“Okay, thank you.”
He had a dark green bag hung loosely over his shoulder. Whatever he thought was essential was in there, and would speak volumes as to what kind of man he was. I was curious about what he packed, but I didn’t think he'd be willing to let me search it.
I let Lisa leave ahead of me, calling Val to come and clean up this mess for me. I didn’t want her to meet him or his crew, or for them to know I had someone like her in my life. The less they know about me, the better in the end. The line rang once before he answered. He had always been quick to answer his calls.
“Give me the address, and I’ll have someone there in five minutes.”
He already knew what I wanted. It was really the only reason anyone called this number.
“Quick as always, Val.”
“Oh shit, Davis?” He sounded so surprised to hear me.
I haven’t called him in a few years. The last time was to clean up Carter’s mess. He really did a number on a wealthy billionaire who had invited his younger sister to a party and forced her to do things she didn’t want to. That man was an inch away from death when I finally stopped Carter, unable to kill the wealthy ones as easily as the dark criminals.
“Yeah, man. It’s been a while. I need a cleanup crew to Darnell's mansion. No one is dead, but they need to be threatened to keep silent. Very proud men.”
“Easy, I’ll send Arc, and Sal. Payment has gone up since we last spoke, Davis.”
Shit.
“How much?”
“A quarter Mil now, but for a good friend like you, I’ll only charge you two-hundred-grand.”
“Cut the shit, Val. You are not charging anyone that much. You wouldn’t have any clients if you were.” Val laughed, knowing I had caught him in his lie.
“Can’t get past you.” He sighed. “It’s one-hundred-grand. The wire transfer is still the same. I expect the money tomorrow or they’ll be knocking on your door next.”
“Don’t threaten me, Val. You know better than that. Money will be in there tonight.”
He was pissing me off, so I pulled a Derek and just hang up without saying goodbye. I could see why he does it now. It was quite satisfying.
I swung my leg over, mounting my motorcycle and letting it come to life beneath me. I tore that cast off my leg the moment the kid called and told me what was happening. My leg hurt, but not terribly. It made riding my bike a lot easier, so with a smile on my face I raced out of this hellhole, and towards my Lisa.
Time to hear what happened.
Lisa’s P.O.V.
It was silent as Davis processed everything I had told him. Jared was sitting downstairs with Izzy on the couch, while Davis and I spoke in our room. He wanted to know every detail of what had happened and why Mandy and Dad weren’t there by the time he got there. I was still reeling with a million different emotions. Currently, my anxiety was at the surface, threatening to consume me whole. I wasn’t sure what Davis would say or do, but I knew he wouldn’t be happy.
“Dammit, Lisa. That wasn’t a smart plan. I knew you were up to something, but I can’t believe you would do that. I told you Mandy would dig up things on your dad for you to use. Why did you go do something so dangerous?”
“Because what she would find wouldn’t show how vile all these men are. The world needs to see what abusive jackasses they are, and this is the only way,” I defended. I know it was a stupid plan, but it worked in the end.
He held his hand out, and I stared at it, confused, as it hung in the air before me.
“Give me the broach. I’ll have Frank look at it and post it anonymously. He’ll edit out our incriminating parts.”
The broach looked so small in his large hand when I placed it there. He got off the bed in a huff and placed it in the safe he kept hidden behind his full length hanging mirror. When he turned back to face me, the anger was gone, leaving only concern for me. He sighed, letting his shoulders sink as he relaxed further.
“You need to be more careful, Lisa. I can’t lose you. Please never do anything that’s going to put you in danger like that again.”
Guilt ate away at my stomach as I looked at how scared he was deep down. I had worried him again, and rightfully so. Things could have gone differently today if Jared hadn’t grabbed my phone, if Davis hadn’t come, or even if he had come later. I was lucky. I know that.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, lowering my head in shame.
**Song Suggestion: Fall Into Me by Forest Blakk**
