My father pauses, pursing his lips, then nods. “Then you know what I mean. He is honorable but without strength.” He meets my eyes, searching my expression.
Is he goading me? Trying to get me to defend Val? He doesn’t know me as well as he thinks. I know that if Val was in here right now he’d tell me to do whatever it takes to get Pip back safely. I stay silent and he draws a breath.
“Well… Think on it. If you no longer have Valiant’s money at your disposal, I would think a job would help with things like grocery bills and… school fees.” The door opens behind me and a genuine smile curls my father’s lips. “Penelope, your sister is here for you.”
I turn and see her, and realize I was holding my breath. Releasing it in a long sigh, I see that she’s unharmed, and she runs to me, throwing her arms around me. She doesn’t say anything. No words are needed. We both know the other is feeling the same thing: relief.
Standing and taking her hand, I see one of my father’s goons going to his side and whispering something in his ear. Papa’s face goes dark and he turns to stare at me, but I speak before he can.
“I’m not coming back to work for you, Papa,” I tell him, meeting his eyes. “Goodbye.”
“Ah ah ah, not so fast, Samos. It seems that you weren’t completely honest with me. No doubt that’s your mother’s influence. She always did lie to get her own way. Valiant Garcia has just been spotted hanging around at the front of the casino.”
I shrug. “Where he goes has nothing to do with me.” I turn to Pip. “Come on.”
Papa laughs. “You think I believe that? Perhaps, if you don’t care what happens to him, I should have Camilo bring him to me. What do you think?”
I hesitate, meeting his eyes, wondering if he’s bluffing. My father is a hard man, cruel sometimes, but to hurt Val just to get at me? Would he?
“Ah, I see that idea doesn’t sit too well with you. So, there are things we need to discuss, but just to focus your mind… Camilo!”
***
Val
She’s been in there too long and I’m starting to get antsy. Part of me wants to storm in there, break some heads and pull both her and her sister out, but she made me promise. And I don’t break promises. She’s doing this her way, the safety of her sister is what’s important.
I glance again at my watch. She’s been in there fifteen minutes. At thirty, if she’s not back, I’m allowed to go in. Fuck. How am I going to wait another fifteen minutes for her? I can’t wait another fifteen seconds.
Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I turn around on the sidewalk, putting my hands behind my head, and stare at the van parked on the opposite side of the street. And frown. How long has it been there? I think it was there when we got here, but it’s a no parking zone. A parking officer is walking up the street away from it right now, but hasn’t ticketed it.
Feds.
It has to be. Why here? The casino takes up several blocks, there’s nothing else around. I spot a woman in a suit walking up to the back of the van with a tray of drinks and pastries, and she disappears inside.
Shit.
If the FBI is here with a van, then they have more than just a suspicion about Scamp’s father’s activities. Somebody is investigating him and his organization. But why here right now? Why so close? Unless…
I turn around and look at the front of the casino. People are coming in and out as they do at all hours of the day, but there are some men just hanging around outside. Big. Sharp-eyed. Wearing long, thick coats. All of them. At a glance you might not think a thing, but putting them all together, this is a team. An assault squad. DEA? No. These people aren’t cops. I can tell a gangster when I see one.
If they go in with Scamp and Pip there, nobody can predict the outcome. They’re going to be at risk. Apollo Volos, for all his faults, will try to protect them. He sent me with food for them all those years ago. He pretends not to care but somewhere, deep down, he has honor. Honor for family, at least. But he can’t protect them from the crossfire when these men and his own start trading shots.
Fuck. Fuck. Right now, any differences we have mean nothing to me.
Trying to stay calm enough not to run and draw attention, I head up the steps to the front of the casino, and duck in through the doors. The bouncers don’t bother me, which is just as well for them because right now I’d kill anyone that got in my way and not think twice about it.