Page 181 of Devil's Bargain

THIRTY-ONE

Rick.

I slam the drawer shut and blow out a frustrated breath before pulling open another and emptying out its content.

I don’t hear the door open.

“What are you doing, Son?”

I freeze, my hand clutching a thick envelope. “I’m looking for something.”

“You know you’re not allowed to be in here!” my mom says as I slam it shut.

I plop down on my father’s desk chair and lower my face to my hands. “Fuck!”

My mom closes the door and walks deeper into the room. My father loves mahogany. It’s everywhere, sucking the air out of the room. Mahogany walls, mahogany bookshelves, a mahogany desk. “Talk to me, Rick. You’re worrying me.”

“Does Dad own any other properties?”

“Not as far as I know. Why?”

I open the desk drawer and pull out document after document. “I think he’s involved in something bad.”

My mom pauses in front of the desk, watching me frantically search through my father’s paperwork. I’m at my breaking point.

“Rick?”

I break, and a pitiless sob rips through me.

“Oh my god!” she whispers, rounding the desk and crouching down in front of me. She pulls me in for a hug. “Talk to me, Rick.”

I’m sobbing. I can’t get a word out.

She cups my face and brushes my dark hair out of my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head. “I can’t tell you… It’s too crazy!”

Her soft palms are on my cheeks. “Whatever it is. I’m here for you.”

“You don’t understand,” I rasp. “This will break you and Dad apart. His career will be ruined. Everything we have…”

My mom flicks her eyes between mine. Her thumbs don’t stop stroking my cheeks. “Then we’ll face it. Together.”

I shake my head as another pitiless sob rips through me. I’m twice my mom’s size and here I am, crying like a baby. We’re right back to when I was five, and she used to kiss my scraped knees better.

“It’s okay, Rick. Sssh. Tell me!”

“He’s bought a girl.”

My mom grows still. “What?”

“I think he’s bought the girl I’m in love with and keeps her locked in a house somewhere. I’m trying to find out if he owns another property.”

“He’s bought a girl?”

“Yes, Mom.” My voice breaks at the end. I turn away from her soothing touch and start rooting through the papers again. There are more documents in the bottom drawer.

“You do realize that your accusations are grave?”

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