Roman stiffened visibly at this, but he quickly regained control. It was a little too late, though.
“Did I say I was worried?” he bluffed.
Ripley laughed in his face. “You didn’t have to.”
Outside, the snow blew in an ever-churning circle. We stood in silence for a while, like gunslingers, waiting for something important to happen.
In the meantime, Roman considered us individually, one by one. This time, he decided to address me.
“Give me the locket.”
I squinted back at him, without moving.
“Not the drive,” he sighed. “Just the locket itself.”
“Why?”
“Because if I show it to Donovan, I can tell him I’m close,” explained Roman. “He’s stupid enough that it’ll appease him. I can tell him that I’ll have you soon.”
“But you won’t have me soon,” I growled.
“No.”
“So what will that accomplish?”
“It’ll buy time.”
No one moved. No one seemed convinced.
“Look,” Roman turned to Colson again. “You won’t turn over the bride, right?”
“Fuck you,” spat Ripley.
“I didn’t think so,” said Roman. “So the locket is the next best thing.”
Theo looked questioningly to Colson, who eventually nodded. With that, he disappeared from the room.
“Unfuckingreal,” Ripley said again.
Roman sighed. “What is?”
“You call Donovan stupid, yet you’re the one working for him.”
“I work for a lot of people,” Roman said coldly.
“So you’re a traitor, then.”
“I’m an opportunist,” he shrugged. “One smart enough to see the much bigger picture.”
Ripley’s face twisted in revulsion. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Theo returned, the locket dangling between his fingers.Just as Roman reached out for it, however, he snatched it back.
“My father,” he said, looking down at the man through the bottoms of his eyes. “You’ll look out for him?”
“As best as I can, yes,” Roman answered. “I have no interest in anyone getting hurt.”
The statement was short, but sounded genuine. Theo pressed the locket into the man’s hand. Even in the dim light, the beautiful piece of silver shone brilliantly.
