Join the fun. Ride along with Jesse and Frank James and the Younger brothers as they share in the adventures of The Lone Jack Kid. This was wartime and men lived and died fighting their enemy . . . and sometimes they died fighting each other. Cole looked at the men, raised his hand, and said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, "Don't do it, boys. Sturman was a yellow cur, and a deserter, and you don't have to die trying to avenge the likes of him. There were seven Indians and they were standing around two semi-naked white women who appeared to be a mother and daughter. Charlie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then he aimed - - and fired, and fired, and fired again, repeatedly. He dropped four of the Indians before they knew what hit them. Then he charged into the clearing and shot another Indian reaching for his gun. "My name is Charles Longstreet." The men looked at each other as recognition set in. "You're the Lone Jack Kid?" The Kid smiled. "The one and only." He pulled his hat off of his head and waved it in the air, then he gave the Rebel yell. "See you money grubbers in hell, boys." He jerked the reins, and nudged Comet with his heals. She turned her head and leaped into the bubbling stream with water as high as the stirrups, and dashed across, splashing tendrils of water high in the air on both sides of her. It was an impressive display of horsemanship, and the toll collectors watched with grudging admiration.

Billy is one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he suddenly finds that his best is no longer good enough. After pitching a perfect game last year, Billy Wagner retired from baseball, but the Mets lured him back by offering him a fortune to pitch for one more season hoping he'd lead them to the World Series. Billy wants to finish this season on a high note - but something he didn't expect may prevent that from happening. This is a story of friendship and courage, and the realization that when you lost something you always took for granted, you can still reach deep down inside of yourself and find something greater to replace it with.

The Starlight Club is jumping . . . All Big Red Fortunato wants to do . . . is clear his name and get his movie studio running in the black, but lately problems appear whenever he tries to leave Queens. Was it destiny that caused the world's most beautiful actress to be shoved into the protective arms of the most powerful mobster in Queens, NY at the exact moment that assassins tried to kill her? Red wonders who wants her dead, and why? This was a war Big Red never wanted, but he's not immune to the charms of the beautiful actress. Red never wore his heart on his sleeve but the more he gets to know Marilyn Monroe the more he finds himself drawn to her. But sinister forces are at work and, as he tries to protect the beautiful movie queen; he is unwittingly drawn into a web of deceit that reaches into the highest levels of government. Red tells Marilyn . . . "From now on wherever you go Trenchie goes with you. And if he's with you, you'll stay alive." Red is proud of his three fighters. Henri was just crowned the Welterweight Champ. Swifty is scheduled to fight for the Middleweight Championship of the world - but Red's heavyweight fighter Gonzo has a problem. His opponent has just lapsed into a coma from a powerhouse right hand to his head ... and he may not live. Joey Bones shook his head. "What do we do now? Here we are holed up with the most popular female star in the world and if the authorities find that we have her, they'll think we kidnapped her." Richard Nixon is scheduled to speak at the Republican Convention in Madison Square garden, where assassins plan to kill him. Red must protect Nixon and his family. The question is - why is Nixon being targeted? Red wonders. Is there a connection between Marilyn and Nixon? In Madison Square Garden Red asks Frankie Carbo. "Frankie if you wanted to kill Nixon, where would you place your shooter." "That's easy." He said pointing to the highest point in the Garden. "I'd put him up there in the eagle's nest." She whispered to him softly, "I only have one good friend and that's ... Joe." Her hand lingered over his scars and his hand remained over hers. Her face was close to his, almost brushing it. He turned to say something, but their lips touched and he kissed her tenderly. The kiss lingered longer than either of them expected. He didn't want the kiss to end, but he broke away. Marilyn promised Frank Sinatra that she'd be at the grand opening of his Cal Neva Lodge. Red wants to go with her for protection, but problems with a Neo Nazi group has surfaced so instead he sends Joey Bones to protect her. "Make sure nothing happens to her Joey. Because if something does, I'm holding you responsible." A Nazi youth group desecrates a Jewish Temple in Queens and the Rabbi is threatened. Red must deal with the problem. Red made sure that Frankie the Horse's wife received a check every week he was in prison. But now he's out and he wants more money. What does he have that can hurt Red?. It was hard for Pissclams to do, but he completed the job. Now Red asks him to follow him into the cellar, but Pissclams is worried about who might be down there waiting for him. The re-grand opening of the Starlight Club is an extravaganza that regulars would never miss. A surprise guest entertainer always provides the entertainment. This night Red's guests are in for a very special treat.

Now, all in one complete book, Joe Corso's ENGINE 24: FIRE STORIES BOOKS 1, 2, AND 3, including the AWARD-WINNING FIRE STORIES: BOX 598 ENGINE 24: FIRE STORIES BOOKS 1, 2, AND 3 chronicles the career of Joe D'Albert, aka author Joe Corso, as a New York City firefighter. In this exciting compilation of fire stories, Corso details the triumphs and tragedies of his comrades-in-arms as they bravely battle some of the most dangerous fires in the history of the city. He tells of real life heroes and of lifelong friendships formed, as well as some of the turmoil that existed in New York City during his time with the department. Follow Corso through the 60s and 70s, and to the present day, from race riots to 9/11, when actual flames of unrest were doused by the bravest people in recent American history.

CAUTION: The names have not been changed to protect the guilty Red Fortunato's captains are back, but this time Trenchie, Tarzan and Moose are up against the government. They will defend their boss to their deaths. So will the residents of Corona, Queens. Big Red's a hometown icon, even revered by the local police. "Every year, Red allowed the policeman's ball to be held at The Starlight Club and every year, on top of that, Red personally bought two or three tables. It was his way of supporting the Widows and Orphans Fund. He sponsored the P. A. L. Little League and supplied the uniforms for the team." It was all planned - the vision of Joseph P. Kennedy - John as President, with Bobby and his headline making, no-nonsense crime crackdowns, following close behind. Rounding it out would be Teddy. All in the family. Yes, the makings of Camelot. "Help me get my son Jack elected President and I'll make sure he lays off all of you," the Kennedy patriarch promises the mob. Following in JFK's shadow is hard for brother Bobby. His personality is different. When he hits, he hits hard - work that requires a team of killers. This is a job for Captain James Lonegan and his "Federal Agents" - a group tasked with acting as enforcers - but with no records of employment, no ID's, no traceable paper trails - men who don't exist. Jimmy Hoffa isn't the only one. There are five other names on Bobby's list - all members of the crime commission - Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese, Sam Giancana, Joe Accardo and . . . Red Fortunato. But "the boys" don't mess around. There's nothing the mob hates worse than a rat. You snitch, you lose brain matter. Secret meetings take place at the renowned Waldorf Astoria and Diplomat Hotels, in "safe rooms," and with the world's most famous teamster leader. It's there where Jimmy Hoffa issues a severe warning to Red that puts him on the run. "Red's body arched in response," but will he make it? All he wants to do is make it to Hollywood and start over. Trenchie vows revenge. "Bastard Bobby Kennedy. I'll take out the President too, if I have to, just to show 'em it can be done," while Sam Giancana is less than pleased with the Attorney General himself. "I regret the day Sinatra brought Joe Kennedy here to meet with me," he snarls. The 'Kennedy' hates the Mob and the Mob hates the whole damn Kennedy clan. "Shortly after noon today on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas." Meanwhile . . . it's just business as usual at . . . The Starlight Club.

Red Fortunato's Starlight Club in Queens is back, still teeming with mobsters and their "business" each night. Trenchie, Tarzan and Moose have returned. The Genovese family and others hang out amidst the grandeur of Red's renovated baby - the Grand Ballroom. Columbia Pictures studio head, Larry Bernstein, is being blackmailed. "He knew that once any money had been exchanged, that this would not prevent any future demands. These people were nuts and nuts meant dangerous. There was no one in Hollywood he could trust. This was a gossip columnist's dream scoop" that could ruin the studio. Big Red eagerly offers assistance, on his terms, with a caveat - a piece of Hollywood, and Swifty, the son he never had, is his ticket in the boxing ring and in glamour city. "Red was what some in the neighborhood called a 'benevolent dictator.' His neighbors loved him and his enemies knew he was the boss of a crime family that numbered a thousand men or more. It was just a given that no crime would take place in Red's territory. The outcome was a reprisal called 'the wrath of the Red Head'." Too bad no one told the power hungry Detroit capo. He violated the "rules." The phone was reminiscent of the red phone that led right to the White House. The council's decision would stand. "The chief tapped the fingers of both hands twice. That was the signal" to Red that it was okay to proceed with justice - mob style. "The car moved slowly ahead until it reached a huge yellow machine. It was the car crusher. Reilly and his men instantly knew their fate. There were whimpers from inside the car, grown men pleading, pleading for their lives, begging for mercy."

Every firefighter has a treasure trove of interesting stories to tell and the stories more often than not are instructional as well as exciting. When I was a firefighter, I kept notes of the fires I responded to. Now that I am retired, I have reflected on my career as a firefighter and have written a second book about the men alongside whom I worked, facing dangerous situations daily. This book is a compilation of eight short FIRE stories written between 1963 and 1972, from notes I wrote after returning from fires. The first story explores the emotions felt when reporting for duty for the first time. The same emotions felt by all firefighters throughout the world on their first day on the job. An inexplicable bond forms between men and women who face danger on a daily basis and who have been tested - and have passed the test. From the combat soldier, to the policeman and the firefighter - a bond of love and trust has formed that will last a lifetime.