“Right, and we made it out alive.” She pushes off the tub and heads for the bedroom like she can’t get away from me fast enough.
I also put out the word to some of my contacts in Rikers to keep eyes on her father, but when I told her, it almost made her more uneasy. Keeping all this shit bottled up ain’t healthy, but I don’t know what else to do.
My phone vibrates with a familiar number. I close the bathroom door, then swipe at the screen.
“You got a lot of balls calling me,” I growl into the phone.
“You are one lucky fucker,” Viper barks. “Still can’t believe you and that bitch made it out alive.”
“That’s what happens when you send a boy to do a man’s job.”
“Fuckin’ prospect,” Viper grumbles.
“I was talking about you.”
Deadly silence on the other end.
“This isn’t over,” I hiss into the phone.
“Is that a threat?” Viper asks.
“No, it’s a fuckin’ promise.” My brain ticks with all the ways I wanna see this bastard suffer, and then it hits me. “Unless you take the deal I offer.”
“I’m listening.” I can almost feel Viper’s brain working through the phone.
“I give you the flash drive, plus five hundred grand, and you keep your Dogs in Philly.”
“And when we make the exchange you ambush me,” Viper barks out a laugh.
“Unless your prospect makes the exchange.”
Silence.
“You don’t trust your own prospect?” I ask.
“Stupid fucker couldn’t even get a flash drive without getting his ass caught.”
“Yeah, I get it. Bad idea.” Then I wait.
“I’ll do the deal, but it goes down between you and me.”
Bait taken. Stupid fucker.
“Whatever you say,” I choke out the words.
“Where?”
“Tonight, under the Steel Pier at midnight.”
“Just you and me. No tricks.”
“I don’t need tricks, fucker,” I sneer into the phone. “Just make sure you show, ‘cause after this, I don’t wanna see you or your Dogs in AC or any part of Jersey.”
“Don’t worry, for the flash drive and five hundred thou, I’d almost suck your dick.” Viper cackles around his words.
I grip the phone tighter. “See you at midnight.”
I swipe away the call, and Sammie flings open the door. Eyes narrowed. Hands on hips. “There’s no fuckin’ way I’m giving the money or the flash drive to that fucker.”
