Page 14 of Jasha
“What the fuck did you do?” Arlo asked.
“I asked for my fucking money back like I’d done once a month for two years. Each time I add interest. He has never paid me a cent.” As Kaleb made them a drink, the clinking of ice cubes and the sound of liquid pouring filled the room.
“What did you do? Knock off his father and keep his son?” Arlo grabbed his drink.
“Last month, I gave him a choice: pay up or I’ll take Jasha. Then when I came for my money, he didn’t have it.” Kaleb sipped his drink.
“I see. So since Valentin didn’t have the money, you took Jasha.”
“That’s right. I told you I warned him.”
“That’s kidnapping.”
“No. I asked Jasha if he agreed to come with me and he did.”
“Are you out of your mind? You can’t just take someone.” Arlo raised his voice.
“I want to make him my boy, my little, like how Frankie is to you. I know this wasn’t the right way to go about it. I’m fucking pissed at his father. I’m not going to hurt Jasha.”
“Something is missing in this story. Why would Jasha agree to leave his father and go with you?”
“I put a gun to Valentin’s head. Jasha had a choice: leave with me or I pull the trigger.”
“You were going to shoot a man in his own apartment and think you’d get away with it? His son was a witness. I can’t believe you did that. Never do that again.”
“No, of course not. I knew Jasha wouldn’t let his father die. It wasn’t much of a gamble.”
“What if he calls the police?”
“He won’t. He thinks I’ll kill his father if he runs.”
“How is he going to trust you after this?”
“I have to work on it the best way I know how.”
“Don’t think spending money will change anything. He has to trust you.”
“I know. I’m working on it.”
“What happened to our last conversation where we were going to deal with legitimate real estate and no more lending to Russian immigrants?”
“I suggested we phase out the lending, but we need to finish up the old cases first.”
“See that you close out all Brighton Beach. You’re going to have to dismiss Valentin’s loan if you want Jasha.”
“I know that, but the chicken isn’t cooked yet. I need time to make this work for all of us.”
“Let’s wrap the boys’ presents for tonight.”
“Good idea. Let’s go upstairs and wrap them.”
Kaleb’s phone rang. He picked it up. It was from his security guard, Nate, watching Valentin’s apartment.
“What’s going on, Nate?”
“Valentin moved out. All his stuff was labeled to return to Russia. He bought a one-way ticket to Canada, but his boxes were sent to Moscow.”
“Did he leave?”
