Instead of feeling smug, I feel terrified.
“You’ve had a week already. Time’s up.”
“N-no,” Callum protests. “I’m so close. Just… just two more days I promise.”
His gaze cuts to a small book on the side, my father’s scrawl visible on the open page. I walk over to it and peer at the writing. It’s my father’s check book.
The name Callum McAllister is written in the recipient box, the number 50,000.00 beside it. That’s my father’s entire life savings.
I wave the book in Callum’s direction and my voice drops so drastically, it feels like it’s been languishing in the base of my lungs.
“Thisis why you’re here?” I seethe. “To con money out of my father?”
Callum’s eyes widen before flicking to the check book then back to me.
“I’m not conning anyone out of anything,” he says, with anote of desperation. “Your father and I talked about it. He’s loaning me the money.”
I shake my head slowly. “I don’t believe you.”
Dad loves his brother but he wouldn’t give upallhis money for him. He’s learned the hard way he never gets it back.
Callum lifts a shoulder, then glances sheepishly at the two men.
My eyebrows shoot up, undeterred.
“Let’s ask him, shall we?” I hiss through gritted teeth.
Then Callum shoots me a twisted grin. “You can ask him all you want, but he won’t remember.”
It feels like a sledgehammer just hit me in the chest.
“You… you?—”
I can’t even think of a name base enough to describe this monster of a human. So, instead, I tear the check from the book and rip it into small pieces in front of his face. Then I look back at the two men expectantly. I don’t care what they do to my uncle as long as they don’t hurt my father. They can drag him out of here and torture him for all I care.
The smaller one pans his gaze to me slowly, sensing that I’d be more than happy to give my uncle over to them.
So, why are they dragging this out?
Agostini looks up, lazily. “Your uncle here gambled away a hundred thousand dollars of our money.”
I swallow, unable to look at Callum again. My contempt for him is too great.
“That’s a lot of money,” I say quietly.
He nods. “Yes it is. And because of his actions, your family owes us.”
I choke on a breath and take a moment or two to recover.
“Hisfamily? I haven’t seen this man in nearly ten years!” I lower my voice so my father can’t hear. “I don’t even want him in the apartment. I don’t want him anywhere near us.”
The man shrugs. “Boss’s orders.”
“What do you mean?” My voice climbs in pitch. “What orders?”
“It’s obvious this asshat can’t get his hands on the money,” Agostini explains calmly. “And I’m sure you wouldn’t want him dead…”
He tips his head to one side. As much as I hate my uncle, I don’t want him dead. I don’t want anyone dead. The whole reason I became a nurse was to help prevent people from dying.
