Helen looked into Maggie’s eyes and saw them darkened with need. She bent again, running her tongue over Maggie’s lips until they opened, inviting her in. She lazily traced Maggie’s tongue until her own need overwhelmed her. She pressed her mouth hard against Maggie, plunging her tongue urgently deeper.
Maggie leaned against Helen, who was frustrated at her inability to fully feel the swell of her breasts.
Helen stepped back and spun Maggie. She deftly unzipped her dress and loosened her Side Lacer, peeling away the confining garment and coddling her pert breasts as they sprung free.
“Who the hell invented these things?” She nuzzled the back of Maggie’s neck.
Maggie fell back against her.
“It’s all the rage.”
“Still, I’d prefer easier access.”
She gently turned Maggie around and kissed her while her hands continued to cup her breasts, her thumbs lightly caressing the hardened nipples.
“That feels so good,” Maggie moaned.
Helen guided Maggie into her bedroom and eased her onto the bed. She placed Maggie’s legs over her own shoulders and peeled down her stockings. She kissed the inside of her ankle and moved her mouth up her sleek calf to the back of her knee. Turning, she did the same to the other leg.
Maggie squirmed, arching her hips at Helen’s ministrations. Helen lowered Maggie’s legs and slid her panties off. She stripped her own clothes off and lay on top of her. She kissed her hard as her hands made their way back to Maggie’s breasts. They were small but firm and fit perfectly in her hands.
She replaced her hands with her mouth and teasingly licked around one, then the other hardened nipple. She loved how responsive her nipples were and finally sucked one deep inside her mouth.
Maggie cried out as Helen twirled the exposed nipple between her thumb and finger. She traded nipples then, still making sure they both received attention. Maggie was writhing on the bed beneath her. She brought her knee up and pressed it into her. She groaned at the warm wetness she met.
Helen kissed down Maggie’s soft belly until she reached the source of that heat. She ran her tongue over her hard clit before dipping it inside. She licked as deep as she could, reveling in the sweetness that was Maggie. She moved back to her clit and sucked and licked it while she plunged her fingers inside her.
Maggie was bucking against her, meeting every thrust, until her body froze, her hand pressed against the back of Helen’s head. She cried out then collapsed back on the bed.
Helen lay against her and was surprised when Maggie rolled on top of her. She spent little time on Helen’s small breasts as she kissed her way between her legs. She moved her tongue all over Helen, eliciting guttural cries. She didn’t stop until Helen gasped and stilled, feeling the rush of the orgasm as it flowed through her.
*
“The Northsiders took out some cops last night,” Kevin said as he entered headquarters the next day.
“How did that happen?”
“They were going after some of Hillyer’s men. The police were responding to another call over on the East Side and got caught in the crossfire.”
“Anyone we know?”
“They took out Jimmy DeSoto and Carl Olveira.”
“No shit?” Helen recognized the names of two top officers of the East Side. “The guys from the Outfit have to be happy to see them go.”
“I’m not sure who the hits helped more. But it seems like both gangs are trying to eliminate the outsiders.”
“And we’re outsiders.”
“We are.”
As if on cue, the staccato of gunfire sounded against the walls outside. Kevin threw Helen on the ground and fell on top of her.
Helen waited for her heart to beat normally again before nudging Kevin to get off of her.
“Fuckers.”
“Shit. That was a waste of bullets.” Kevin moved toward the door.
“Don’t open that.”
“They’re not out there. I heard them speed off. I just want to see how bad the place got tattooed.”
“Listen to me. It could be a setup. Just cool your heels.”
They sat tensely in the windowless back room, their breathing the only sound for half an hour. They finally heard a car pull up and heard the engine turn off.
“You think they’re back?” Kevin asked.
“It could be some of ours.”
They listened to three car doors slam closed, then the unmistakable sound of a tommy gun.
“Fuck, boss.”
The sound of squealing tires filled the immediate quiet.
Helen’s heart sank. She and Kevin stared at each other. They needed to see who’d been taken out.
“Careful when you open that door.”
Kevin nodded and stood back as he turned the knob.
When no shots rang out, Kevin stepped into the early autumn air.
Helen held back, dreading a sound she didn’t know how she’d handle. Fortunately, the afternoon was quiet, so she followed Kevin and found him standing over the lifeless body of young Jack and two of his buddies who were trying to move up the ranks of her gang.
“Shit!”
“They were just kids,” Kevin said.
“It happens.”
Crowds were gathering across the street as people emerged from their offices to witness the latest carnage in the rum wars.
“I hate that they get to see the guys like this,” Kevin said.
“I’ll call Flander’s. You get some sheets.”
Helen phoned her connection at the funeral home and was happy the van showed up before the cops. They had the bodies removed, and Kevin and Helen were sitting in the barbershop when police finally arrived.
“Miss Byrne?” Bobby Turnell, a favorite cop of Helen’s, walked in. “Do you know what happened back behind this shop?”
“I heard there was some commotion, but I didn’t see anything.”
“We heard something about bodies,” the greenhorn with him said.
“Did you see any?” Helen asked pointedly.
“Miss Byrne,” Bobby said, “this is Officer Dunston. He’s new on the force.”
Helen sized up the young man. She’d catch up with Turnell later to see how to grease the new man.
“Nice to meet you.” Helen extended her hand.
“I’ve heard of you,” Dunston said.
“All good things, I hope.”
He didn’t respond, and Helen looked at Bobby, who simply said, “Time’s about up here.”
Helen and Kevin exchanged a knowing look. Dunston would have to go. Bobby had used their code phrase. Helen made a mental note to make it happen quickly.
The police left and Helen called the other lieutenants to round up some men to fix up the outside of headquarters.
“Let’s head to the Beaver,” Helen said to Kevin. “I could use a drink.”
The speakeasy was still closed when they arrived. Kevin went behind the bar and grabbed a couple of bottles, one of Scotch and one of bourbon. He joined Helen at a table and poured the booze.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“We don’t know who killed the boys today.”
“What’s your gut say?”
“I want to believe it was some of Weiss’s men.”
“What do we do?”
“I hate to say it, but I think we need to talk to the Outfit about getting some protection.”
“That could get expensive.”
Helen sipped her drink as she pondered the consequences of her idea.
“It could. And who’s to say we could trust them?”
“I could see them taking our money and still trying to eliminate us. I don’t know, boss. I’m not crazy about this notion.”
“We can’t hold them both off. They’re better equipped.”
“Maybe we should just lay low for a while.”
“You’re saying you want to give up? What? Just close up shop? Seems to me I mentioned doing that last month and you called me n
uts.”
“We’ve been recruiting and expanding. I’m just saying we should take it back to our area for a spell and let things cool down.”
“Will they ever cool down? That’s my worry. I don’t know that they’ll stop until it’s just the two organizations.”
They each reached for their weapons when they heard someone at the door, but relaxed to see it was Joe, the bartender.
“You two about scared the shit out of me!”
“Sorry,” Helen said.
“Everything okay?”
“Sure.”
“I’m going to start setting up. If you need anything, give a yell.”
“Don’t mind us. We won’t be staying long.”
“Where are we going?” Kevin asked when Joe had retreated to the office.
“I think we need to go back to Gattino’s.”
“Are you not thinking clearly? Moretti told us to scram and not come back.”
“We need to go back.”
“Why?”
“I need to get a feel from Franco. I should be able to tell if they were behind today’s activity.”
“Shit, boss. If they wasn’t before, they’ll sure as shit make a move on us now if we tread on their turf again.”
“You worry too much, Kevin.”
Chapter Four
Helen was all business when she and Kevin entered Gattino’s. She watched the men scramble from the table against the far wall again, then headed straight back. Kevin followed close behind.
“We need to talk, Moretti.” She nodded at Maria, who looked stunning in a red spaghetti-strapped number. “Beat it, doll. I need some alone time with your man.”
“She ain’t goin’ anywhere.” Moretti’s voice was like ice. “She only takes orders from me.”
“Speaking of orders, who gave the one this afternoon?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit.” Helen gazed around the room and saw she was the focus of many men, most of whom had itchy trigger fingers. She pulled a chair around and sat next to Moretti.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble from the Outfit. You gotta know that.”
Moretti merely shrugged.
“I want to know if it came from the Northsiders. What do you say? Just finger them for me.”
“You got a problem with Weiss? Take it up with him. Don’t be sullying my bar with talk of those amateurs.”
“I know he shot up some of the Eastenders. Hillyer’s gotta be pissed. I say we let them fight it out. That will leave more for us. It doesn’t make sense for you guys to be gunning for me.”
“I told you. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Says you. Fine. Just tell Al we don’t want any trouble with him.”
“You sayin’ you’re scared? Why not just close shop then?”
“We’re small potatoes, Franco. We’re not takin’ any money from you.”
“You ain’t givin’ us any money, neither. You want to pay for some protection or something? Fine, I’ll talk to Mr. Capone.”
“We don’t need protection. I just thought we could reason this out. Obviously, I was wrong.”
She stood and nodded to Maria who looked positively bored.
“I’m sorry this wasn’t more of a social call, lovely lady.”
Maria rolled her eyes.
“You look beautiful tonight. You should be on someone’s arm who can really show you off.”
“You’re pushing it, Byrne,” Moretti said.
Helen couldn’t suppress a smile as she cut through the crowd and left the speakeasy.
“What the hell was that?” Kevin asked. “You even had me believing you was gonna ask for protection.”
“I told you I wouldn’t do that. And I won’t. We’ll do what you said. We’ll hold steady and not expand for a while. At least until the heat’s died down a little bit.”
Kevin drove Helen back to the Beaver. The place was jumping, and Helen’s mood finally lifted slightly.
“You goin’ upstairs tonight?” Helen teased him. In all their years together, she’d never known Kevin to use a prostitute. It was just one more thing that made her wonder again about her first lieutenant and Mickey.
“Nah. I’m good. You?”
“I think I’m okay for now. I just want to relax.”
The evening passed uneventfully as they listened to the music and chatted up the customers. Helen even danced a few dances. It was getting late when Helen saw her walk through the back door. Helen stood slowly, unsure of what to make of the situation. She motioned to Kevin, who quickly and quietly alerted other gang members to be on alert.
Helen crossed through the crowd and laid a hand on Maria’s fur-covered shoulder.
“Maria? You lost?”
Maria turned with her drink and shrugged. “I’m just bored.”
Helen saw several of her men slip outside to check for interlopers. But she kept her focus on Maria, whose eyes lit up when their gazes met.
“You don’t look so bored.”
“I am.”
“I can’t believe Franco let you out of his sight.”
Maria shrugged again. “We had a fight.”
Helen was still wary of a setup, but found it hard to resist the best girl of one of Al Capone’s top men. She slipped her arm around Maria.
“Come here and tell me all about it.” She led her to her table. “What were you two fighting about?”
“We always do the same thing. It never changes. We don’t mix it up at all. We go to that dumb bar and sit there night after night. I told him even you go to different bars sometimes.”
Helen fought a smile. It was nice to think of Maria throwing her name out at Moretti.
“That’s always business, though, doll. Your guy and I aren’t that different.”
“You don’t see him here. He never goes anywhere the Outfit doesn’t own.”
“And just what do you think he’ll do when he finds out you were here?”
“Who says he’s going to find out?”
Helen nodded slowly. She didn’t think that was likely, but she admired Maria’s guts.
Helen’s men had made their way back into the speakeasy and nodded to her that the coast was clear. Maria’s story checked out. She appeared to be there alone.
“As long as you’re here, what do you say we dance a little?”
Maria shrugged. “Might as well.”
Helen couldn’t suppress a laugh.
“If you’re looking for a good time, doll, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re really that bored, why don’t you beat it?”
“You gonna talk or dance?”
Still chuckling, Helen took Maria’s hand and led her to the floor. They danced easily for several songs, until they were both tired and made their way back to their table.
“You move really well,” Maria said.
“So do you.” Helen had given up denying her attraction to Maria. She wanted her and she wanted her soon. The trick would be to see if Maria was interested.
They sipped their drinks, and soon the ensemble slowed their tempo, and Helen couldn’t resist the chance to hold Maria. She stood and offered a hand.
“What do you say?”
“Why not?”
Suddenly, the background noise was muted, the cacophony hushed as Helen returned to the dance floor with Maria. She was aware of nothing but the beauty of Maria, the pounding of her own heart, and the pulsing between her legs.
Helen slid her hand around Maria’s waist and pulled her close. She took Maria’s hand in hers and deftly led her in time with the music. She noted, not for the first time, the scent of her perfume. It was subtle yet heady, smelling of spice and leather, and left Helen dizzy with desire.
“You sure smell swell,” she said.
“Thanks. It’s Tabac Blond.”
“You don’t say. Well, I like it.”
Maria smiled but said nothing else. Helen searched her mind for another
topic of conversation but came up empty. She guided Maria around the floor in silence. Every move, every brush against each other, fueled the fire in Helen. She was aching from the need to have Maria. And Maria seemed to be enjoying herself. She moved easily at Helen’s direction and never pulled away from the contact Helen initiated. Helen was thinking she might actually get her to bed, when Maria pulled away.
“I’ve got to get going.”
“What? You just got here,” Helen said.
“No, I’ve been here too long. I’d better get home. I’ll see you around.”
Helen was left standing in the middle of the dance floor as she watched Maria grab her wrap and flee out the back door.
*
The next morning, Helen took a group of men to the North Side with intentions to hit some men on the street. They drove through the streets, in the general vicinity of the flower shop the rival gang used as headquarters. As they drove past a deli not far from the shop, they spotted a group of Hymie’s men. Helen opened fire first and the others followed. They felled the men and sped off, hurrying off to meet at the Beaver.
Kevin was waiting for them.
“I wish I could have been part of that,” he said.
“No way we both could have been there. If they’d retaliated, one of us has to be elsewhere, just in case.”
“So how’d it go?”
“We got about six or seven of them.”
“Good job.”
“Pour some drinks,” Helen called to one of her lieutenants.
The booze flowed freely as they celebrated their retaliation.
Helen sipped her bourbon, ever vigilant for the sound of cars outside. After a couple of hours, she decided it was safe for them to leave.
“Head out now and get to work. But be safe out there. I don’t want to lose any more of you. Be aware of everything going on around you and report any trouble to me. Now get going.”
Chapter Five
The roads were covered with snow and it was still coming down hard. Helen was in a foul mood when she reached the barbershop.
“People need to learn to drive in this damned weather,” she said as she shook out of her coat and untied her scarf. “I swear to God, it’s not that hard.”
She paused as she hung her jacket on the rack. “What’s up, Kevin? You look like you’re about to bust over there.”
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