered the hit, but I keep my cool. This isn’t a part of the club I get involved in. This is Outfit business, something I’d be wise to stay out of. I tell myself it was a terrible accident. An unfortunate coincidence that the biggest thorn in Al’s side took his last breath today.
    “His poor family,” I lament carefully.
    “Yeah, it’s a real tragedy.”
    “They’re going to think The Outfit was behind it, aren’t they?”
    “Of course. That’s why we’re circlin’ the wagons. Security is gonna be tight tonight. Only trusted regulars will be allowed in, but we can’t close. It’d be an admission of fear and guilt, so business as usual, you got me?”
    “I got you,” I reply, feeling my stomach knitting with fear. Fear that I refuse to let show on my face.
    “Keep your eyes and ears sharp. Tell the girls to stay alert, but don’t scare ‘em. Last thing I need is a henhouse full of hysterical dames.”
    “They’ll be solid. I’ll make sure of it.” I hesitate before asking, “The Irish, they’re quick to react, aren’t they?”
    “Yeah,” Tommy nods. “With them revenge is swift. It’ll be the first order of business to find out who did it. If they get a whiff on the wind that anyone in this joint was behind it, they’ll strike. Tonight.”
    My heart nearly beats out of my chest, but I will it to slow. To maintain. “Will you be here with us?”
    “All night,” he promises me.
    That’s comforting. It’s calming. This beautiful monster in my corner puts my heart at ease.
    And that scares me more than anything.
    “Good. I’ll go gather the girls. Do you want to tell them or should I?”
    “You do it. Most of them are afraid of me. Bad news from my mouth will only make trouble. Trouble I don’t need tonight.”
    I nod in agreement, going to step past him.
    He puts his hands on my arms to stop me. “You alright?”
    “I’m always alright.”
    His eyes scan my face critically, checking for signs of a lie. For cracks or faults where weakness could spill out. I give him none to find. “You gonna be okay to perform?”
    “You gonna keep me safe up there?” I ask plainly.
    “Always. From anything.” He looks at me pointedly. “From anyone.”
    Ah, here it is. My scolding.
    I smile lightly. “From bullets will be plenty, thanks.”
    He doesn’t reply. He holds me pinned down by his stare, trying to make me sweat or confess some sin I haven’t committed.
    I wait him out impassively.
    Finally he takes a step back, giving me an escape. “You better get out there. Break the news.” He rubs his thumb under my left eye lightly. “Shed a tear if you can. They’ll follow your lead, and sad is better than afraid.”
    “I’ll give the performance of a lifetime,” I promise.
    Then I hightail it out of that office.
    My