“Get outta here!”Gould slapped Shane’s arm like they were old pals. “Allthree of us are from the same neighborhood. Ain’t it a smallworld?”
Gould smacked his handagainst the seat again and both goons responded on cue. Theirlaughter grated over Shane’s nerves like a trash talking,overrated boxer.
“It sure is, boss,”the driver chirped.
“Small world,”the other asserted.
Gould’s gaze slid tothe only odd man out and he sneered, revealing slightly, discoloredteeth. “I should’ve figured you lived round our way. Youcan’t throw a stick in Flatbush without whacking a Paddy.”
“Whack a paddy.…”The goon driving tugged on his shirt collar as he found Shane in thecar’s rear view mirror, “…really funny, boss.”
Shane clenched his fists sotightly his fingernails bit into his palm. Better he take the painthan inflict it on the two-faced shill, who now owned him lock, stockand barrel.
Maintainyour cool.He didn’t need to do anything stupid. There was too muchriding on their undesirable association. Still, there was more thanone way to strike a blow.
“What’s this, aknitting circle?” Shane managed to dredge up what passed for achuckle.
Gould blinked once, thenagain. “What’d you say?”
“A knitting circle. You’re chattering away like my nana used to.” Shaneclutched his shoulders and started to rock back and forth. “Oh,it’s so nice and warm in here,” he cooed in ahigh-pitched voice. “I didn’t know we were from the samebarn set.” Shane shoved Gould’s shoulder with a loudcackle. “You should come over for some tea.”
One of the goons coughed,but Shane wasn’t completely positive he was just clearing histhroat.
“Mick…bogjumper…potato eater…fuck you and your ethnic slurs. I’mhalf Irish and proud of it.” Shane leaned toward Gould untiltheir noses almost touched. “But you and me…we aren’tfriends,” he reiterated for the second time that evening.
Gould ruminated in silence,a muscle working in his jaw. From experience, Shane knew the otherman was simply trying to figure out a way to work the situation backinto his favor.
There wasn’t any need. Despite his comeuppance and Shane’s misguided ethics, Gouldwould continue to have him on the ropes.
“You’ve beentraining hard?”
One simple question andGould effectively knocked the wind from Shane’s wings.
“Onthe canvas every day,” Shane said. Deflated, he sat back,putting some distance between them.
Knowing he’d gotten tohim, Gould became animated. “That a boy!” he said wagginghis finger. “You need to keep up appearances, you know for theCommission and the press.”
Shanesnorted. Notoriously corrupt, the New York State Athletic Commissiondidn’t care if he ran twenty miles a day or slept in a tub ofbeer every night. The press on the other hand shaped the public’sperception. If the public felt they were duped, they’d be lessinclined to pay any future gates. To the Commission, the take wasthe begin all and end all.
“Speaking ofappearances…I got wind Johnny Ferruci’s gonna drop bybefore the bout.”
Shane frowned. There wasn’tanything unusual about that. Boxing promoters always checked out thefighters on their card.
Gould stroked his narrowchin and looked almost contrite. “It might benefit you if hedoesn’t get wind of the company you’re keeping.”
Shaneknew exactly to whom Gould was referring. Incoherent with rage, hegrabbed the door handle at the same time he pounded the car’ssoft top. They were crossing Manhattan Bridge and the crosswindssnatched the car from side to side. Shane didn’t care. He’dtake his chances.
“Stop the goddam car,”he yelled.
The car kept going as ifhe’d never said a word.
Withexaggerated slowness, as if speaking to a child, Gould said, “Youknow how Italians are and if Ferruci sees or hears about you mixingcompany. He might call the whole thing off. Heck, he might evenblack list us. I won’t get made and you’ll never haveanother shot at the belt. Instead, you’ll stay on the fringefighting exhibitions like some carney.”
Becareful what you wish for. Shane spent the past five years wishing for a shot at the Garden andthen one fateful day it fell in his lap. But not in the way he’dwanted.
Shane’s gaze driftedto the window. It was beginning to snow. Flakes danced and brushedagainst the car glass. Some stuck, forming a crystal-like cobweb. Much like the one he’d found himself entangled. Unfortunately,Shane was too selfish to disentangle himself even when Gouldunwittingly presented him with the best case scenario.
The coupe slowed, stoppingfor a red light. Noting the location, the intersection of Flatbushand Tillary Avenue, Shane calculated the walk. It was a forty blockhike, in the sleet and snow but he’d endure the elements justto be done with Gould.
“I’ll get outhere and walk the rest of the way,” he said, pulling on thehandle. The door popped open and as Shane alighted, Gould slid overand took his seat.
“I’dhate for you to get ideas. If Ferruci removes you from his card,that’s it. No more chances. Zenigmar.So, are we on the same page?”
Shane took his timebuttoning his coat before answering.
“Areweon the same page, Brennan?”
“Like ink,”Shane said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and offering up thephoniest smile he could muster.
The car pulled away from thecurb, but Shane waited for it to turn the corner before he turnedabout and headed back east.
CHAPTER Eight
“Rise and shine,”Celeste chimed, slinging back the heavy brocade curtains in Trudy’sbedroom windows. She grinned wickedly when her cousin dove under thechenille bedcover.
“I’ve gotbreakfast, so get up.”
Trudy peeked from under thecovers. “What time is it?”
“Half past ten.”
Trudy moaned. “Way tooearly, now get out.”
Celeste ignored her cousin. She slid the breakfast tray off the dressing table and set it on thebed between them.
“Trudy, please. I’vealready cleaned the house, visited the grocers and picked up ourorder at Green’s.
“Did you pick up mywhite tux?” Trudy mumbled.
“Sure did, now getup,” Celeste ordered.
As commanded, yet with thepace of a snail, Trudy pushed back the covers. “Bagels andlox?”
Celeste picked up a bageland sliced it open. “I need some advice,” she said, whileslathering both halves with cream cheese. “I’ve got adate tonight.”
“Well aren’t youMiss Popular.” Trudy’s eyes widened. “Just don’tend up with worms. Hiram’s pushing sixty.”
Offended, Celeste almost lether have
