But Johnny’s a better businessman than that. A smarter one too. “I don’t have it. Don’t know what you’re talking about,” he clips out, his eyes cutting past us to the guy at the door.
“You haven’t even seen it yet,” Penny pleads, holding up the picture of the ring on her finger, where Johnny can’t help but look at it. I get the sense that with the barest glance, he could tell you the karat weight, quality, and value of virtually any piece of jewelry. “Haveyou seen it?” she asks, doubt creeping into her tone.
Johnny shakes his head. “I don’t have that ring. Perhaps something else would be an acceptable replacement for it?” The consummate salesman, he gestures to the cases between us, which are filled with stunning, sparkling diamonds and colorful gemstones.
“Penny, can you give me a second?” I say out of the side of my mouth, never dropping my gaze from Johnny. “Look around or something.”
She gives me a huff of displeasure but does step away, thankfully. I lower my voice, leaning in toward Johnny. “Look, we need that specific ring. It’s important. I saw your reaction and you know the guy. Could you give me his name or where I can find him? I’ll pay a finder’s fee, and if you give a shit about him, I’ll even promise to not hurt him. Ijust need the ring.” I can see the refusal in his eyes, so before he can speak it, I offer, “Or if you don’t want to tell me, can you reach out to him? Be the middleman between us, and I’ll buy it from you so you get your cut of the profit. Whatever you want. Cash, hockey tickets, signed memorabilia. I just need the ring.”
The words virtually stick in my throat, because begging isn’t in my nature. But for Penny, I’ll do it. I’ll do anything.
Knowing he’s got the upper hand, Johnny takes a slow, deep breath, letting a smug smile lift his lips. “I know the kid. I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Thank you. Appreciate it.”
Johnny laughs as he pulls out an iPad from below the counter. “I’m not running a charity here.” He clicks a few times and then lays it on the case in front of me. There’s a $1,000 payment pending.
I grit my teeth, swallowing the argument. If there’s any chance he actually knows the kid and will reach out, it’s money well spent. I tap my phone to pay and a tip screen pops up. “Seriously?”
Johnny’s grin is filled with pure satisfaction. “Tips are customary for quick service.”
Sighing in resignation, I click the 20 percent option. “Call me as soon as you know anything,” I say, scribbling my number on the paper he offers. He takes it back, and without a look, slips it into his pocket.
I hold my hand out, and when he shakes it, he turns into Mr. Congeniality. “Nice doing business with you, Honey.”
I squeeze his hand a bit harder, not letting go. “Griffin. And our business has just begun. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
He nods his agreement, and I feel like he has a grasp on how urgent this matter is. “If you’ll excuse me, I do have a scheduled appointment today I should prepare for.”
I release him and turn to Penny, who has somehow gotten completely distracted by the pretty, shiny things and doesn’t seem to have paid a bit of attention to the conversation between Johnny and me. “Ready?”
Once we’re outside, she starts laughing. “You know he just scammed you, right? He probably doesn’t even know the guy that stole the ring, but he saw your wallet coming from a mile away.”
I guess she was paying more attention than I thought.
Shrugging, I say, “If there’s any chance, it’ll be worth it, though.” Glancing her way, her observation belatedly clicks in my mind. “I figured you would be all hopeful and optimistic that he was gonna call the thief, get the ring, and have it waiting and ready for us with a fresh cleaning by tomorrow.”
Her lips turn down into an uncharacteristic frown, and her gaze drops to the sidewalk. “Reality sucks sometimes. True story.”
I risk bumping her shoulder with my arm, the move friendlier than I’d usually dare, but we’ve moved well beyond that at this point. “Who’da thunk I’d be the optimist and you’d be the cynic?”
Her laugh is more breath than humor, but when she looks back up at me, there’s a bit more life in her eyes. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”
I don’t want that to be the case. I want Penny to keep her idealistic, good-hearted view of the world, and not be jaded by my ugly, fatalistic one. I guess that’s one more reason why we’re not a good fit. Will never be a good fit. She deserves someone as bubbly and bright as she is, someone who floats through life seeing opportunities and possibilities, not someone who views the world as a war to be waged, filled with potential adversaries that have to be fought to get every scrap they receive. She doesn’t need someone who will drag her down to his depths. She deserves someone who will lift her up to new heights.
The reminder is bitter, and I force my focus ahead of us, watching where we’re going in the hope I can prevent Penny from tripping over her own feet. It’s the only reason I see them ... Miles’s guys, coming right at us.
“Shit,” I hiss. I glance left and right, instantly looking for a way out. They can’t see Penny. How’d they even know where to find her? Becausethere’s no way it’s a coincidence that they’re on this street, at this time, right when she is. No way at all.
“What?”
“Um ... here ...” I don’t explain anything. I just shove her into the alleyway between the two buildings beside us and push her up against the brick wall, blocking her from view with the expanse of my body.
“Griffin, what the fuck? What’re you doing?” Penny exclaims, her palms pushing against my chest like she has any hopes of moving me.
“Shh ...” I glance over my shoulder toward the sidewalk, but Penelope isn’t one to take orders from anyone, least of all me.
“What? Move!” She pushes against me harder, her nails digging into my flesh where she tries to grab at my shirt, and her voice getting higher and louder to the point where she’s drawing attention.
