Page 65 of Solemn Vow

“He could. Jimmy’s really pissed at Michael.” She scrunches her lips to the side. “And me.”

“Why you?”

“I was late meeting him the day he got caught. He says if I’d been on time, we would have been gone before we’d been found out.” She yawns. “I honestly don’t know if that’s true or not.”

“He’s a coward. He can’t go after his uncle for revenge, so he picks on you.” Having my hands around his throat would be a good way to handle this, but unless Michael sanctions it, taking out one of his family members would be responded to with more violence. I won’t risk Marlena.

“There’s more,” she says, looking up at me through lowered eyelashes. Her cheeks bloom softly. “You were right.”

“I usually am, but about what specifically?”

“I offered him the cash. Your cash. The full twenty thousand. He’s gonna take it, but he wants five thousand every two weeks until he says otherwise in order to keep the photo from making its way to the Donato family.”

That fucking prick. More than likely, he’s trying to get her back into the game. When she can’t come up with the money, he’ll try to force her on his crew.

Being right isn’t always a relief.

I pull her into my lap, bringing the blanket with her and wrapping her up in my arms as I kick up my feet on the coffee table. Once she’s cocooned on my lap, I kiss her temple.

“Thank you.”

She turns with a questioning look. “For what? Bringing even more drama home?”

“For telling me about what happened. It saves us time when you’re up front about these things, though I will admit, I don’t mind my way of getting information out of you.”

“You mean with that wicked belt?” She wiggles her ass, pushing the buckle of my belt into my stomach.

“Yes, and soon I’ll show you how much you love my belt. But for now, let’s watch a movie. What did you pick?” I look over at the screen where her choice is pulled up. “Fast & Furious?”

She laughs. “I thought it was appropriate.”

“I cannot picture you stealing a car.” I get the remote and back out of the program to the menu.

“Jimmy taught me everything I know.” She looks at the screen. “How about that, I hear it’s really good.” She points at what has to be a romantic comedy. I frown, only because she can’t see me, and put the movie on. If this will help her relax, I’ll watch it.

“Do you think he has other photos of your time with him? Other than that one job?” If he has others, it won’t matter if we get that photo from him.

“He hasn’t said. That one was tied to the Donato family; I think that’s why he took it. The others were just random luxury cars as far as I know.”

“If he knew to take the photo, he had a feeling he’d need it at some point.”

“He’s an asshole, Viktor; it’s not surprising he’d want to hold something over me, or anyone for that matter.”

“Or he wanted to use it to hold over Michael.”

“Michael didn’t hide the fact he was behind it, why would there be a reason to hold it over him? Donato already knew.”

“Maybe there’s something else here besides wanting to squeeze you for money.” I press the play button on the remote.

She wiggles in my lap, turning to face me. She takes the remote from me and turns the television off.

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”

I nod. “I don’t either. I thought you’d like to watch a movie.”

She scrunches up her nose.

“No?” I laugh. “Then what do you want to do?”

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