“Oh, Vinny,” Nick says as he shakes his head. “How is your dad gonna take this?”
I slam the door shut. “He’s on a phone call.”
“If I recall, half a million was deposited in your account to get the job done. Did you think that was for you to start acting like a sugar daddy?” Nick asks sharply. I shove him roughly into the wall but he immediately kicks me in the ribs, sending me to my knees.
“If you’re gonna go against what your folks want, don’t be so stupid,” Nick hisses. I gain my breath back and jump to my feet.
“I’m still following orders,” I grunt.
“So, you’re ready to put a bullet in her head when your dad gives the call?” Nick asks, his blue eyes wild.
“Killing her isn’t necessary,” I say.
I don’t know who Nick has become but I have no problem emptying my gun into him if I need to.
“What do you want from my dad?” I snap.
“What makes you think he has something I want?” Nick interjects.
I roll my eyes, pushing him off me. “You hated my family and what we did. If it weren’t for me being your best friend, you probably would’ve smoked me, too.”
Nick flares his nostrils. “Never too late for that.”
“What the hell do you want, Nick?” I ask again. Nick's eyes float to the basement door, then back to me.
“I have my reasons just like you got yours,” he answers. “If you wanna do your own thing, you need to be smarter.”
I have a million questions. As strange as having Nick here is, I get the feeling he’s not interested in harming Rosa.
“Fine. Note taken,” I reply.
“Get rid of all this… stuff of hers, and patch up the ceiling. The last thing your dad wants to see is that rat’s daughter being pampered,” Nick tells me.
“So… he’s late on payments?” I ask. I didn’t bother asking more questions when my dad first gave me the assignment.
Nick sighs. “They go way back. Far enough that your dad isn’t satisfied with a little ransom. He needs death to be the final message.”
I take a deep breath. “I can’t… do that.”
“Not much choice,” Nick says.
“But you just said—”
Nick shakes his head. “Look, you and I both know you’re not equipped to be like this. You never wanted it. So, get it. Find a way out and stay there.”
He pauses, his eyes on the basement door again. “If you’re gonna bring someone, be smart about it.”
“Alright, I got it. If that’s all—” I mutter with my eyes set on the front door.
Nick ignores me and opens the basement doors, taking off down the stairs. I sprint after him.
“Nick, what the hell are you doing?” I hiss. Rosa is around the corner, tied to a pipe. She gasps and tears immediately fill her eyes. I race over and stand protectively in front of her.
“Get the hell out of here, Nick,” I roar.
But Nick stares at Rosa like he’s starstruck. His eyes gloss over and I start to feel an itch creep down my spine. Finally, he comes back to himself and says, “You can’t hurt her.”
“No, and I’m not gonna let anyone,” I say. Nick takes off back up the stairs and I reluctantly follow, leaving a teary-eyed Rosa behind.