“Did you hurt him?” She turns her icy gaze on Frank.
I give him a nod, a silent signal to answer her.
“He got the message.”
She turns her anger back to me in a flash. “And what was that message?”
I’m torn, because part of me loves her sass and seeing her like this. But I also am not about to let her talk to me like this.
“Listen here Annie, because I will not repeat myself. Your brother and your cousin tried to steal from me. Yeah, I made this deal with you but that doesn’t get them off easy. They fucked up, you did too, and I don’t let shit like that go. Do you hear me?”
“Am I next?” She quickly asks. “You gonna rough me up too?” There’s fire in her eyes. She looks like she wants to hit me now.
“Stop it,” I tell her.
“No, come on.” She goads. “I fucked up too, that’s what you said.”
She’s picking a fight.
“Out,” I shout at my men. “Charlie, Frank get out of here.”
They’re quick to leave. They probably think I’m going to hurt her and no one wants to watch a woman get hit.
She doesn’t move an inch as they leave her apartment. She stands still with her icy gaze locked on me.
“Don’t, Annie. Grow the fuck up. You know how this shit works. You saved your brother today, but you can’t protect him forever.”
“You said you wouldn’t hurt him.” She repeats, this time slower, angrier.
“No Annie, I said you would all live today and here you are, alive.” I gesture to her perfectly capable and unbruised body.
“Where is he?”
“Frank took him home. Some ice and Advil and he’ll be fine.”
&nb
sp; She huffs. “I need my car from your bar.”
“I’ll have someone drop it off.”
“I’ll just take an Uber.” she tries.
“No,” I tell her. “You need to start listening to me. You are not leaving, you are staying in your apartment until tomorrow morning and someone will drop off your car. Do you understand me?”
I know I’m acting out of anger, but I need her obedience.
She doesn’t respond, just stands there angry and silent.
“This is how this works now Annie. I talk and you listen. This is the price for your brother.”
“Fine.” She finally mutters. “Can I go to bed now or do you have more lectures?”
All sass.
“Jesus. No, go.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”