“I told you I’m working on it. I’m getting $200 tomorrow.”
Fat Tommy barks a laugh. “That doesn’t even make a dent.”
“That’s the money from my car.” Laura turns to Scott.
“I know. I’m sorry.” He reaches for her bound hands with his.
“It doesn’t matter. You need money? Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Scott shakes his head, his dark blond hair falling into his eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Twenty large is a big deal to me, Scott.” Tommy tsks.
“Twenty thousand dollars?” Laura’s voice rises with each word, her eyes widening. “We don’t have that! How did you even have enough to begin with to dig a hole like that?”
“Calm down.” Scott manages to grab her hands with his. “Come on, sis, it’s not that bad.”
She opens her mouth, but no sound comes out. She just stares at him, shocked.
I can answer her questions—all of them, in fact. Usually, Scott wouldn’t have access to enough money to bet and lose it plus more to get into a 20 thousand dollar hole. But thanks to a streak of luck at my friend’s casino, Scott managed to win just enough money to be dangerous. And then? Then he did what I knew he’d do. He thought luck was on his side, when in fact I’d rigged the system to get him the seed money that led to his doom. And now here we are.
“Look, I can get you the money, Fat Tommy,” Scott pleads. “I don’t know why you brought her into this.”
“Collateral.” Fat Tommy shrugs his bony shoulders.
“She’s a person, not a car or a house.” He has the nerve to sound indignant. “You can’t leverage Laura.”
“She’s valuable.” Fat Tommy’s tone is clear, his intent lecherous.
I don’t like it. Once again, he isn’t following my instructions to the letter. Perhaps I’ve been too lax with discipline on his part of my operation. That will change tonight.
“Don’t look at her like that.” Scott finally shows some backbone as he tries to stand.
“Hey, pretty little girl.” Tommy steps closer to Laura and ignores Scott. “What’s a kiss worth?”
“What?” Laura blinks.
I can’t tell if she’s horrified or confused.
“Stop,” Scott growls. He knows exactly what’s going on.
I’m fucking livid. Fat Tommy will bleed for even making that suggestion.
“Ten dollars? More?” Fat Tommy rubs his hands together. “A sweet piece of ass like you, a kiss might be a hundred dollars? How’s that sound? You can help your brother right now. Work off some of his debt. I’ll pay one hundred for a kiss, but if you really want to help him, you’ll have to give me more.” He licks his lips.
My hands fist. Fat Tommy is an earner, but he’s expendable, and he’s walking a fucking fine line. Laura is mine.
“You’re disgusting.” She spits at him.
That’s the fire I’m after, the spark I saw inside her when we first met.
“If you touch me, I’ll kick your dick off!” she adds.
I smirk at her phrasing.
Fat Tommy shrugs and backs off.
I relax just a hair.
“Well, if you won’t work off your brother’s debt, just what are we going to do with the two of you? I can’t let you go on not paying.” Fat Tommy sighs. “So I guess we’ll have to make an example out of you.” He jerks his chin at one of his goons. “Dirk, get the saw.”
“What?” Laura shrieks.
“Circular or jig?” Dirk asks.
Fat Tommy rolls his right shoulder. “Let’s use the jig on him, the circular’s so hard to control when it gets bloody that it hurts my joints. Grip’s all slippery. Dangerous, really. I could mess up and cut my own leg off.” He shakes his head and chuckles.
“Oh my God.” All the blood drains from Laura’s face. “You aren’t serious.”
“Oh, I am, little girl.” He points at Dirk. “Get the tarp, too.”
“Wait!” she cries.
Fat Tommy turns back to her. “What is it, little girl?”
“Laura, no.” Scott shakes his head. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” She throws up her bound hands. “They’re going to cut off a limb! I can’t let that happen. Look, Mr. Fat Tommy, we can work this out.”
“Can we?” Fat Tommy moves toward her again.
I grit my teeth.
“Yes, I’ll um, I’ll …”
“Laura, don’t. Don’t do anything. I’ll be okay. He’s just bluffing about the saw thing and—” The other guard gags Scott as Dirk returns with a blue tarp under one arm and a jigsaw in his other hand.
“Okay, you can do what you want with me!” Laura cries. “Just don’t hurt him!”
“I was gonna do that anyway, little girl.” Fat Tommy laughs. “And besides, even if your pussy’s worth 20 large, I don’t have that kind of money.”
Dirk fumbles with the power outlet, but finally gets the saw plugged in. It makes a nice zzzzz sound, the blade sawing up and down.
Laura screams.
Finally. That’s my cue.
5
Laura
The sound of the saw buzzing is one I’ll never forget. I scream. I know it’s pointless, but the thought of that saw harming Scott or me is too much. How did I get here? Tears begin to take over. I’ve never felt more helpless. Scott fights to try and free himself.
Today, I’m going to lose something. I just have to hope it’s not my life or my brother’s. I think it’s going to be something much worse. Knowing that my first kiss will be with Fat Tommy isn’t sitting well. I'm going to throw up.
“Off!”
My head jerks to the door when the booming order echoes through the room. A large figure fills the dark space. I wonder what this guy’s nickname is if they’re calling that little guy Fat Tommy.
The buzzing stops instantly.
I swallow. Did this somehow just get worse?
“Let her go!” Scott keeps fighting to break free.
“You’re hurting yourself,” I hiss at him. His hands are starting to turn purple.
I suck in a breath when the man steps into the room. My heart starts to race. I know that build. Not many men are built like my casino man. He’s not only well over six feet, but he’s broad and thick all over. But it can’t be him. I’m hallucinating that he’s come to save me.
“Laura.”
I close my eyes. There’s no mistaking that voice. This isn’t happening. I’m still asleep on my sofa. I scream when I hear a loud whack. My eyes fly open. Nope, I’m awake.
“Fuck.” Fat Tommy sways on his feet and almost falls on his ass. He holds his hand to his nose. Blood gushes from it. I stare in shock. This keeps on getting weirder and weirder.
“Tape?” casino man grits out to Tommy.
Tape? Oh God, there’s a tape? Is he mad over some recording?
“She would have screamed if he hadn’t done it. Fuck, Mr. Vincent.”