So Swiss went begging again for content, and though I thought serializing one of my doorstoppers would beĀ de trop, Swiss does not. So here we go.


During Prohibition, Trey Dunham only wants two things out of life: money and respectability. And he doesnā€™t care how he gets them.


KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
APRIL, 1929

ā€œDONā€™T GO GETTING above yourself, boy.ā€

Trey slid a glance at the old man beside him, his eyebrow raised in question.

Boss Tom Pendergastā€™s glance slid across the street toward the prim young woman whoā€™d caught Treyā€™s eye. She was short, her cheeks filled out, with clear peachesā€™nā€™cream skin. She had sleek chocolate brown hair rolled up into a fat bun, which meant it was long and thick and straight. She wore a fashionable blouse and trousers of good quality fabric and construction, but they were all the wrong cut and color. He could only guess at her figure, but heā€™d seen hundreds of women nude, so he had a pretty good idea she was an hourglass with just enough plump in all the right places.

She and another girl were walking toward Kresgeā€™s with their schoolbooks clutched to their chests, chatting and laughing. Her friend was blonde, with a cute permed bob and she was wearing a pretty dress.

ā€œYou know who that Jane is?ā€ Boss Tom asked.

ā€œNope.ā€

ā€œDot Albright. Her daddyā€™s a Mormon bishop.ā€

Treyā€™s eyebrows shot into his hairline. ā€œOn your payroll?ā€

Boss Tom shook his head. ā€œNot him, no. Heā€™s straight, works for himself. He just doesnā€™t get in his congregantsā€™ business, even if their business is with me. And you know those folksā€™re armed to the teeth.ā€

Trey was too, and he wasnā€™t somebody who could legally be shot on sight. ā€œBut they let their girls wear trousers.ā€

ā€œThe one in trouserā€™s Gil Scarrittā€™s daughter. Marina.ā€

Trey pursed his mouth. That was ā€¦ interesting, especially when the girls suddenly caught him staring. The pretty blonde in the pretty dress curled her lip.

ā€œTold you not to get your hopes up.ā€

The interesting brunette in the trousers blinked at them innocently then looked at the pretty one with a scowl. Their lighthearted discussion turned into something more contentious.

ā€œTwo preachersā€™ daughters,ā€ Trey mused. ā€œWhyā€™s a Pentecostal lettinā€™ his girl wear trousers?ā€

ā€œHis idea of a chastity belt.ā€

Trey nodded approvingly. ā€œThatā€™s logical,ā€ he said. ā€œInconvenient and a damned shame, but logical.ā€

ā€œHer?ā€ Boss Tom hooted. ā€œMarina?ā€

ā€œYeh. Pretty girls are a dime a dozen and I got a dozen of ā€™em on my payroll. How old is she?ā€

ā€œSixteen. What is wrong with you? Sheā€™s no looker.ā€

ā€œLikely not to anybody else, no.ā€

ā€œYou have weird taste in dames.ā€

Treyā€™s taste was in interesting-looking dames. As he watched, the pretty one dragged the interesting one into the drugstore, with one last sneer over her shoulder at them.

ā€œTrust Reverend Albrightā€™s girl to know whatā€™s what,ā€ Boss Tom muttered, turning away.

ā€œI thought you said he was a bishop.ā€

ā€œHe is. Reverendā€™s his given name.ā€ Trey had heard stranger. ā€œDunham,ā€ Boss Tom rumbled, amusement heavy in his deep voice. ā€œYou wrestle that bluenose into bed and knock her up, Iā€™ll turn the keys to 1520 over to you, as is, free and clear.ā€

Trey was so shocked he barely kept his cool. ā€œMarina, you mean?ā€

ā€œYes, Marina. Albright stays out of my way and I stay out of his.ā€

Trey thought about that a few seconds. Finally he said, ā€œThatā€™s some bounty, Boss. I might start thinkinā€™ you donā€™t like the good Reverend Scarritt.ā€

ā€œDonā€™t start up thinkinā€™ again, boy. People get in trouble that way.ā€

Not Trey. And what Trey thought was that this wasnā€™t a bet so much as an order. Trey didnā€™t hesitate to take orders he had several good reasons to carry out.

ā€œAnā€™ if I donā€™t?ā€

Boss Tom gave him a stone-cold glance. Definitely an order. Shit. ā€œTell you what, Dunham. I know you want to buy 1520 Main. I also know you are nowhere near being able to buy it at my price and you never will be.ā€ That was debatable. ā€œSo Iā€™m giving you a sporting chance. You have two months. And if you think marrying herā€™s gonna get the job done, think again.ā€

Marriage was not in Treyā€™s plans. ā€œConsider it done.ā€

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