Page 124 of Heartless Game

Liza, for her part, caught my eye and shook her head. She didn’t have to say what she was thinking.

Don’t. Don’t aggravate him further. Don’t escalate this.

“Sit, Isaac,” my father said, patting the empty chair next to him.

Fuck that. Not when my girl wasn’t safe.

I moved toward Tovah.

Another one of my father’s men lifted a gun and shoved it against her temple.

She froze.

So did I.

“Sit,” My father repeated.

I sat.

“And I’m going to ask for you to hand over the gun. We don’t bring weapons to Shabbat dinner—it’s supposed to be a time of rest, of peace.”

Sasha rolled his eyes. “If that’s the case, why do your peaceful henchmen all have Rugers in hand?”

“Sasha,” Liza hissed, her eyes still on me. “Drop it.”

Sasha shrugged.

“Dad’s never going to give you control of the ‘family business,’ sister dearest,” he said. “I fear bossing us around is going to get you nowhere.”

“I’m the oldest,” Liza began.

My father glared at my siblings, taking his attention off me for a moment. I contemplated shooting the man holding the gun to Tovah’s head, but I couldn’t guarantee her safety.

“Children. Not at dinner,” he admonished, before his eyes flitted back to me. “Isaac, whatever you’re thinking, I promise it won’t end well for her. Gun. Please.”

I passed him the gun, forcing myself to release my grip on it.

Placing it next to him, so it faced out, my father picked back up his knife and carefully sliced off a bit of brisket as he spoke. The smell of brisket usually made me salivate. Now, with Tovah in so much danger, the cooked, dead flesh made my stomach roil.

“You see, Isaac, there are things youdon’tknow about your girlfriend here. I’m disappointed in you, by the way. Eliana is such a good match for you. Not like this violent criminal,” he said with disdain.

“Funny you of all people should call me that,” Tovah said, sounding calmer than she should’ve with a gun pressing to her temple.

The way she slurred her words with pain made the monster in me rage. I wanted to let him out, but I couldn’t. I had to be smart. Had to outthink my father.

My father, who scoffed at Tovah. “You know, Isaac, she tried to slit my throat? I was almost impressed. But she’s not the girl for you. You need someone with a…cooler head,” he finished, like he’d read my thoughts. He always had an uncanny ability to do that.

“What you don’t know,” he continued, “Is that Tovah here aided her mother in killing my second-in-command. You remember your uncle Mordy, don’t you? He was my very dearest friend, and he died the same night as your mother. They found him keeled over at his kitchen table, over a half-eaten piece of cake.” My father shook his head. “Such a loss. May his memory be a blessing.”

I glanced at Tovah, and she didn’t look away.

“Is it true?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Good,” I said. “I’m glad you both protected yourselves.”

She blinked, like she was surprised and relieved I didn’t hold murder against her. All I cared about was that she’d lived.

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