“W-what does that mean?” I stammer.
“What I said.” He answers back coolly.
“Like, here at the bar?”
He smirks, “No, not likely. But if I wanted you too, you would.”
“So what would I be doing?”
“Mia bella ragazza, you’d be working for me. And in return, I’d pay off your brother’s debt. Your family would be safe.”
“Why?”
He raises an eyebrow in response. “You’re asking me why I would help you?”
“Yeah. You don’t know me, why would you want me to work for you?”
“I’m offering you a chance to pay off a debt that I guarantee you have no other way to pay. Not with your half-assed attempt to rob me.”
The other man snickers at his insult. Behind me, I hear Johnny grumble something unintelligible underneath the duct tape.
“Yeah, I am. I know I can’t pay any other way, and I appreciate your offer but why would I want to get into bed with another monster if I don’t even know what it entails?” My question is dangerous. He’ll either like it or kill me on the spot.
A light chuckle leaves his lips. “Because if you don’t one of you is probably going to die tomorrow. The Irish don’t take kindly to not being paid back timely. I’m not a monster, Annie. I’m cutting you a break. Take it or leave, but make a decision now.”
I pursed my lips.
There was no decision to be made.
It was life or death.
“I have school,” I say quieter. “and I also have another job.”
He eyes me. “Are you asking me for leniency?”
“Yes.” My answer is barely audible.
I don’t like this deal. I don’t like the idea of getting too close to someone like him.
He has danger written all over him.
“As a show of good faith, Annie, I will work around your schedule, within reason.”
I nod, biting my tongue to keep from saying thank you. Thank you for not killing us right there and then. I don’t want to give him that pleasure.
“How much does he owe?” Gio asks.
“Fifty K.”
He whistles again. “Damn boy, you have a problem with gambling?” he asks looking at Johnny whose reply is masked by the duct tape over his mouth.
“What now?” I ask nervously.
“Well, Big Frank here is going to make sure your brother and your friend here are set straight. I’m going to take you home and we’ll wait for your visitor.”
Annie. Fucking. Bryne.
I can already tell that this girl is going to be the death of me. I made her give me her license as Frankie and Tony drug her friends out of The Alibi. She was stupid enough to be carrying the damn thing on her.