I chuckled, wondering if he thought I was stupid enough to buy his promises again. Wondering if he thought I had that kind of power. There was a fucking camera on us.
"I hope he lets you live long enough to do that, really, I do. But in the meanwhile, what about me? I have a boss to answer to. I vouched for you, and you left me hanging. How do you think that makes me look?"
Sweat rolled down the side of his face. "I-I-I--"
"It makes me look like a goddamn fool!" I spat.
"But I never--"
My gaze shifted to his face. The fear in Johnny's eyes made me sick. It made me hate him for being weak, and hate myself for becoming his boogeyman, but he needed to know the consequences of his actions. If Johnny didn't wise up, and come up with the money, he wouldn't last the week.
"They won't kill you," I said, keeping my tone level. "At least not right away. No... they'll make an example of you. They'll break you. They'll find what's the most important to you in the world, and then they'll take it away. Then, when you're already broken, that's when they'll come for you. That's what happens when you fuck with the family."
"But I didn't mean anything by it. You know I'll--"
Bones lunged forward, punching the bound idiot square in the jaw. "Enough excuses! Shut the fuck up!" Bouncing back, he shook the sting from his hand.
Johnny's eyes watered. He opened his jaw, as if to gauge the pain, and it made a clicking noise. His beak of a nose started to leak. He tried to wipe it on his shoulder only to wince at the pain of moving his jaw. I forced myself to watch every pathetic, pained move he made, knowing I'd inadvertently put him in this position. I never should have recommended him. I should have realized what an idiot he was.
Bones paced a few steps alongside the bed before stopping to point a finger in Johnny's face. "You're lucky to still be alive. And now you got Angel's ass on the line. So help me, if you don't pay--" Bones raised his fist, glaring daggers at Johnny.
Johnny paled even further, if possible. "I'll pay! I'll pay! I swear! Oh God, I swear."
"Now?" Bones asked. "You gonna pay right now?"
"Now? I don't have it right this minute."
Bones flexed, his hand still poised to strike.
"But soon. I'll get it soon. I swear!" He turned toward me. "Please, Angel."
My silence added tension to the room. We marinated in it as I let ice fill my veins. When I felt cold and detached enough, I leaned back in my chair, lowering my voice to the menacing tone I'd heard my father use when he played the part of the boogeyman.
"I gave you a fucking shot and you disappointed me, Johnny. I should cut your thieving hand off and bring it to my old man. That's what they used to do in the old days."
Johnny's bottom lip began to quiver.
"I'm not carrying your goddamn hand around. If it comes down to me hacking off your body parts, I'll take you out myself. You feel me?"
He nodded.
"Good. You can't hide from us. We'll find you wherever you go and we'll make you pay. Someone's gonna contact you and tell you how to pay, and so help me, you better damn well do it, Johnny."
He nodded again. "I will, Angel. I promise. Thank you for letting me go... for giving me another chance."
I laughed, sounding near maniacal. "Oh, I'm not letting you go yet."
"But I'll get you the money."
"Yep. And I'm gonna leave you with a reminder as to why it's important you do. Bones, will you please release Johnny's left hand. You're right-handed, right, Johnny?"
Johnny nodded again, his eyes wide with terror as Bones circled the bed and untied his left arm. It fell to the mattress, and then Johnny pulled it close, trying to hide it with his body. "What are you gonna do?" he asked.
Bones chuckled, and the sound made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"Give me your hand," Bones said with a smirk.
Sometimes I worried that Bones enjoyed the work a little too much.
