What if Violet is right to trust him on this?
What if he wants to pay back Tommy for the simple notion of keeping me whole?
“If I go along with this…”
“I won’t ask a fucking thing of you,” Finn claims.
A knock sounds at the door and unlike yesterday, our hackles raise. I sit taller in my bed and silently motion for Violet to get into the attached bathroom. I don’t want her near Tommy’s guys if that’s who’s walking in.
I swallow the boulder at the back of my throat when I see the three of them, tall as fucking skyscrapers, walk into the small room. This time, they don’t pull their guns out. Guess they got their point across yesterday.
The leader of the pack steps forward, eyeballing me. “You have Tommy’s money, yes?”
His Russian accent would be cool if he weren’t working for a total fucking asshole. I hope Eli knows what he’s doing when it comes to his boss. He hasn’t been in to see me once, not that I expected it, but I wonder if he even knows what happened.
“If I don’t?” I question, toeing the line. I want to see if the same deal is on the table as yesterday because I really don’t want to take Finn’s money. I’m beginning to realize I might have to.
The Russian brings his thumb up to his neck and slices across it. “Just like we discussed.”
“I’m in a fucking hospital bed that Tommy put me in. How does he expect me to get anything for him?”
The Russian shrugs. “Your problem. Not Tommy’s.”
Finn whips his duffel bag at the guy, but my stomach sinks for an entirely different reason—relief. It whooshes through my veins like the meds I’ve had every day since my accident.
“There’s all of Tommy’s goddamn money. This ends his ties with Colson.”
“Funny man,” Russian smirks as he unzips the bag. “Thinking you set rules.” He pushes the cash around, indicating to the two men behind him to count it. They set up shop beside me, using my hovering table as a surface to put stacks of cash on.
I count a couple thousand before my eyes cut to Finn. There’s a dark expression on his face, a look of disdain as he regards the Russians.Is that what he looks like when he’s doing deals for Clyde? Emotionless and raw?I don’t need the answer. I remember what his face looked like the day he broke my finger. He didn’t have a warm drop of blood in his body that day.
Perhaps having Finn on my side isn’t all bad.
The two cash counters nod at their leader.
“They assure all money is there,” the man says.
“Just like I said it was,” Finn snaps.
My eyes skit to the bathroom door where Violet hides. What would they do if they knew she was inside? Thankfully, I don’t find out because they gather at the door, keeping Finn’s bag and the cash inside.
The leader speaks, his broken English coming through tenfold. “You no longer step foot in Battleground. Tommy finds you disobey, and he will retaliate with no other option than sending me to break bony little legs.”
“Fine,” I chirp. Fighting is the last thing I need with Violet back at my side. I was foolish once before, but I’m not willing torisk losing her again over something I need less than her. “He won’t see me around.”
Just get the fuck out and stay gone.
“Not just yours,” The Russian adds, turning to Finn. “I will find you also and wipe that scumbag look off face by breaking you into four. And if you’re wondering how possible, trust I’ve done to many others on Tommy’s behalf and will do again. To both of you if you do not understand message loud and clear, yes?” He makes a snapping sound with his mouth. “You will break like twig.”
Finn tongues his cheek, glaring at the man threatening dismemberment. “We fucking understand.”
“Wonderful,” The Russian says and then he’s out the door with his guys, leaving my body in a similar flurry of panic. Only this time it’s mixed with so much alleviation that I could jump out of this bed and dance like Grandpa Joe fromCharlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Violet peeks her head out of the bathroom. “All clear?”
“Yeah, baby,” I breathe out. “I think we’re finally goddamn solid.”
Finn stands at the foot of my bed, expelling a tight breath. He scrubs his hand over his face then holds his arms wide. “Looks like we’re both on the chopping block if you decide to take your dumbass back to the fighting scene.” I glare at him because I have no plans on doing so. That was a lapse in judgment, a mistake I’ll never make again now that I have Violet back in close quarters. “Still think I don’t give a fuck about you?”
