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Ricardo uncrosses his legs and rubs his hands together before leaning forward to get his wallet. He pulls a small business card out and holds it out to Tommy. “All right. I’d like for you to transfer $500,000 to this account.”
I look over at the card. A routing and account number is scribbled on the back. “Transfer it?” Ricardo nods. “Why?” I ask.
Ricardo’s leg starts bouncing again. “I really don’t want to answer that.” Before I can insist that he answer, Ricardo’s phone rings. “I’m here. They have it… Okay.”
With a labored motion, Ricardo gets to his feet. It’s then I realize he’s limping. A lot. “Where are you going?” Tommy asks, his breath coming in bursts.
Ricardo doesn’t answer, only opens the hotel room door.
Papa, and the three stooges are all standing in the doorway.
Chapter forty-two
Tommy
My nostrils flare as I take in the sight of the men in our doorway. “What the hell are—”
Holding up one hand, Ricardo reaches into the small of his waistband. When the gun is brought forward, I take a step back. I can feel Tilly’s hands grip onto my arms. She’s cowering behind me.
The thought only manages to enrage me more. “Just stop. This is how this will happen. You will transfer the money and talk. I’m just here to make sure nothing goes wrong. Everyone will remain calm and collected, or people will start getting hurt. You understand?”
I nod, the movement jerky. Behind me, I feel Tilly shaking.
“Now sit,” Ricardo says.
I turn around and keep my face as stoic as possible. “We’re just talking, okay? Nothing’s gonna happen, Til. I swear it.” She nods, though tears are falling down her cheeks.
Papa closes the door and stands with the others in front of the beds. “Matilda, I am going to speak, and you will not interrupt me. Do you understand?”
She silently agrees.
“Your arrangement with Tia has been rescinded. You will pay Mr. Lopez his $500,000, and then Tommy is coming with us.”
She’s shaking her head, but I put a hand on her knee and squeeze as hard as I can. “That’s fine, yes.” Papa nods and goes to where her phone is resting on the mattress. He holds it out.
“Unlock it.” She lets the phone scan her face, and he takes it back. After clicking a few times, he tosses it back beside her.
“All right then. Let’s go.” He looks expectantly at me.
Though I know what’s going to happen, I start getting up. Tilly grips onto my arm, pulling me back down. As calmly as I can muster, I put my forehead to hers. “Loving you these last few months has been euphoric, Matilda. Please let me go.” She shakes her head, the tears only growing faster as she shakes completely from head to toe. “Yes, Matilda. Tree and Bush need you.” I give her a sad smile.
“No, don’t joke, Tommy! I can’t—” Ricardo huffs and walks over, grabbing onto my arm. He starts yanking me away. I use my other hand to pry Tilly’s fingers off my forearm.
“I love you, Tilly!” I yell it as loud as I can, wincing at the choked sound that bursts from my throat. Tilly gets up and rushes after us, but Papa steps between us.
“Don’t make me do something we’ll both regret, Matilda.”
“Why, Papa? Tia said it was fine!” She’s openly weeping, but her grandfather’s face remains stone.
“Tia is dead. This family is under me now, and I am not letting everything go to waste because you and Miranda had some wild burst of conscience.”
Tilly stops shaking and takes a step back from him. “Papa, what did you do? To your own daughter?”
Papa laughs, actually laughs at her words. The sound makes me sick. “I didn’t kill her. But our friends from the Ukraine got wind of your little stunt. It was either her or you. Tia took the fall. You feel better now? How many people are dying because of you?”
I’ve heard enough. Maybe these men can take me out, but no one speaks to my girlfriend that way. Rage builds in my chest, a guttural, animalistic feeling. “Fuck you!” I scream out.
Keaton stomps over and rears back before punching me in the gut. “That’s for my black eye.” I fall to the ground, and Keaton cocks his foot, kicking me in the same spot. “And that’s for this little outburst.”
