Read Online Dollface: A Novel of the Roaring Twenties by Renée Rosen - Free Book Online Page B

of Chicago, he decided college wasn’t for him.
    “Second semester there I got into a fistfight with one of my professors.”
    “Why?”
    “He was giving me a hard time. Didn’t want to accept a paper just because I turned it in late.”
    “Well, they are known to do that sort of thing, you know.”
    “At least I won the fight.” He smiled. I melted.
    Now he owned a string of tobacco stores and said he made more money than his father, who was a doctor. I was intrigued. Private schools, college—he was book smart and street smart, too. Something about that combination got me excited. It didn’t hurt that he let me know he was rich, too. Plus he was the sexiest man I’d ever seen and all I wanted him to do was lean in and kiss me.
    Tony pulled out a cigarette—this time from the pack of Chesterfields he’d placed on the table—and ran a hand through his hair, causing that one disobedient lock to dangle down. “I need a haircut,” he said.
    “No, don’t cut it!” Before I could stop myself, I reached up and touched his hair. I was already blushing as I pulled my hand away.
    He smiled and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “You are one beautiful-looking doll. I bet you must have a million guys after you.”
    “Not a million.” I laughed, leaning into his touch. “Just one. And he doesn’t seem to take no for an answer.”
    “Yeah, who is he? I’ll get rid of him for you.”
    I thought that if anyone could stand up to Shep it would be Tony Liolli, but I smiled and said, “He’s not the kind of guy you get rid of so easily.”
    “And why’s that?”
    “You ever heard of a guy named Shep Green?”
    As soon as I’d said it, I knew that he had. Tony ground out his cigarette and looked at me, his usual easy, carefree expression replaced with one of concern. “That’s him? That’s the guy you’re seeing?”
    “I was seeing him.”
    He took a long pull from his scotch. “You know who he is?”
    I nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t really know. Not in the very beginning, anyway.”
    Just then an older, balding man with a slight frame and close-set eyes came up to our banquette and slapped Tony on the shoulder. “What are you doing hiding back here?”
    The two went back and forth, and I was waiting to be introduced but that clearly wasn’t going to happen, so I busied myself with a cigarette instead.
    “Didn’t you have some business to take care of tonight?”
    “It’s handled,” said Tony, leaning over to produce a light for me.
    “Good.” The man nodded and straightened his necktie. “They tell me you were at the tables again tonight.”
    “Did they tell you I won?”
    “Watch yourself, you hear me?” He gave Tony a severe pat on the cheek.
    “Who was that?” I asked, after he walked away.
    “Johnny Torrio.” He paused for my reaction, as if the name should have meant something to me. “This is his place,” he continued. “I do a little work for him on the side.”
    “He’s not very friendly.”
    “Aw, he’s okay once you get to know him.” Tony finished his drink in one gulp. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”
    We left the Four Deuces and drove out to Municipal Pier. It was cold that night but once Tony and I started kissing we steamed up the windows good and fast. He had perfect lips, and he knew what to do with them, too. His kisses alone got me fired up. Even Shep’s kisses never traveled down my legs, making my insides quiver like this. Just being in Tony’s arms did something to me. I felt safe and sexy and I craved him. I’d never felt that kind of desire before. That had to have meant something. It had to have been a sign. Shep wasn’t right for me but maybe Tony was.
    Tony and I carried on like that until the sun came up over Lake Michigan.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
    T he next morning, on less than two hours’ sleep, I dragged myself to the streetcar. After settling in, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, thinking about Tony Liolli. I’d never