"Who are you working for?"
"No one but you, asshole."
"Right. I figured you'd say that. Let me guess, you want Mila?" He sneers and sways the guns back and forth.
"Yes." I'm having trouble breathing but I can get that out. "I want her."
"And I'm assuming she wants you?"
"Yes."
The guys holding me down laugh. I don't give a shit what they think.
"So I know enough to know if you tell a girl she can't have a guy, she's gonna want him more. So I'm thinking to myself. How can I make sure this guy isn't a pig before I give him my consent to date my daughter?" He walks around me and I lose sight of him and the gun.
"I'm not a pig. You can see that."
"I like you, Foster. You've been a good soldier. You fight like a champ. I brought you in, checked you out, and you're okay. You could also be a really fucking good cop."
"No." I grunt under the weight on me. It's fucking hard to breathe. "Let me up, Vaughn and we'll talk."
His laugh is the last straw. I push all my force into my limbs and spiral out from under all of them. One guy comes at me and I flatten him with one punch from my left hand. My right hand is toast. The others don't dare approach. "C'mon!" I urge them to take one fucking step closer, but they don't. "Fucking pussies can sit on my back but can't fight standing up?" I don't recognize anyone but Rocco. Donnie was smart and didn't come.
Vaugh raises his hand. "Okay, boys. Get lost."
There's grumbling and spitting before one by one, they call me an asshole, then turn and walk away.
I wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth. I took a beating and it hurts everywhere. My ribs hurt the most, but based on the pain in my hand, I've got broken fingers. I hold my injured fingers with my other hand and try to realign my deformed ring finger, but it stings like hell so I let it be. "What do you want,Vaughn?"
"You're not who I'd pick for her. Not at all, but if she wants you, I'd be willing to make an exception if I could be sure I could trust you." The gun is not on my face anymore so he's relaxing. I could jump him, but the guys are still in the shadows and that won't solve whatever Vaughn wants from me, so I sit and listen.
"What do you want?" I repeat my question.
He leans down near my ear and whispers, "I want you to take out Renzo."
My neck is too sore to move and react so I just stare at him. "What? Why?"
He waves the gun around the room. "You all gone?"
When no one replies, he speaks in a low voice. "You don't know? I thought everyone knew?"
"What?"
"Renzo's dad killed my son." His frenzied eyes flash with unrestrained rage.
Shit. "No. I didn't know that." My heart's still pounding and I'm trying to focus on what he's saying instead of the pain in my fingers and ribs.
"Renzo's dad is dead." He speaks through clenched teeth, his jaw hard as rocks.
"I knew that."
"Now I want Renzo gone too."
I shake my head and turn away from him. "I'm not killing anyone for you, Vaughn."
"Oh really? Shame. I thought you wanted to be part of the family. Date my daughter?" He's taunting me now.
"I do." My voice is short. I know where he's going and I hate him for it.
"Then take care of Renzo and you're in. You're not a cop, you get the girl. We're a big happy family." He smiles and points his gun at the ceiling as he raises both his hands.
"That's insane." I stare at him, barely believing what he's asking me to do.
He walks in a circle around me again, trying to intimidate me. He's much too comfortable and calm doing this. I'm not the first guy he's pressured into murder.
"If Renzo's not dead in a week, then you're a cop, and you're dead. No Mila. No happy family." He feigns sadness like my life is a joke. Everything I want is a farce to him.
"Renzo's been faithful to you." I'm not close with the guy but he serves Vaughn without question. Never heard him complain. He's wrapped up in the life of a made man, but I've spent hours talking to him. He's focused on growing his empire and gaining clout with Vaughn.
Could I kill Renzo? If I do, I'll spend my life planning, executing, and covering up more crimes to stay in his good graces and to keep Mila in my life. Running drugs and roughing up some crooked businessmen to collect money is one thing. Cold-blooded murder is another. Is that what I want for myself and for her? Am I willing to compromise my morals farther than I already have to stay close to Mila? If I do it, can I trust Vaughn won't turn on me himself?
As if he reads my thoughts on my face, he says, "Foster, once you're family, you'll have our protection. We'll work it out with the police and the judges. We'll make sure no one touches you."
I pull my eyes away from his pointed gaze and take a step to the door. He's going to make sure I get away with it?
"I need you to do this, Foster. It's important. Would be good for your father too. The old man? Wouldn't want anything to happen to him."
Oh now he's done it. I rush back to him and get in his face. "Stay the fuck away from him." He's the only family I have. Vaughn knows this and he's using it against me. God, what an asshole. It's much worse than I thought. Mila is in way too deep in this shit and now I am too.
I turn my back on him to pick up my gun and walk out. I know he won't shoot me from behind. He needs me too much. For now, he won't kill me. A week from now? I have no doubt he would.
Chapter 17 Foster Twist
Henry's attention immediately turns to me as I stand frozen in the foyer of my apartment. The adrenaline zinging through my veins makes it hard to focus, but all scenarios lead to one conclusion.
I have to do what Vaughn asked or he'll have me killed.
"What's going on, Foster?" He props his elbow on the arm of the chair and shifts uncomfortably until he's facing me. "What the hell happened to your face?"
"I have no choice but to kill him." My voice feels like it's coming from someone else's body. This can't be happening to me.
"What are you talking about? Come sit down."
I walk to him in a daze and pull him close for a hug. "I love you, Henry. You've been a good father. I love you so much, but you have to leave. Call your son to come get you right now."
His weak hand pushes me away from my vice-like embrace. "Tell me what's going on."
"Vaughn Bianchi ordered me to kill Renzo or he'll kill me."
A deep groove forms in his brow. "How the hell did you get wrapped up in that?"
I stare at him.
"Oh that's right. Anything for your Mila."
I take a seat on the couch next to his chair. Our check-in positions. This may be the last check-in I ever have with Henry. I'm sitting here stunned, wondering how I got to this point. How did I let my obsession with this girl get so far, and how could she be so completely stuck in the situation she's in?
"I have to decide. Do it or give my life. He said he'll come for you too. We have to get you out of here."