“That’s not true,” Dad protests. “I love you and your kid. I don’t come around because I don’t want you to get corrupted by me.”
I roll my eyes. “Fucking hell is that a load of crap.”
“That’s enough soap opera for one day,” Kozlov says. “Jonny Fry has two hours to bring me my payment or I break one of your arms. Another hour passes, another arm and so on.”
Holy shit!
“How much?” I’m actually stupid enough to think I can pay out the loan to save my ass.
Kozlov grins maliciously. “Fifty grand originally, but with interest, it’s grown to $120,000.” He shrugs modestly as he adds, “But because Jonny Fry and I are friends I’m knocking it down to $100,000.”
I turn to dad in disbelief. “Are you kidding me! Why would you take a loan from this guy? And that big. You have no hope of repaying him.”
“I can repay him. I’ll get a loan from someone else.”
“Then why haven’t you already?”
“Interest is steep on loans like that. And I won’t get enough time to repay it.”
“Right, and Kozlov’s giving it away for free.”
“I charge more moderate terms,” Kozlov interjects like he’s trying to close a deal on a used car. “It’s good business. Get a lot of customers that way.”
“Oh my god!” I grab my head and start pacing. “I can’t believe you offered me in exchange for the loan! You sold me out for $100,000 grand, you sonofabitch.” I feel tears threatening. Face reality, stupid little needy girl. He’s a deadbeat with no heart.
Kozlov shakes his head. “Your daughter sold you out, not your father.”
I freeze and look at Kozlov incredulously. “Henri! What the hell are you talking about!”
“I met your little sweetheart when Hell’s Jury came here for a meeting.”
“They took Henri to a meeting with you?”
He’s enjoying my reaction too fucking much. “Yes. Hangman’s daughter was also with them, but of course, she has nothing to do with this little problem. I contemplated taking Henri instead of you, but given her association with Hell’s Jury, I decided you were the better choice.”
I’m stunned, so much so that I collapse on the couch. Eight! That fucking bastard. My instincts were right to get Henri back. I can’t believe he brought her to a meeting between Hell’s Jury and the Russian mob. What the fuck was he thinking?
Uh Selkie, hypocrite much?
Yeah, well that was different. I made Oscar stay in the car.
Wheelman chortles in Russian again. “Finally, she’s speechless.”
To prove Wheelman wrong, I say to Kozlov, “What makes you think I don’t have an association with Hell’s Jury? After all, my kid’s with them.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know why they had your daughter and don’t care. I do know that their president won’t insert himself in this little problem. He doesn’t get involved in business that isn’t his.”
Then he looks past me to my dad. “Go. You have two hours.”
“I’m sorry, Selkie,” dad says as he bolts out the door.
To Kozlov, I say, “You know he’s never coming back.”
Chapter Nineteen
Eight
I’m calling Selkie for the third time when Oscar thunders through the front door. “Dad! Some guys got Selkie!”
