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John gets into the backseat and his eyes light up like a kid on Christmas. “Ellie? My God, you are the last person I expected in this car.” He’s no longer scared for some reason. He looks at a distracted Donny in excitement, then back to me. “I didn’t know Gio was going to offer me such a fine present for my hard work on the Drico job.”
John advances on me, and I shrink into my seat. “Relax, I’m just fixing your hair, hunnie. You have one out of pla—oops.” His hand falls and grabs a handful of my breast, and I squirm with terrible unease.
The car feels too small. The wiry man smells like gel and aftershave, and his breath stinks of old coffee.
“I always thought you were beautiful. C’mon, hunnie. Give in a litt—”
A rush of air flies into the backseat in the form of Donny’s arm. He grapples John’s collar and brings him awkwardly toward the front seat.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Anger spills from Donny’s even voice.
“What? What? I thought Don Gio was paying me back for a successf—”
Whack!
Donny punches him hard in the gut and throws him to the far end of the back seat.
I sigh with relief, feeling protected again.
“How dare you put your hands on her.”
John grimaces, trying to catch his breath. “Donny boy,” he wheezes. “Please. I thought she was a prisoner. She’s a Rigiano, for fuck’s sake.”
Donny’s jaw clenches. “I was only going to ask you a few questions about how to get into tonight’s game, but you just made a big mistake.”
“Donny, please. I’m sorry. I-I didn’t know!”
Donny pulls out a knife and locks the doors. Terror races through me for this man, but I also feel vindicated. Like there’s some small semblance of justice in this moment, even if it’s perverted with all sorts of crime.
“Give me your hand. Hey—” Donny cocks a gun and holds it on him when John goes for the door. “Try it and I paint you red.”
My heart is thumping through my ears. This reminds me of being stuck in the house when Marty did his dealings. The panic is the same, but the reason is different.
Someone is actually defending me.
All my exes talked a big game. But Donny… he shows it.
“Give me your fucking hand.” Donny snatches John’s quivering wrist and holds the knife against his ring finger.
“P—please, Donny. I’m sorry. Please, not my finger! I have to deal tonight. I’m the host.”
“You are, are you?” He presses the knife harder, close to drawing blood.
John’s teeth are clattering at this point.
“Now that I have your attention…” Donny eases the pressure. “You’re going to answer the next series of questions truthfully, or you’re leaving this car in pieces, capisce?”
John nods desperately.
“What the fuck were you doing with the Rigianos?”
His mouth opens and closes with no words, and the knife is again pressed hard against his finger.
“Wait! I used to do jobs for all the families when Ronny Shadow was in charge. The only one I was forbidden from working with was Don Gio. Now that Shadow is gone, Gio reached out to me, and I’ve been earning for him where I can in between.” John let’s out a shaky breath when the knife is pulled slightly away.
“So my father knows you’re hired by the others?”
“Yes. Yes. My deal is the same with everyone. I stay out of family politics. Just try to make a buck.”
