“Yeah, okay, boss,” he said. “Twenty grand on women’s clothes, got it.”
“I’m not sure what size she is, but she’s small, so get her some small shit. Tell Theresa to get some stuff in multiples sizes so she can choose. Whatever she doesn’t pick, you get to keep, so don’t be cheap.”
His eyes lit up. “Yeah, okay, boss,” he said.
“And I want fucking receipts. You hear me? Receipts for every single penny you spend. If you don’t fuck this up or steal from me, there’ll be a bonus in it for you.”
“Sure, sure, I won’t let you down. Theresa, she got real good taste. Too good, to be honest.”
I grinned at him. “Good luck Dino. Don’t fuck up.”
He nodded and backed off the stoop then walked away toward a black sedan parked against the curb. I turned and headed back inside, shutting the door behind me.
* * *
I let Colleen sulk in her room until noon. That was plenty of time for Dino and Theresa to show up with bags and bags from designer stores. They dumped their haul out. Theresa had big, crunchy curly hair, dark lipstick, a black tight shirt and black jeans.
“She’s gonna love this stuff,” Theresa said.
“Just make it look nice then get out,” I said. “Dino, receipts.”
He handed me the receipts plus a small stack of bills and some change. “It’s all there,” he said.
“Good. Be gone before I come back down.” I turned and walked to the stairs then slowly headed up. I could hear Dino and Theresa whispering to each other, fighting about how to set the clothes up, as I walked to Colleen’s door.
I waited a minute before knocking. I had to knock four times before she finally answered.
“Go away,” Colleen called out.
“I got a surprise for you,” I said. “I’m coming in, so make sure you’re decent. Or not, I don’t really care.”
I unlocked the padlock and opened her door. She was sitting in bed, legs crossed under her, an angry look on her face.
“Get up,” I said.
“Go away.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“This little defiance act is going to get annoying,” I said. “Get your ass up and come downstairs.”
“You’re going to have to make me,” she said.
“I will,” I said, stepping into the room. “And you know I will. But I thought about what you said last night, and I want things to be different between us. So get your ass up and come see what I got for you. Then we can talk a little.”
I turned away and walked to the door. She didn’t say anything, but when I turned back and looked at her, she tilted her head and gave me a strange, appraising look.
I smiled to myself and left her there with the door open. I headed back downstairs just as Dino and Theresa ran to the front door. I shook my head as Theresa grinned at me and winked, then shut the door behind her.
I stared at the clothes they’d spread out on the couch, on the coffee table, on the kitchen table. They’d grouped it by size from what I could tell, although I didn’t look too closely. It was a lot of shit, at least nineteen thousand dollars worth of it, but probably more considering the small stack Dino gave me in change.
There was a noise at the top of the steps and I turned as Colleen came down. I thought she might fight me harder, but I was relieved I didn’t have to go up there and drag her down. As much as I like a good fight, this will all be better if she just listens and plays along a little bit.
I didn’t want her here as much as she didn’t want to be here. I knew she didn’t realize that, and probably wouldn’t believe me if I said it, but things would be a lot easier for us both if she just went home.
But I knew I couldn’t do that. She was still in danger and way too enmeshed in what was going on for me to just cut her loose.
She came down the steps wearing black gym shorts and a big white t-shirt. She stopped and stared at the clothes spread out all over my house, and I gestured at them.
“You wanted some clothes,” I said. “And now, you got some.”
“Holy shit,” she said. “Steven.”
“It’s everything you’d need. I think there are a few sizes here to pick from.”
She came down and started to sift through the stuff. “It’s all designer,” she said.
“Nothing but the best.” I smiled a little at her reaction. “You like it?”
“This stuff is way nicer than I ever had,” she said. “You could’ve just gone to Target.”
I laughed and shook my head. “No, I wouldn’t do that,” I said. “Go ahead and look through it, pick the stuff you want. If you need different sizes, we can get you different sizes. But at least the underwear should be good.”
She went through the stuff and I left her to it for a little while. I made some coffee then leaned against the counter and watched her. She picked up a shirt, made a little surprised noise, dropped it like it was on fire.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“That shirt cost five hundred dollars.”
I frowned and tilted my head. “Is that a lot?”
“Are you joking?”
I grinned at her. “Of course I am. But like I said, you’re getting nothing but the best.”
“Why did you do all this?” he asked. “This must’ve cost a small fortune.”
I waved that away. “Not as much as you’d think,” I said. “And I’ve been thinking about your little tantrum last night.”
She glared at me. God, the girl had a temper.
“That wasn’t a tantrum,” she said.
“Right, whatever.”
I
