Page 46 of Ready to Cash Out

As nice as it was to entertain the idea of taking a shower later, Trev didn’t want to be here that long.

He checked the windows again, eyeing the tall shrubs just outside. He could smash the glass, crawl out on the ledge, and then try to jump into the shrubs and hope he didn’t break any bones.

Shit.

He wasn’t sure if he was that desperate yet.

Trev ran back to the bathroom. It was bigger than his apartment, with a stone-tiled walk-in shower and a gloriously huge jacuzzi tub. There was a window above the tub, and Trev climbed into the tub so he could peek out.

There was a large tree with branches that were only a few feet away from the window. Although it was also locked, Trev liked his chances of survival from jumping out of this one much better than the others.

Shouting drew Trev’s attention back to the open bedroom door. He hurried over, peering out and straining to hear what the commotion was all about.

Fortunately, one of the people yelling was Howell, and Trev could have heard him from the other side of the planet.

“Are you all fuckin’ mentally irregular? Hello!” Howell snarled furiously. “Won’t it just this mornin’ yous was tellin’ me how safe and secure your shit was? Watertight? Now what, bitches?”

Someone barked back.

Maybe Emil.

“I know this little bitch didn’t just try to step up to me!” Howell raged. “Do yous have any idea how many millions of fuckin’ dollars we just handed over to the fuckin’ pigs? Better be countin’ your teeth ’cause yous ’bout to be pickin’ ’em up off the floor! Fuck you!”

The shouting continued but moved farther away until Trev couldn’t even make out what Howell was saying. He wasn’t exactly sure what had happened, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know the cops were involved and something had gone very wrong for the Luchesi family.

That at least made Trev smile, though it did little to help him with his current predicament.

His sudden relocation may have been because of the cops and not because Boss Cold had arrived at a decision.

Shit.

“Who are you?” a rumbling voice asked.

Trev jumped, whirling around to find an old man walking up from the opposite end of the hallway.

The man was dressed in a thick sweater, sweatpants, and worn slippers. He looked to be in his eighties, and his casual outfit seemed oddly out of place with the fancy house. His dark olive skin was freckled, his hair stark white and neatly trimmed, and his smile was very friendly.

“Trevanion Usher,” Trev said slowly.

“It’s nice to meet you, young man!” The man reached for Trev’s hand and shook it. “I’m Ugo Luchesi. Are you here for the party?”

“Party?” Trev studied the man’s face more carefully and saw a familiar mania that reminded him of Juicy. He patted the man’s hand, replying kindly, “No, sir. I’m a friend of Jupiter’s. I’m here on, uh, business.”

“Ah! Jupiter!” The man’s face lit up. “That kid is gonna be the don one day, you know. Lead the whole family?—”

“Zio!” Jupiter snapped. “Come on now. Why are you out of bed?”

Ugo hissed like a cat.

Trev turned to see Jupiter stalking toward him with Sal and the man who had driven them here in tow.

A woman in scrubs with a big ponytail came tearing around the corner at the end of the hall, clearly out of breath and anxious.

Trev thought she looked familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen her before.

She sighed in visible relief. “Mr. Luchesi! There you are!”

“Nurse,” Sal said firmly. “Take him back to his room right now.”

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