Page 58 of Demon
He hadn’t thought it possible but her back grew stiffer as she sat up, ready to protest something, but she stayed quiet.
“We’re not looking to keep him.We’re looking to flip him.”Gavin looked up from where he’d been staring at his coffee mug as if the answer to all the worlds problems was hidden at the bottom, and met his sister’s gaze.“Once we’re done, I’ll make sure he’s turned over to you so you can take him and get your cut of his bond.”
She relaxed slightly, it seemed some of the tension was draining out of her, but Demon couldn’t be sure what she was thinking or why she was less tense.Gavin dropped his head again.Demon wasn’t sure he was even seeing the mug he seemed to be watching so closely, or if he was seeing something else entirely, something from today, from longer ago?Who knew.
“He only had a few names, and no proof on any of them but one.That was an important one, he was able to give us the name of the person who got him into the deal with the Devils.”
“The lead up tells me I’m not going to like this.”
Ronnie reached down and picked up one of Demon’s hands, he watched as she wove her fingers among his and set both hands in her lap.The gesture warmed something in him.Maybe she was getting as attached to him as he’d quickly become to her.
“Just spit it out.”
Gavin looked up, the pain in his eyes was clear even to Demon as he met Ronnie’s gaze.He was silent for several seconds.
“It was Dad, Rica.”
All the air left her body.Demon couldn’t help but notice the way her shoulders slumped, and she sagged against him.He didn’t move.All he could do was be here for her as she faced this.
“What does this mean?”she asked, her voice soft, as if she didn’t have the strength to speak any louder.
Gavin sighed.“It means you have some decisions to make.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you really want the bail bonds business or is it something you’ve done to get by and maybe in hopes of getting on Dad’s good side?”
Ronnie scowled.“Why?What does it matter if I ‘really’ want it or not?”She used one hand to make air quotes around the word really.
Gavin sat up, set his mug on the table between them, then pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I had to recuse myself as soon as the tie to Dad was uncovered, so I’m not getting information as quickly as I would like.I’ll get it, it will just take longer.In the mean time, with my experience with the agency, as well as what I know about Dad, here’s what I predict will happen.”He took a deep breath.“I think they’re going to find evidence tying the business to Dad’s illegal activities, which will make the whole kit and caboodle subject to seizure.”
Her breath caught in her throat.Demon wouldn’t have caught it if she wasn’t in his lap, but he did.He used one hand to rub small, hopefully soothing, circles on her back while she still held his other in her lap.
“What does that mean?”
“That means that the government can take it all.”
“Where does that leave me?”She sounded lost.
Demon didn’t know if it was because she was devastated at the thought of losing the business or what could possibly happen to their father.
“This is why I asked if you really want to be in the bail bonds business.Do you want the business or was it just easy?Is there anything you think you’d rather be doing?Maybe go back to school, get into a totally different field.Do something where you’re not chasing idiots who can’t get their lives together and be doing something you enjoy for a change.”
“How?Even if I want to go back to school, and I’m not saying I do, but if I did, how would I live?I need the money from taking Jennings in to make my rent next month.”
“We’ll figure it out.I’m not saying it would be easy, but the opportunity is there.”
“And if I want the business?What then?”
Gavin took another deep breath.“Then I try to call in some favors.”He shook his head slowly.“I can’t guarantee it will work, that I’ll have enough pull to be able to save it, but if you really want the business, if you want to run it, I’ll do what I can.”
Ronnie sat so still that if he hadn’t felt her breathing, he would have wondered if she was even awake.She was quiet for long enough that he was considering asking if she was okay when she finally spoke.
“Can I have some time to decide?”
Gavin nodded.“Yeah.”He nodded again.“We have some time.They were on the way over to pick Dad up when I left to come back this morning.Things don’t move quickly, but I wouldn’t take too long to decide, a few days, maybe a week at the outside.I’ll need time to talk to people if you determine you want it.And like I already said, I may not even be able to pull it off.”
