Page 26 of Risking it All

I stayed silent because I had nothing nice or good to say.

“He’s trying, Relic. He’s making amends. He’s even making some choices that are helping him make small payments toward his debt.”

My eyes flashed to Dad. “You selling again?”

“It’s not your business if he is,” Eric answered for him in a cold voice.

“It is if I got rival gangs shooting up my house,” I challenged Eric. Marsh and Dad moved as if to hide in the shadows.

“If you want to mitigate any danger to your household, then you’ll agree to work for me. I could then offer more protection for you and your family.”

Fuck that.

“Your dad’s first payment to me is due next week, and he’s going to be short.”

I shoved my hands into my jeans pockets to keep from punching him in the jaw. “Are we done yet?”

“We’re never done. He owes me five hundred dollars on the fifteenth and thirtieth of every month until his debt is paid, which is looking like the next two to three years. He’s short three hundred dollars.”

“Do I look like someone who has an extra anything lying around?”

Eric glanced at the laptops. “I’ll take those and knock two hundred off the debit.”

“That’s highway robbery and you know it.” Depending upon their condition, I’d make somewhere between fifty and a hundred dollars apiece. But it could take me a couple weeks to offload them.

“Fine, don’t give me them. When he doesn’t pay, I’ll have him roughed up. Maybe Marshall here can give your dad tips on how to care for a broken arm. The next time he misses a payment, because I consider him family, I’ll have him roughed up again, but I can’t promise he’ll be walking. Don’t make me have to kill him the third time. I will blame you for that, and neither of us wants that.”

A muscle near my eye twitched. I’d never hated anyone as much as I hated Eric.

Eric stood, walked over to the computers, handed them to Marsh, then piled the chargers on top as Eric stared me in the eye. Marsh grimaced as the weight had to be killing his arm, but he didn’t say a word. “Make sure to grab the bag, Marshall. I’m sure Relic would like me to have whatever goodies are in there, too. Take them to my car, and then you’re coming with me. I have work for you tonight.”

Marsh didn’t meet my eyes as he walked out, and the chain strangling my best friend reached out to choke my neck. Eric leaned into me to make sure he had my attention, which he was aware he had from the moment I first walked in. “Life all the way around would be easier if you’d agree to work for me.”

“Why do you want me so damn bad? You know I hate you.” I possibly made the wrong judgement call with honesty, but I was played out.

Eric’s lips twitched. “What can I say? I like the game.”

Meaning, he liked screwing with me.

“All sons hate their dad at one point, but they eventually grow out of it. We both know the real reason you’re so fast on your feet is because it’s me who raised you when your dad couldn’t.”

My eyes flashed to Dad, and he continued to sit on the couch, eyes locked to the floor.

Had I been close to Eric? Yeah, back when I was ten and thought the gifts and attention Eric showered me with meant love. After seeing Eric nearly beat someone to death when I was younger, I learned swiftly that Eric had no idea how to love. The guy was fucking dangerous.

“Once you come around, once you’re loyal to me, I know I’ll have one of the best hustlers on the street making me some massive money.”

“I was arrested,” I reminded him.

“Which we both know was bullshit.”

“Those cuffs on my wrist, that jail cell, and that judge didn’t feel like bullshit to me.”

Eric leaned in farther and whispered near my ear, “We both know you allowed yourself to be caught to get away from me. It was a great move. With your dad coming home, you knew it was going to create heat from me. This only helps prove how smart you are but be careful—I’m smarter. You only have so many moves left, and at some point, I’m going to want the game to end.” He pulled back, patted my shoulder, then walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

The urge was to run away, but I refused to leave Camila in my father’s care. “You think you could have told me you agreed to give Eric five hundred dollars twice a month?”

Dad’s hands shook. “I thought I could handle it, but the good news is we only owe a hundred more.”

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