I need to be alone.
* * *
I lookaround the room where everything gets done. I don't know what I expected but it’s simpler than I imagined. It’s grand by the way of quality finishes and expensive furniture, but it’s not super elaborate like some futuristic spy movie. The professional poker table sits in the center to a backdrop of some of the most exclusive liquor and cigar brands.
I take the Hanlon seat and the other three sit around the table.
“Your deal,” Dondi tells Elmer. The dislike in his voice is not hard to miss.
Elmer, who doesn’t look much like Oran outside of size, eyes, and hair color, deals the hand. I’m not in the deal since this position is in transition. They place their bets, Andres betting the least, then the first card was dealt.
“Fold,” Andres grumbles and puts his cards down.
“You always do this,” Elmer grouses with a side eye. “Your ante is worthless.”
“Oh, yeah?” Andres challenges, his graying hair doesn’t take away from his edge. Leaning back, he reaches under the table and places his gun on the table with the barrel pointing in Elmer. “You want higher odds? Let’s play one on one.”
Elmer is a huge man but he knows Andres is a killer. He rolls his eyes but doesn’t respond.
Andres’ gray eyes dig into me as if he can see through me to my mama’s soul. “What issues are you putting on the table? I don’t have all fucking day.”
“The prenup. Arthur negotiated it the way it is to screw me out of my legacy.”
“And you’re trying to back out of the marriage?” Dondi asks as he throws more chips onto the table.
“No. I understand a deal is a deal…”
“Then why are you here? Either marry her or walk away?” Elmer supplies. “It’s not your problem if you leave her broke.”
“Shut the fuck up, Elmer. Let him finish,” Andres glares at him waiting for Elmer to try to argue. Then he looks at me. “Continue.”
“I will say the method was strange but I’m not here to back out the arrangement. I understand that. I just don’t like the bullshit Arthur is pulling. As it stands, if I get married Saturday I’ll screw myself. If I refuse, Karessa will be stuck in limbo until marriage. I hope to throw it out and renegotiate, if not, I just ask that my shares are removed from the original deal.”
“All right. Is that it? I can get back to my other shit after this?” He looks at Dondi and he nods to answer his question. “Good. My vote is I don’t give a fuck.”
With that, Andres pushes away from the table and walks out. The men waiting for him in the hallway follow him out.
“That’s a yes. What say you, Elmer?”
Elmer looks at me like I’m a piece of shit encroaching on his territory. It’s amazing that my best friend hung out in this dude’s nutsack. My stomach sinks because I already know what this asshole is going to say. I want to punch him in his smug ass mouth.
“Hell, no. Take it or leave it. This was decided a month ago. It needs to be unanimous. You know where the door is.”
“Elmer, must you be so rude to your son’s best friend?” Dondi asks smoothly.
He doesn’t look overly concerned for his daughter’s future. I take it as him knowing his daughter will be fine.
“He’s notmybest friend. I don’t give a shit what they do.”
“Sorry, Jagger. It has to be unanimous so my vote doesn’t matter.”
I nod without responding. If I speak I’d cuss Elmer the fuck out. Rising, I move back to the door. I stop before leaving and turn back to Dondi.
“Thank you for considering it,” I tell him.
Shit. We’re back to square one.
Chapter Eight
