“This is Aida,” Roger said, turning back to me. “This is my daughter.”
I stared for a long moment. Then a laugh broke from my lips.
I couldn’t help myself.
Roger the junky thief, the loser, the pathetic asshole, had a daughter. And not just any daughter, but a beautiful one at that. She glared even harder and crossed her arms under her full breasts, and I couldn’t help but stare at them. She looked away from me, anger flashing in her eyes, as Roger walked over to her.
“This is my daughter,” he said again. “She’s a pretty girl, right? Listen, Dante. I know how bad I fucked up. So I want you to have her. I want her to marry you, I mean, you can marry her if you want to. I just mean, I want you to have her, is all.”
I stood there, absolutely fucking shocked. I looked at Steven, who seemed utterly appalled. His face was screwed up into a frown and his head was cocked to the side. Gino was trying not to laugh though, and he had to look away.
“This is the most insane thing I’ve ever heard,” I said, shaking my head in utter surprise. “I’ve been offered some shit in the past, Roger. But never someone’s own daughter.”
“I told you this was stupid,” the girl hissed. “I don’t even want to be here.”
“Shut up,” Roger snapped at her then looked at me. “I know you guys are involved in girls. Maybe you can… you can use her there.”
I cocked my head to the side. “You want me to make your own daughter a hooker?” I looked at her, top to bottom, and shrugged. “She’s definitely beautiful enough. What do you think, Aida? You want to work for me, pay off your father’s debt?”
“I’d rather you put a bullet in both our heads,” she said, meeting my gaze.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Damn,” Gino said, grinning. “That’s some cold shit right there. That girl has stones.”
“Ignore her,” Roger said. “Shut up, Aida. Shut the hell up.” He was sweating, visible even in the rain. “She’ll work for you, she’ll be your wife, shit, she’ll clean your house. Whatever you need, Dante, you can have. Please, she’s the only good thing in my life, and I’m giving her to you as penance.”
I nodded my head slowly and looked back at the girl. She glared right back, not looking away, and I found it oddly exciting. Most women knew me, and most of them either tried to fuck their way into my wallet, or ran in the opposite direction. The smart ones ran, the stupid ones fucked me, and the rest were too afraid to make a move either way.
This girl though, she was interesting. Beautiful and the daughter of a notorious scumbag. I don’t know how I didn’t know about her, considering I knew everyone in the city. I stepped toward her and she didn’t move away, although her father took a big step back, leaving her there alone in the light of my SUV. She stared at me, a mix of defiance and anger in her expression. I stopped a foot away from her and looked down at her body as she glared back up at me.
“What do you think?” I asked her softly. “You want to come back with me? Be my wife?”
Her eyes went wide. She didn’t speak for a moment, but her hands dropped down. She bit her lip and tilted her head to the side. “You want to… marry me.”
I smirked. “Maybe. Not yet though. I want to ask you something first.”
“What’s that?”
“Do you think I should spare your father?”
She hesitated and looked back at him. Roger’s eyes went wide. “Aida,” he hissed.
“Yes,” she said, though she didn’t sound convinced.
“And if I do, you’ll come with me? Live with me? Doesn’t seem like the sort of thing he should be able to do.”
“He’s a piece of shit,” she said. “But he’s still my father. I’ll do what I have to do to save his life.”
“Even if I make you work for me?”
She flinched. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Honest. I like that. But don’t worry, you’re not a working girl. I can see that in your eyes already.”
“So what do you want to do with me then?”
I smiled and let my eyes wander her body. I could think of a few things I wanted to do with her. I moved closer, leaned toward her, and she didn’t pull away. I let my lips brush against her cheek as I moved them close to her ear. “I’ll keep you safe,” I said.
“Boss,” Steven said before I could elaborate. I stepped back and she stared at me with surprise. “We should get moving. Wrap this up.”
I nodded once and tilted my head. “Well, Aida?”
“Are you going to spare him?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged.
She clenched her jaw again and glared back at her father. “You’re a piece of shit,” she said. “And you don’t deserve me.” But she turned back to me and took a step forward. “I’ll come.”
“Gino,” I said. “Take our new guest and get her in the car.”
“Yes, boss,” Gino said with a barely concealed smile. He walked over and gently took Aida by the arm, leading her away.
I caught Steven’s gaze and he rolled his eyes. “You finished?” he said.
“I’m finished.”
“Good.” He glanced back as Gino put Aida into the car and shut the door.
“All right,” Roger said. “Okay, boss. You’ve got the money. And my daughter. Boss, I’m so sorry, Dante. I swear, I’ll never fuck up again, I’ll never fuck up ever again.”
I slipped my hand under my nylon jacket and pulled the Glock from the back of my waistband in one smooth, practiced movement. I stepped up to Roger, held the gun out, and pressed the muzzle against his forehead.
He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
“Sorry,” I said.
And pulled the trigger.
The gunshot burst out as Roger’s
