“More than you can imagine, my love.” He read so many questions in those blue eyes of hers, and he wondered if he’d ever be able to answer them all. A father? Could he do that? Could he teach his boy what his father had taught him? Or… what if it was a little girl? A daughter, looking at him like Adele was now. And suddenly, he saw his life in a whole new way. He had everything he’d ever need now. But one stray bullet, one sharp blade, and he’d lose it all. He’d lose her. With that, it was settled.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so slow to understand,” he said. “I’ll talk to John tomorrow. I love you, Adele. I won’t jeopardize our family.”
The next day, Jerry took John to the Dominion House for lunch. He ordered them both a whisky and lit a cigarette.
“What’s up?” John asked.
“I have a plan.”
“At last! What’s happening?”
Jerry blew a stream of smoke to the side, avoiding the moment he’d have to look his brother in the eye. “You’re not gonna like it.”
“Try me,” John replied, frowning slightly as he lit his own cigarette.
“It’s gotten too dangerous lately,” Jerry began. “We need to put an end to the violence.”
“It’s always been dangerous.”
“Yeah, but there are no rules now. It’s been a while since that day on the water, and since then our alliance with Dutchie and the High Tide boys has gotten more than a little shaky. Think about it, John. Everyone around here suspects someone of something, and they’d be just as likely to stab you in the back as not. It’s happening everywhere. Fellows like Rocco Perri in Hamilton. There’s a new one in Chicago I heard of the other day, name’s Capone. Tuck says he’s suspected of a bunch of murders, and he’s been seen in these parts as well. We’re fighting off the Purple Gang every day and barely surviving. They’re the worst sons of bitches I’ve ever seen. Fearless.” He put his cigarette to his lips. “And then there’s Willoughby. He’s lost his mind, and I’m tired of fighting him. I’m tired of all the fighting. And I don’t want to be responsible for someone getting killed running a shipment of my booze.” The smoke curled out of his mouth. “It’s time to shut down the still.”
John sat up, alert. “That’s your plan? The runners will still go, just with someone else’s booze.”
“Maybe, but it wouldn’t be on my conscience. You’re welcome to take over the entire operation, if you want, of course.”
John leaned back, staring at his brother. “I can’t believe you’d even suggest that. The label says Bailey Brothers’ Best, not John’s Best. I can’t do this without you.”
“I get it, John. I’m sorry.” He tapped his cigarette on the ashtray. “I did say you wouldn’t like it.”
He watched John ingest what he was saying, knowing he would need a little time to think about it. To come to terms with the same thing Jerry had the night before. It wasn’t like the war. No one was forcing them toget out there and risk their lives. They already had more money than they could ever spend, but what was the point of all that if they weren’t around to spend it?
“I’m tired of dodging bullets, and there’s more to life than making whisky.” John still didn’t look convinced, but that’s why Jerry had left the best for last. “I’d like my kid to meet his wild uncle John.”
John’s mouth dropped open. “Is Adele…?”
“Maybe play ball with him someday.”
John threw his head back. “I knew you had it in you, Jerry! That’s terrific. When did you find out?”
“Last night. And I made her a promise, John. I’m done.”
“Damn,” John said, almost to himself, then he slowly nodded. “I understand now. I guess you just realized you’re not immortal.”
“I guess I figured out the same about you, brother. Let’s just retire, you and me. Enjoy life. We’ve earned it.”
John breathed in his cigarette again, observing Jerry through the smoke. “All right,” he said simply. “I promised your wife that I’d keep you safe, and quitting this life would definitely help me keep that promise.”
Hearing those words was a relief. He was grateful for the acceptance in John’s expression. Jerry had hoped John would do the smart thing and leave the business behind, but a part of him had been unsure that his brother was ready. That thought had kept him up last night. How hard it would have been, knowing John was out there on his own. Like when he’d been in the hospital, and John had been fighting the enemy without him.
“But what about all those bottles underground? What are we gonna do with those?”
Jerry smiled. With a question like that, John was definitely with him. “I have a plan for that, too,” he said. “I just need to know if my brother is willing to help me on one last run.”
twenty-sixADELE
Adele reached for a bottle of whisky in the wall of their living room and placed it in the crate lined with straw, then groaned as she straightened. At least she felt better at night. Mornings were not fun these days, and the sympathy she had received from Maman was not helping. When she’d written to Marie about how sick she was getting, Marie wrote back suggesting eating crackers and going for walks. Neither of those had helped either. So Adele had resigned herself to riding the waves of nausea every morning. It was all worth it, she kept telling herself, for she’d joined a new sisterhood. She wouldn’t have to envy her sister or married friends for much longer. Then again, Adele thought, her experience was turning out to be a little more trying than theirs had been. None of them had been tasked with helping to move a stockpile of illegal whisky.
The half crate of bottles she was carrying to the tunnel wouldn’t be ready to drink for another six months, but at least it was out of her house. Originally John had wanted to hide a hundred bottles in the new living room wall, but only fifty had fit, so she’d taken on the job of packing the extras up and bringing them to the men. Jerry had only agreed as long asshe promised to carry a half crate at a time. This was her fourth half crate. Then she’d be done.
