I tilted my head to the side as his words slowly sank in. “You plan on using Colleen as your scapegoat,” I said.
“Like I said, I don’t know why you care about her.”
“She’s just a girl,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “But I wouldn’t hurt her. Not like you’re planning.”
“Someone has to pay for those dead boys. I have her father, and maybe he can bleed a bit more, but she’s the one that turned on us. She’s the one that’ll take the bullet.”
“And what if she didn’t turn on you?” I asked.
He stared at me, his face flat. “Doesn’t matter,” he said. “Either way, someone has to pay if we’re going to make this deal.”
I stood there and let that sink in. I really hoped Colleen heard every single delicious word this mother fucker was speaking, because it was much worse than I ever could have expected.
“All right,” I said. “I hear what you’re saying.”
“Then you’re willing to make a deal,” he said.
I held up a hand. “No, no I’m not, not on your terms at least.”
“Give me your terms then.”
“They’re simple. You vacate Point Breeze. Every inch of sidewalk, every single business, they’re all fucking mine. And you give me back Colleen’s father. You release him, make sure he wasn’t harmed, and pay for his time. When you’re off my turf, then we can consider things over between us.”
He let out a harsh laugh. “You really want to do this?” he asked. “You really want a war? I’ve fought before, son. And I’m not the kind to lose.”
“I’m sure you’re not,” I said. “But I don’t make deals with men that use women and hurt them for their own gain.”
He stood there for a long moment, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide. I could tell he was angry and trying to think of something to say, but he finally shook his head.
“You’re making a mistake. Nobody needs to get hurt.”
“Only Colleen,” I said, tilting my head.
He grunted. “Fine then. This is your choice.” He took a step back and I tensed myself, afraid he’d do something stupid.
But instead he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the books.
I let out a breath and gripped the shelf to steady myself. My heart was beating and I felt like my head was swimming. I walked to the end of the aisle and watched as Mathis disappeared down the escalator.
I waited another minute or two for any other Club assholes to clear out before walking into the kid section. I found Colleen leaning against a shelf of Clifford the Big Red Dog books, her face drawn and pale, her fingers digging into the fake wood.
“You okay?” I asked, not getting too close. A little boy wearing a blue sweater and red shorts came running past and started rifling through the books a few feet away.
Colleen seemed totally unaware of him. He found a book and ran off again as his exhausted mom walked past us, smiling a little until she saw Colleen’s face, then quickly looking away.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.” I stepped closer. “You heard what he said.”
Her eyes flashed to mine. Rage was all over her face, rage and fear. “He wants to kill me,” she said. “He wants to blame that shooting on me. I’m his own damn niece.”
“I assume that’s why,” I said. “Killing his own niece would send a better message.”
She hissed and leaned forward. I thought she might be sick, so I walked to her side and put an arm over her shoulder.
“Let go of me,” she said.
I didn’t move. I pulled her closer and held her there. “It’s okay,” I said. “Just breathe. You’ll be okay.”
“He still has my father,” she said, panic replacing her anger. She looked into my eyes, shaking her head. “He’s going to kill my dad.”
“He won’t,” I said. “Your dad is his only card now. He won’t waste it just yet. He’s not as stupid as he looks.”
“Steven,” she whispered, then buried her face in my chest.
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her close. I noticed a few parents were looking in our direction, and I knew it was time to go before someone said something to the staff.
“Come on,” I said, peeling her back. “We have to leave.”
She nodded, tears in her eyes, but she let me take her hand. She walked along with me, shuffling like she was barely aware of moving.
We rode the escalator back down, under the huge sale sign advertising young adult novels, and back out onto the street. Men wearing suits and young kids with backpacks hustled past as I turned right, walked past the back and the long line for the ATM, crossed the street, and found Dino’s SUV parked in a loading zone.
I got Colleen into the back then got up front.
“Take us home,” I said.
Dino nodded, saw the look on my face, and swallowed whatever he was going to say. We drove back to my place in silence.
10
Colleen
We didn’t talk on the ride back to his house. When Dino dropped us out front, I jumped out and hurried up his stoop. I tried to get in but the door was locked, and I banged my fist out of pure frustration and anger.
“I got it,” Steven said, his voice soft. I jumped a little as he got close. “Just me,” he said, and slipped a key from his pocket.
I stared at him, my eyes roaming down his perfect suit, and I wanted to scream. I felt so much anger and confusion deep inside of me, and I didn’t know what to do with it. He pushed open the door and I ran inside, not thinking at all. I angled for the steps, took them two at a time, and kept going until I burst out through the roof deck door.
I
