“G-Gio,” he stammered. “Are you enjoying the party?”
“It’s lovely,” I said. “I just enjoyed a delightful conversation with your daughter. She is truly spectacular. I wonder how it’s possible that she came from you.”
“She takes after her mother,” he murmured.
“Well, I assumed.” I sat down on one of the couches, hearing the clatter of the drawstring on the blinds as Milli pulled them closed. Curtis shifted nervously, but I just shook my head. “Why don’t you just relax, Curtis? I just want to talk, besides,” I looked around the room and then flashed him an evil smile. “There aren't many places for you to go.”
Milli posted himself in front of the door, and when Curtis noticed, what little bit of color left in his face drained totally. “L-l-look. I w-was gonna call you. Tomorrow. I just…”
I shook my head and started to tut at him. “Now, Curtis, we aren’t going to get anywhere fast if you’re planning on lying. Your repayment date is next week, and from what I hear, your behavior has gotten quite bizarre. Betting on the horses yesterday, and…” I fished Punk’s paper out of my pocket, unfolded it, and dropped it on the table. Curtis looked down at it and then his eyes grew wide. “What’s in Tokyo? A one-way ticket?”
“Just a long vacation,” he replied.
“Do Governors normally plan to hand their seats over to their second in command for long vacations?” I asked. “I also distinctly remember you saying in one of your interviews that you only take vacations with your family, but your son is who you’re relinquishing your seat to.” I pinched my chin as if I were truly baffled by the facts that didn’t quite line up. “Care to explain?”
Curtis clearly didn’t have a go-to excuse in mind. He was stuttering and stammering, running his hand through his hair and trying desperately to string any words together that would make any kind of story that I would accept in exchange for his life. He started several sentences but stopped halfway through and fought to keep speaking as if as long as he was sayinganything at allit would keep me from seeking the retribution I was owed.
Finally, however, I got irritated with his babbling and put my hand up. He was silenced immediately and I growled, “That’s enough. It’s pitiful to watch a grown man bitch.” I looked over at Milli. “Why don’t you help put Mr. Narzand in a better place for negotiating.”
“Yes sir,” Milli said, stepping forward as he pulled his gloves out of his pocket.
“Wait, no,” Curtis said. “You said no violence.”
Milli smirked. “Yousaid no violence. I said I would make sure that Gio wouldn’t lay a hand on you.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t want to get my hands dirty.” I nodded at Milli. “Avoid any places that can be seen in case the good Governor gets to walk out of here with his life.”
“I guess,” Milli said.
I sat there patiently while Milli roughed Curtis up, keeping an eye on the doors and windows to make sure no one was coming by. Even though the windows were now shaded by the drapes Milli pulled, I could still barely see the silhouettes on the other side. They were small and didn’t appear to be alerted to our presence, so I looked back at Milli and waited.
Eventually, Curtis was coughing up blood, and I cleared my throat, letting Milli know that he could stop. He stepped back from Curtis but kept his gloves on just in case, and I crossed my arms and looked across at the sputtering man with my brow furrowed. “Now tell me, Curtis, why would you want to steal from me? That’s not very nice.”
“I swear,” Curtis coughed out. “My deal was a sure-fire thing. I’m not sure what happened.”
“Me either,” I said with a sigh. “Well, I guess you’ve already started the transition for your son to take over. He’s smart, he’ll be a good Governor, and with the press of his father’s unfortunate loss, I’m sure he’ll get re-elected this fall, so don’t you worry about that. Maybe I’ll even donate to his campaign fund in your honor.”
“No, no, no, please,” Curtis begged. “I’ll do anything, please. I just need more time.”
“You were going to run, Curtis. You booked a one-way ticket to the other side of the country. I can’t trust you. The second I let you go, you’ll run. The only way I’m going to recuperate the funds I lost is by taking your very sizable life insurance policy. What other options do I have?”
“I won’t run!” He looked around the room as if one of the brand-new pieces of furniture could give him an option. “W-what about… I-I… Collateral? I have many assets. My home. My cars. I still have my deceased wife’s ruby ring.”
“Hmmm,” I said. “Collateral, that’s an interesting thought. Material possessions don’t mean much to me though.”
Milli looked down at me and I could see him trying to figure out what was going on in my head. Maybe if I’d had more time, I might have consulted with him on the devilish idea that suddenly occurred to me, but then again, maybe not. Though I trusted Milli with my life, the man first served my surrogate father, Merrick Raines. He had my back, there wasn’t a question of that, but his first allegiance was to my old man and the empire they’d built together. If Milli thought for a second that Merrick wasn’t going to be thrilled with my decisions, he’d tell Merrick and then I’d get a lecture.
And I was far too old and successful for a lecture from that old man.
“What do you want?” Curtis asked nervously. “I’ll give you anything.”
“Anything?” I said. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes,” Curtis whined. “Anything, just please don’t kill me.”
“Fine,” I replied. “Then I’ll be taking your daughter.”
6
