Page 57 of Sold Blood
A man walks beside her, dropping a bag of money. "We counted it again, it's all there."
"Good," she says before shifting her gaze behind me. "You can let go of him now that you have your money."
"Have your man put it in the back seat," Isaiah orders.
"You heard the man, let's get this over with already. This has taken longer than it should have. Joey should have never gotten free to begin with."
The man mutters something under his breath while tossing the bag in the car. As soon as he passes by me, Isaiah pulls the rope loose enough for me to break my hands free. I get shoved forward and Veronica snaps her fingers at the man on the other side of her. "Take him to the basement."
The man nods, tugging on my arm roughly and pulling me with him.
"Oh, one more thing?"
"What now?" Veronica asks, clenching her teeth together.
"I've changed my mind."
"Let me guess, you want more money."
"Not exactly," Isaiah says, tugging off his mask. "I’d much rather have you dead." He pulls out a gun, shooting her in the arm. "That's only a flesh wound, try to move and I'll aim for your heart next time."
Her men reach for their guns and I break my hands apart, slipping my foot under the man's leg, tripping him to the ground.Isaiah shoots the other guy. I lift up my leg, pull my gun from my garter and shoot the man trying to crawl toward the front of the house.
"You're making a huge mistake," Veronica says. "What makes you think people won't come for you after this?"
"I dare them to try," Isaiah says. "Drop to the ground and put your hands on your head." He gestures toward me. "Tie her hands together, baby."
"It would be my pleasure," I say, grabbing the rope from the ground and tugging it tight around her wrists, making sure it rubs raw against her skin.
A few shots come from the house and two more men come charging through the door. Carlos steps out of the vehicle and starts shooting right beside Isaiah.
"Are there any more surprises we should be expecting?" Isaiah points the gun back at Veronica.
"No, you've killed all my men. You might as well kill me too."
"Oh, we plan on it," Isaiah says with a devious smile.
"What are you waiting for? Pull the fucking trigger already. You should do it before my husband comes back home."
Isaiah cocks his head to the side, "It will be hard for him to come home when he's dead and don't think your death will come that easy."
I laugh. "It's funny how things work out, isn't it? You couldn't move on and let me live my life. Now yours is in shambles."
Her eyes widen in fear and her hands tremble, touching her mouth. "Dante…"
"He's dead but don't worry you'll be together really soon." Carlos smiles when a black truck pulls in behind us. The doors swing open and Carlos' brother Angel steps out of the driver's side. "Hola, did someone call for a delivery?" He steps behind the truck bed and Santiago joins him, opening the lid of a wooden box.
"What did I say about keeping your hands above your head?" Isaiah shouts, stepping closer to Veronica.
"What are you going to do to me? What's that box for?"
"You'll find out soon enough," I say maliciously. "You always said I never paid attention and was never listening to you. I remember the day you asked me what my biggest fear was, and you told me yours. You never did like being in small spaces, did you, love?"
"You wouldn't. Please, Joey. It doesn't have to be this way."
"Oh, but it does. You made it this way," I spit.
"We found where her husband grows his crops for his fake business. We will bury her there. The hole was dug this morning and has been waiting," Isaiah adds.
