Page 6 of Ruthless Consequences

“Don’t fool yourself, honey.” He took a step toward me, and I took a step back. “You want to pay your good-for-nothin’ old man’s debt? I’m looking for girls to work at my new place. Lots of money rolling in. A good-lookin’ girl like you could make thousands in tips in one night. All proceeds will go to me, of course. You start on Saturday.”

“I’m not selling myself,” I said.

He looked at Sonny. He shrugged. “That or nothing.”

“What do I have to do?”

“Take it or leave it.”

“How long? How long do I have to work? Until the debt is paid off?”

“Interest grows every day, honey.”

“At an exorbitant rate, I’m guessing.”

“You’re smarter than your old man too.”

“Howlong?”

“Until I say it’s time. And you never know. With a face and body like yours, someone big might take a liking to you. Which means a bonus for me.” He winked. “Deal or not? I have to get this looked at.” He held up a bloodied hand. “That’s going to cost you too.”

Our eyes held through the light of the flashlight. I knew it was now or never—because his face was becoming uglier, more impatient.

“Yeah,” I said, my grip on the gun even tighter, but it was shaking. “When do I start?”

“That’a girl.” He stopped when he was right in front of me. “The Cigar Bar. Manhattan. 9 o’clock sharp. Tell ’em Mo sent you when you arrive. And one more thing. I don’t think either of us wants Shadow Man to find out. Know what I’m saying? He’s worse than Michele when it comes to you. Shadow Man finds out…” He shrugged. “Remember this. Even if I’m dead, I’ll have someone come after Mean Sally’s kid. Shadow Man is good, but there’s only one of him.”

“One more thing,” I said. I didn’t stop and wait for permission to keep going. “Don’t tell Sonny. Tell him a Good Samaritan cleared his debt.”

He looked down at the gun, back at me, and shook his head. I watched as he disappeared in the darkness. Heard the door slam on his way out.

A meaty groan made me turn around. Sonny was getting to a sitting position. Once there, he rubbed his head, but the look on his face was clear. He was trying to figure out why I held a gun on him.

TWO

LUCILA

PRESENT DAY

The next morning,I woke up naked in the tub. I rubbed my eyes, trying to remember how I even got there.

The night's events were slowly coming back to me. Leaving Valentino’s. Lights out in NY. Michele making me ride with Aren. Lame flashlight. Cracked door. Screeching cat. Blood. Two men on the floor. My sister in the corner.

Agreeing to pay Sonny’s debt.

The Cigar Bar. Manhattan. 9 o’clock sharp on Saturday.

After making sure Minnie got to bed, I’d sunk into the lukewarm water of the tub and fell asleep. It was like someone knocked me out while I was in a bomb shelter. Because I knew that was what my life was becoming.

A situation I couldn't control.

I didn't remember shivering the night before, but it hit me then. My entire body tensed up in intervals and my teeth chattered.

The house was hot. This was coming from a place much deeper.

I smelled breakfast in the air and heard a woman laughing. It wasn’t Ava. Climbing out of the tub, I reached for the towel and wrapped it around myself.

Before I reached for the door handle, my reflection stopped me. I looked the same. Wavy brown hair that teetered on auburn in the sun. Eyes that someone had once compared to cinnamon. My skin was smooth but mostly pale from the hard winter. It was also dewy from the humidity left in the bathroom.

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