Page 16 of Punishing His Runaway Bride
"I know, I know," he nodded frantically, "but sir, I really can't come up with it right now, I just started this job, haven't gotten paid yet, next month—"
"Next month," I repeated, tilting my head. "You said that last month, too."
"This time it's real, I swear, I—"
"Phil." I picked up the knife from the counter and held it casually. "You know I don't like hearing promises."
His lips started trembling.
"One finger, five hundred dollars. Comes off your debt."
He froze, like he didn't understand. "Wha-what?"
"You've got ten fingers." I looked at him. "Five thousand three hundred divided by five hundred. You do the math on how many we're taking. If you can't figure it out, I can wait."
He finally understood. His face went white instantly. "No, no, sir, please, I've got an old mother, I—"
"I know you've got an old mother," I said. "That's why I'm being so clear with the math. Put your hand up."
He didn't move.
I sighed.
He still didn't move.
Fine.
I did it myself.
His three fingers covered twenty-three hundred dollars of debt. Fair price. I tossed him a wad of paper towels. He collapsed on the floor, cradling his hand, crying like a child.
"Clear the remaining two grand tonight," I said, putting the knife away. "If you run, I'll pay your mother a visit. Make sure her finger count matches yours."
He nodded, crying, nodding.
I walked out of the bathroom alone.
Everyone in the kitchen stared at me, terrified, but nobody daredstop me. I nodded at the nearest person. "Your friend's alive. Needs a first aid kit."
Then I left the kitchen, stepped into the afternoon sunlight, and walked to the street.
The sunlight felt oppressive.
I walked to the car, hands in pockets, got in, and told the driver to go.
I thought today would bring some kind of release.
That feeling usually came—a bad debt cleared, someone who wouldn't learn got their lesson, some taut string loosened, like tightening a loose screw. Done, finished, move on.
But sitting in the car, nothing changed.
The hollow remained.
Since I walked into that law office and saw that photo, it had been sitting somewhere in my chest. Didn't hurt, wasn't heavy, just empty. Empty enough to make me restless.
I closed my eyes.
What spun through my head wasn't the Colonnas, wasn't the old bastards already sharpening their knives, wasn't the chessboard I'd have to rearrange after the alliance fell apart.
