I smile to myself again, at least something’s gone right so far. Going to plan nicely.
“I figured you wouldn’t run with all that cash, nor do you really feel like handing it over to Marconi either…?” I suggest out loud, making him get all defensive again.
“You a betting man?” I ask him, figuring it might just be how he really got in so deep with Marconi. Maybe Roxy doesn’t know everything about her squeaky clean dad after all. I’ve seen it so many times before, I can practically smell it on him over the phone.
Gambler.
“That’s none of your damned business! Look, put Roxy back on, and if I find out there’s anything going on between you and my daughter…”
I hear myself growling at the idea.
“Or what?” I ask roughly, but I can’t afford to get off topic.
“Carl? I need you to focus now, listen to my voice. That money, for those bikes? I have a way to turn that around for you. Double your money, maybe. Take half and do as I say… Are you listening?”
It takes some doing, but the prospect of doubling what he has is appealing but I don’t want to shame him with Roxy so close, talking about gambling mightn’t be what either of them need right now between each other.
If she knew it was the real reason her dad was in so deep…
I put my hand over the phone and ask her to go into the kitchen, or better yet, get Baxter outside, he might need to go himself.
She does it, but reluctantly and I clue Carl in to the rest of my proposal, whatever I can do to help him be free of Marconi and get his life back on track, the better off Roxy will be too.
“But, there has to be a catch?” he asks once I tell him what I’m proposing he do with all that money.
“Yeah, the catch is you never gamble again. How ‘bout that? This one time you have a chance to right the ship but after that… I don’t want to see or hear of you gambling again.
“Hey who the fuck are you, pal?” He starts up again, “You don’t own me, you’re nobody… nothing to me…”
Seeing Roxy come back down the stairs with Baxter, the concern in her eyes and her wanting to look outside at those men again. I know where I need to be right now, and it’s not talking to Carl.
“Just… do it. Alright? Someone will be there to take the money to the fight,” I tell him as softly as I can before hanging up, but I grimace when I see Roxy overhear that part.
I guess she’ll find out sooner or later…
“You wanna tell me what’s really going on yet?” she asks me. And I pull her close again, kissing her and feeling her kiss me back.
I know she trusts me.
But she deserves to know some of it, at least.
All the details though?
Hell. I’m not even sure we’re gonna be able to pull this one off.
Even if we have half the Russian army on our side, let alone a few guys with bikes.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Roxy
“They’re who?” I ask Dillon, finding myself clutching at my neck, wanting to cover myself from head to toe for some reason, suddenly feeling raw, and exposed.
“Russians.” He replies dryly, then smiles, trying to lighten the mood by nibbling on my neck but I pull away from him. I need to know more than just their nationality.
“They’re friends of a friend,” he says, sighing. “I’m gonna fix it so you, me and your dad can be free of Marconi for good.”
I put my hands on my hips, sliding my feet a little wider apart before I start tapping one of them, waiting for a better explanation.
“I was in the middle of a conversation with my dad, and you just butted in, took over…” I start to protest, but there’s something in the way he looks at me when I get mad with him that never keeps me mad for long.
I feel all the hot wind going out of my sails, and all my puff and bluster is gone as quickly as it came over me. I let him circle his arms around my waist again, smiling and shuddering a breath in as he kisses my neck, my ultimate weak spot I’ve discovered. And so has he.
“Just play along with me, huh?” he asks, sounding more confident by the minute. It feels like the less I like this idea, whatever it is, the keener he is to pull it off.
“My dad’s not in any danger though?” I ask him seriously, relieved when he shakes his head straight away,
“No, none. I promise. Those guys out front? They’re our protector. Your dad will have his own within the hour, knowing Jake… I originally wanted your dad out of town until this simmered down, but…”
“But what?” I ask, feeling my anxiety rising again, sensing there’s more he’s not saying, but only for my own sake.
“But, it’s worked out for the best,” Dillon beams, “he’s even got a big order in for his bike shop. Enough to cover any upcoming expenses, even after he’s paid for the bikes,” he adds, planting a bug wet kiss on my lips as I squeal with disbelief.
The relief that rushes through me is incredible. I don’t know how, or even why Dillon’s doing so much to help us, to help my dad, but if he’s managed this much in less than a day, my confidence in him is rock solid now.
He presses his forehead against mine, leaning down so we can see into each other’s eyes, “I know this is happening fast, but it kinda has to if it’s gonna work. I need you Roxy, more than ever. I need you to-”
“I know, I know,” I cut him off, “I need to trust you,” I say, and he laughs softly.
“No! Well.
