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He hums, then I watch as he walks away from me toward the window that overlooks the city. With his back to me, his focus ahead and his hands behind his back, I wait for him to tell me just what he means, even though I think I already know.
My brother’s speech made it clear that he is angry our parents squandered their money, but not at them. He’s angry with me, mainly because it’s my husband they’re indebted to.
My husband and his family, whom they signed all their assets over to. And my brother seems to be fine with me being sold to pay off that debt, just not okay with my husband’s family taking what was owed to them.
None of this shit has to do with me, at least not any major decision. I was a bargaining chip and nothing else. The fact that Bryson tried to act somewhat like the caring big brother and now is singing a different tune because his cut is going to be much smaller than he thought it was just shows me that he is more like my parents than I ever imagined.
“Now they’ll be questioned.”
“Do they die, too?” I ask.
He slowly turns around and leans his back against the perfectly clear glass. I can’t help but wonder if it’s going to be smudged from his clothes and if that will piss Coleman off or not. I have no idea if he’s a neat freak, but judging by how tidy and minimal this condo is, I’m pretty sure I can assume he is.
“Depends.”
“On?”
“What they know, but also if they’re going to betray the family.”
I open my mouth, not to defend my family, because if my parents were so willing to do what they did, I have no doubt Bryson would do the same, at least. Shelby would marry for money if she thought she would be free to spend as much as she possibly could dream to spend.
My youngest brother is not old enough to really know what he wants yet, but he’s got more of my temperament, so I can’t imagine he knows much, if anything, about this.
“So they’re going to die.”
My words are a statement, not a question. Junior doesn’t answer me, though. “I’m in my own hot water, babe. I can’t really say one way or the other. Papers have been signed, and they’ve been filed. The casino is the family’s. They won’t be left with nothing, but they won’t have limitless funds either.”
His words sink in, and I know this is the best thing. My parents won’t be coming back, and they can’t manage the casino anymore. That much is painfully obvious. My phone rings before I can think of anything to say, let alone actually speak it.
It’s an unknown number. Usually, I would not answer it, but with Allison being gone, I wonder if this could be a connection. But wouldn’t that be stupid? How would whoever this mystery person is get ahold of my cell phone number?
However, I go with my gut, and I answer the phone with Junior’s gaze focused on me and nowhere else as I do.
“Hello?” My voice is soft, almost a whisper.
A humming sound plays in my ear, low, almost a song, but it is a hum, and I hold my breath as I wait for the person to speak.
“If you think, because you’re under guard, that you’re safe, you’re not.”
My eyes widen and fly to Junior’s. I blink a few times in hopes he’ll understand my body language. Thankfully, he’s already on the move toward me. I start to pull the phone away to put it on speaker, but he shakes his head.
“No,” Junior mouths.
“What are you trying to tell me?” I ask the person on the other end of the line.
He hums again. I don’t know the tune, although it will haunt me for the rest of my life. Holding my breath, I wait for him to answer. I don’t know what I expect, a threat maybe. A promise. A dare. I’m not sure, so I wait and hope that whatever it is, it doesn’t come true.
“I’m nottryingto tell you anything, whore. You are not protected just because there is a man there. You will be mine. You will join Allison, and so will Parker. All of you together, it will be a beautiful thing.”
“What will?” I rasp.
He lets out a laugh, a cackle that slides down my spine. But I don’t respond to his laughter, mainly because I can’t. I’m frozen. I still don’t know who this could be, but that doesn’t stop the chill of absolute fear from entering my body.
“When I have the family by the balls and give them exactly what they deserve. The three brothers, the men who will take over. And when they’re devastated, the boss will be as well. It will be a domino effect that will just warm my heart.”
The call ends with a few beeps in my ear, almost as if it’s a failed call. I lift my head, my eyes finding Junior’s, and instead of telling him what was said, I can only manage to get out one sentence, well, really two words.
“Get Coleman.”
