Page 62 of To Hell

“I believe you owe me an apology for the insult.” Jack leans forward. “And you just blew up whatever business relationship we could have maintained.”

Valerie meets my eyes and gives me a sorry expression.

We were so close. So close.

My stomach twists and no matter how many times I blink, tears escape down my cheeks.

“Thank you for your time, Jack,” Valerie slips back into her poise and stands, instantly turning to leave.

She must have seen a lot of disappointment in her time to get used this. I trail after her, not wanting to make this any worse than I know it already is for her. I try my best to collect myself and cloak my disappointment with a soft smile, hurriedly wiping off my tears.

As we strut in silence toward the elevator, my legs jelly soft and my stomach spinning with anxiety, Ettore halts, grabbing me by the wrist to impede my movement.

“Wait for me in the car,” he wheezes. “I need to fix something.” He doesn't wait for my response; he just spins and strides back to Jack’s office.

Why don’t I like the sound of that?

But again, in all fairness, I like it.

Chapter Thirty-Two

VIRGILIO

Icall bullshit.

And he is about to learn a lesson if he gets on my nerves any more than he already fucking did.

I wait for Zoe and Valerie to get into the elevator, not looking in their direction, and once I’m sure they are being carted down, I push Jack’s office door open and step in.

Jack is on a call, swinging back and forth on his executive chair, like he owns the world. His eyes fall on me, and he ends the call abruptly, slamming the receiver back on the intercom.

“Mr. Russo, is there something else you need?” He clears his disturbing voice and stands as if trying to match my height will make him feel less weak.

I close the door behind me, twisting the click to lock us both in.

“We both know you’re lying about the sales figures,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “You’re going to pay Valerie what she’s owed, and you’re going to do it now.”

He chuckles, then stutters, “I don't know what you're talking about.” He flutters his lids, taking a step back in his seat because if there is anything I know about myself, it's that when I step into a place, it’s easy to know that danger looms. He is getting the memo.

I stop in front of his desk, “You are getting something wrong, Jack,” I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans, “I'm not asking. I'm telling you.”

“But…”

“Don’t be naïve, Jack,” I clip, and he mutes. “If you don't comply,” I shrug carelessly. “Well, you don’t want to find out.”

He would be a fool to wait for me to say more than I have already said.

“Fine,” he mutters, reaching for the intercom. “I’ll have the funds transferred immediately.”

I don’t move an inch, and he immediately barks orders into the receiver for whoever is on the other end to send Valerie’s money to her.

He slams the receiver and gulps, but I stay put. After some seconds, the intercom buzzes, and all he says into it is a thank you. He then picks up his phone on his desk, swipes the screen, and hands it to me so I can confirm the transaction.

I nod stiffly and leave the clown to his circus.

With satisfaction swelling in my guts, I step out of the building to find Zoe and Valerie waiting by the car.

As soon as they see me, they step into the car, Valerie first and Zoe next, giving me a pointed look like she knows what I was up to.

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