I woke with a start, breathless. It took me a minute to catch my breath sitting sprawled on the covers. I needed air. I slipped out of bed, wrapping myself in satin robes. It felt as cold as flakes of snow against bare skin.

Moose sleepily trotted behind me, almost bumping into the French window. The early morning breeze always had a calming effect and my breathing returned to normal. The nightmares always brought on cold sweats and had gotten worst in the last week. Always the same creepy dream ... something about the Wild West.

"God! Moose we'd never survive that!"

"Gruff" Moose plumped down.

"Not that things are any better." I said looking at the park.

Shamus McGinty turned out be more trouble than I expected. I disliked him the second I heard of him but I needed a disturber in Oh Aces. I agreed to under the radar, Muffins ... but he grew airs ... thinking he was Clyde ... with a different Bonnie every other night. Then there was Rosie ... she's as bad as him ... top class gold digger. Wild parties, the booze and the attention! The whole situation went south real fast.

"He tried to threaten me!" I said to Moose who was too busy snoring. I slid into the chair pulling the robe tighter.

Shamus thought it would be a bite of muffin. Threating me and then taking over the whole muffin business. Refusal was not something that Shamus could sallow that too from a "Dame". He didn't take it easy but the deal was off. I didn't expect the hit. He tried to pinch my supplies ... my supplies! He wanted to use Myna's recipes and my ingredients for his "Muffins on the Go" business. Sadly, for him all he got was a sack of flour.

Then there's Brody Delany ... Shamus's right hand man. Does everything for Shamus and knows all of Shamus's plans. He's a slim eel. He acts innocent but he's in on all of the plans ... heck he might even be the one pulling some of the strings after all the quiet ones are more dangerous. Plus, there's the extra motive Lulu McGinty and of course control of the whole Irish mob. Proof's in the Pudding.

But none of this was my concern. What did matter was Shamus was dead. Was he a liability? Yes. Did I want him dead? Yes. But I didn't order the hit. The coppers wouldn't believe that. All they needed was motive and opportunity which were both against me. It took Gunn a day to figure this out ... well most of it ... not all ... it wouldn't take the G-man longer after all a peaches and cream muffin was used and he would do anything to protect his girl.

Now, things were getting worse. The rumors of a full-fledged gang war breaking out. I couldn't get stuck in this mess.

"Wake up, Moose! We're going for a ride."

https://youtu.be/ukick72Qafc

Bottoms Up by Brantley Gilbert