Johnny looked from his hand to me. "Two days. I can have the money in two days, max. Maybe sooner. Let me call my mom and she'll get me some--"
"Your hand, you damnmammone!" Bones shouted.
Mamma's boy. Bones's old man had split when he was young, and he'd spent his childhood providing for his mom and brothers. My friend had no tolerance for money-leeching mamma's boys.
Johnny's body began to shake. He slowly eased his hand toward Bones. Fear hovered over him like a storm cloud.
My stomach clenched. Johnny had been my friend once, but he'd taken advantage, bringing us to this point. It was his fault. He was the dumbass who gambled away my family's money, but I'd given him the opportunity. Never again.
Bones would do the deed for me; all I had to do was ask. But this was my mess to clean up, and I couldn't afford to show weakness or grace. Father wantedmeto learn from this and I would. I stood and leaned against the bed.
"Hold him," I told Bones.
An objection formed on my friend's lips, but he knew better than to voice it. He held Johnny's wrist with both hands and waited.
I gripped Johnny's pinky finger. It felt so small and delicate, trembling in my hand.
"Angel, no. Just give me two days. Please." Johnny writhed on the bed, trying to get away. "I'll pay. You know I will."
I couldn't handle his begging anymore. I released his finger and picked up his discarded sock, stuffing it into his mouth. His eyes kept pleading, but they were easier to avoid than his mouth. I returned my attention to his pinky. Gripping it, I twisted hard. The bone cracked. Johnny screamed behind the sock, and the smell of urine filled the room. I gripped his next finger and did the same thing. Another scream.
I broke all four fingers on his left hand, then I stood and told Bones to release him. I was so pissed at Johnny for putting me in this position that I wanted to break his entire hand.
"We're not friends, Johnny. Not anymore. No friend of mine would try to screw over my family."
Tears ran down his face. I didn't care. We left him like that, his feet and other hand still tied to that damn bed, lying in his own urine. He'd get free, or the maid would find him. Either way, Johnny would know there'd be no more leniency from my family.
And maybe, just maybe, fear would be enough to save his life.
CHAPTER NINE
Markie
"TURN AROUND; LOOK back inside," the attendant said.
When I did, she strapped a cable onto my back.
"Now face me."
She clipped another cable on my front.
"Put your hands on the rail." She pointed to the side.
I gripped the green railing, peeking over the side. Everything looked so different from up here, like miniature buildings, being swarmed by ants. I'd had my eye on the Ozone jump since I flew into Vegas, and now that Ariana was finally feeling well enough to come with me, I had to go through with it.
"I'm gonna do some checks now," the attendant said. Before I could respond, she shouted, "Lead's on?"
"Good!" someone inside shouted back.
"Back's on?"
"Good!"
"Clear!" Then to me, she said, "Now bring this hand to the left side."
She guided me through the movement until my arms were stretched from rail to rail with the platform and open air in front of me. The sight stole my breath away. Vegas, mountains, blue sky... it looked like a postcard.
"Hands at the end of the rails. Toes on the edge."
