“Before we get into what you’re going to give me, I have a question for you. Why did Cori mention paying rent?” He dabs his forehead with a napkin and tosses the damp rag on the table. He swallows. “Our deal from a few years ago was that she could live in the apartment rent-free in exchange for you expediting some licenses for one of my businesses.”
“What are you talking about?” He dabs his forehead again.
“Don’t fuck with me, Leander. I’m not going to ask again, so I suggest you answer me now before you piss me off more than you already have.”
“It was only five hundred dollars. That’s all. It’s a huge discount and—”
“What the hell can five hundred dollars do for you? You’re in the hole for way more than that. That won’t put a dent in your debt.” He looks around the room like a cornered animal. “Don’t even think of lying to me. I hate liars as much as Preacher hates thieves.”
“I gave that money to Devin. To help him out. Cori has a good job with the lawyer, and she brings in money selling those dresses. Devin—” I hold up a hand, unable to stand the sound of his voice for another moment. It’s exactly what I thought, and for a moment, I feel guilty for using a person Cori hates to get what I want. But it’s not about Devin per se. Cori seems to be in a family of vipers who have no issue putting their son above her. It’s my duty to come and save her from herself and from them.
“You know how wrong that is, right? I hope you never wonder why she resents him.”
“Just tell me what you want. How I deal with my children is my business.”
“Not for long, but I’ll get right to the point. I want your daughter, Lee.”
His head rolls back. “What do you mean you want her? I thought you two were getting to know each other.”
“She’s stubborn, and I’m impatient. I need some stability in my life, and in my line of work, you’re respected more if you have a family. I’ll get way more opportunities with a beautiful woman on my arm.” I leave out the part about being obsessed with his daughter. The idea of her and another man will make me set this entire fucking town on fire. “I want a wife, and I’ve chosen her. You will make it happen, or I’m going to stick the screws in your son. He’ll be in prison, and you and your wife will have to raise his daughter. I guarantee you, Cori won’t.” Imove across the table and get closer to his face. “I’ll tell her what you’ve been doing with her rent money. She already knows I own the apartment complex. She’ll believe it.”
He looks at me with fear-filled eyes and shakes his head in defeat. He lowers it and puts his head in his hands.
“She will never agree. Cori won’t care. In fact, she’ll be thrilled to see him in jail.”
I have a good idea why, but I’m not here to discuss the family dynamics that he created.
“But you care, don’t you?” I use my soothing voice. It’s the one I use when I play good cop.
“Of course. He’s my son, and he’s—”
“He’s a fuck up, Lee. You raised a fuck up. Tell me something.” His eyes, which look like his daughter’s, search my face. “How do you raise a beautiful, smart, and capable daughter and a complete fuck up of a son?”
“He’s not a fuck up. He needs some mentoring. Maybe you can take him under your wing and—”
He lets the words dangle. I could do that. I could give the boy some tough love, but I don’t think my soon-to-be wife would appreciate that. She’s already going to be pissed at me, and the last thing I want is to add to that, so I ignore Leander’s request. At least for now. I’m not a monster, and the man has a baby. The next person he double-crosses won’t be so accommodating.
I open the drawer and drop a folder in front of him. “In that folder is the name of a surgeon in Chicago. He’s agreed to review Mrs. Lamb’s medical records. Now, Dr. Amos is an orthopedic trauma surgeon, and if your wife qualifies for surgery, he can help her walk again.”
He shakes his head. “Our insurance won’t cover another surgery. She’s—”
“She had a botched surgery. I know all of that. I also know about the insurance issue. Don’t worry about that. I will payfor it all.” His head snaps up, and I see the wheels turning in his mind. The man never lets an opportunity slip, and I appreciate that about him. “I’ll fly her to Chicago and provide a place for her to stay. I’ll pay for all her treatment, including physical therapy. Any future treatment will be covered by me indefinitely. I’ll even pay off the mortgages on your house and clear your credit card debt.”
He licks his bottom lip at my offer. It’s more than generous, and he knows it. It’s an offer no man in his dire financial position would pass up. It’s everything to him, but a drop in the bucket for me. It’s less than nothing.
“And Devin? What will you do with him?”
I want to take him in a back alley and beat the fuck out of him, but I won’t. I do find it telling that he hasn’t asked me what I plan on doing with his daughter.
“Preacher will scare him straight, and I’ll find some grunt work for him to do.” He exhales in relief. “Don’t be too happy. It’s going to be back-breaking work. If he quits, he’s going to pay back every dime plus interest in thirty days.”
“Cori will never go for it,” he sighs. “You already know she resents him.”
“I’m not a father, Lee, but in my experience, when siblings resent each other, it’s usually due to bad parenting.” He dabs his forehead and swallows.
“You’re not a parent, so you don’t know. I do. Cori won’t do it.”
“Well, it’s your job to make sure she does.”
