Wicked Whoopie Pies by Addison Moore (english novels to improve english TXT) 📕

Both of those would be ridiculous amounts. You saw him at that underground casino of yours night after night. You knew who he was—my father. You also knew he was damn good at both winning and losing. No matter how much money you pumped into him, you knew you’d get it back via your crooked house rules. But you’re not content scooping up your earnings via a few loose chips. You conned my father into taking out some ridiculous loan because you knew when he couldn’t pay up, eventually I would.” I nod over at him. “You made your intentions clear the other day at the B&B. You want a dirty cop on your side. And I’m guessing you’re in the market for a dirty judge, too.”

Jimmy grunts, “You’re good, you know that, Detective?” He chuckles to himself.

A tiny spear of pride blooms in my chest. I’ll take an accolade where I can get it these days.

“But you’re wrong.” The smile glides right off his face. “Okay, so I found a creative way to get your attention. And might I say garner your services.”

“You chose the wrong guy,” I tell him. “I can no more make a parking ticket go away than I can stop the ATF from storming that lust trap you have on the other side of town.”

“ATF?” Jimmy cocks a brow. “We don’t jest about such things around here, Detective. And for your information, I’m not interested in making a few parking tickets go away—nor do I foresee any problems with the good men and women at the ATF. I’ve got a more interesting proposition for you.” He glances to Everett. “You sure you want the judge listening in on your dealings?”

“We don’t keep anything from each other.” I don’t hesitate to say it, because for the most part I think it’s true.

“Ah yes.” Jimmy’s expression sours. “You share everything, don’t you? Guns, wives, children. You even tried to share the blame when it came to taking my niece’s body. God rest her soul.” He makes the sign of the cross and kisses his fingers. “All right, here’s what we got. I lay off that father of yours—and everything he holds dear.” His brows tweak. “Although, I wouldn’t mind finding that blonde he keeps on his arm next to me some time. I’m not ruling it out either. But in the meantime, if you want to keep the world from burning, you’ve got two choices. One, you let me influence you a little when it comes to the law. I’ve got enemies pouring over the state line. The Moretti family. You know it’s bad when Luke and I gotta join forces to hold them back. I’m going to set them up and you’re going to toss the net over them.”

Everett huffs, “You don’t need Noah for that. Pick up the phone and call the department with the intel. They’ll send out the right personnel to make the arrest. That’s what any normal citizen would do. It’s perfectly legal. I’m assuming that’s why you’re not familiar with the process.”

A quick laugh pumps from Jimmy. “See that, Detective? It looks like the good judge is a little testy. What’s the matter? That baby eating up all of the wife’s attention? Don’t worry. Feel free to stop by my place anytime. I’ve got an entire fleet of new hires working the poles for me. Take any one you want. Pick of the litter.”

“Hear that?” I tease as I look to Everett. “You get pick of the litter. As a bonus, I bet they’ll let you call them by their surname, too.”

Everett sighs. “I’m sorry, Jimmy. You can’t mess with the both of us. That’s not going to work. Noah, you’re dismissed. I’ll take it from here.”

“Dismissed?” Jimmy’s furry brows nearly hike straight into his hairline. “Are you gonna let him talk to you that way, Detective? I’d offload a couple of clips into him if I were you.”

I growl over at my shiny new target, “Believe me, I’m tempted.” I look back to Jimmy and take a breath. “So that’s it? You’re going to call me when the Morettis get ready to make a few illegal maneuvers and you want them ambushed by the law? And by doing so, my father is absolved of that mountain of debt he’s sitting on?”

“That’s it.” Jimmy shrugs. “Not a bad deal, huh?”

I examine his features for a signal that he might be lying, not that I’d recognize one if I saw it.

“Okay.” I shrug right back and Everett groans as if I sucker punched him.

“In my world”—Jimmy steps forward with his hand out—“we agree with a handshake.”

He leans forward and we shake on it. As smart as I want to think I am, deep down I know I’ve made a deal with the devil.

“You never got to your second point.” Everett tips his head toward Jimmy. “What was the alternative?”

Jimmy looks my way. “You watch all of Honey Hollow pay for your father’s sins. I’ll give you a hint at how it works. The intended victim is the last to go. It’s my way of ensuring he gets maximum psychological pain before the physical pain gets started. It’s my special way of doing things. You might even say it’s my mark.”

“Good to know,” I whisper.

It doesn’t look like I had a choice after all.

I flick my elbow toward Everett. “What’s your deal with him?”

Jimmy pulls back his shoulders and glares at Everett as if he were the one soul he hated most in the world.

“There are some things I like to say to a man’s face.” Jimmy chuckles, no smile. An eerie sight to behold, considering the source. He takes a few bold steps toward Everett and the tension seems to grow between them. “You messed with my niece’s dead body. You’re dead to me.” Jimmy looks back my way. “Now both of you, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to what I was doing.”

He whips out his gun and