“When you can’t even pay your rent?” Kozlov shakes his head. He leans back, hands steepled in front of his chest. “Do you think I’m a fool, Jake?”
Jake shifts his weight from one foot to the other, knowing this situation is going rapidly downhill. “I know a guy who said he’ll cut me in on ajob…”
My legs wobble as I fight the urge to tell him no, that he can’t turn to crime as a way out, but right now, even to me who’s stillplaying catch up on this situation, it seems like the only realistic way he gets out of this alive.
Kozlov’s eyebrows shoot up. “I offered you a job many times, yet you refused. What’s changed?”
Jake grinds his teeth. “I haven’t got a choice now, do I?”
“No, you don’t.” Kozlov considers Jake’s words while he looks at a photo on the wall of me, Jake, and our parents at the lake during a summer holiday fifteen years ago. “Must be a big job.”
Jake says nothing.
“And that’s great,ifit goes according to plan. But if it doesn’t, then what? You end up behind bars, and I get nothing?”
Kozlov’s right. It will be impossible for him to get his money back if Jake ends up in prison or dead. When he stands, smoothing his suit jacket, it seems he has come to a decision.
“Go and do your job. Then find me.”
My legs almost give way with relief. I thought I was about to watch them drag my brother out of the door, never to be seen again. He has a week. Maybe he can flee the country, maybe we can round up the money from family and friends.
But we have time to dosomethingto save his life.
“But…” Kozlov continues, holding up a finger to silence him when Jake goes to speak. “I need to make sure you return and hand over your spoils, yes? That you don’t get tempted to keep it for yourself and run.”
His gaze slides to me, and I shrink further behind my brother, desperate to have this man’s attention off me.
Jake shifts to keep me out of reach, fists clenched at his sides, as Kozlov moves closer.
“What’s your name, darling?”
Like a deer caught in headlights, I blink rapidly, not sure what’s happening, but knowing it’s not good.
“I asked you a question.” Kozlov grits out, taking my silence as disrespect.
I force myself to meet his eyes, just for a second, before answering.
“Emma.” Maybe cooperating will get them out faster. Though I’m trembling like a leaf, my voice comes out stronger than I expected, than I feel.
“Leave her out of this.”
Jake shields me as Kozlov circles us, looking me up and down, leering, making my skin crawl.
“I think it is you who brought her into this, Jake.” Kozlov gives Jake a stern look, a warning not to push him when his patience is already worn thin.
One of his men steps forward, brushing his suit jacket back to reveal the holster underneath. The butt of a black gun peeks out, and I cling tighter to Jake, just wanting these people out of my house and out of my life.
Kozlov gives me a curious smile. “Emma.” He rolls my name around like wine. “Pretty name for a pretty girl. So, tell me, Emma. If your brother doesn’t come back from thisbig jobhe’s doing, are you going to take responsibility for paying his debt?”
I balk, looking between Jake and Kozlov. “I don’t have that kind of money… I’m already giving him every penny I have.”
Jake’s face goes pale, eyes widening in horror. He steps forward, shaking his head furiously.
Kozlov’s man pulls his gun and points it straight at my brother’s head.
I whimper, squeezing my eyes shut, scarcely believing any of this is really happening.
Kozlov keeps his attention on me, ignoring Jake’s pleas, as the man with the gun tells him to move away from me.
