“I know.”
“What are we supposed to do when she finds out that most of it is gone? Keenan and I spent it years ago. He built his shop, and I made daddy pay me back for each time he made me spread my legs.”
“She’s not going to ever get to the money because she’s not leaving here alive.” I hated waiting, but it was all I could do. There was a lot of highway between here and Nevada.
“You can’t kill her.”
I faced her and saw that she was completely serious. “Why not?”
“She’s my mother?” she answered sarcastically.
“She was an incubator, not a mother, and there are a lot of people who want her dead.”
“I don’t care. I can’t watch my mother die the same day I meet her.”
“She kidnapped my girlfriend and attacked her friend for the second time, and you expect me to let her live?”
“I’m not saying she has to get away. We could just call the cops.”
“I’m not calling the fucking cops.”
She was starting to piss me off and I actually began to debate killing her as well as I wondered if Di was really friend or foe. Her mother likely came to do her harm, yet she wanted to protect her.
“Are you going to be a problem?” The conversation had taken a dangerous turn.
“Really? You’re threatening to kill me?”
“I’m asking you if I need to.”
“Look, Lake’s my friend, and I don’t want her hurt, but I don’t think I can watch you kill my mother. You killed yours and look how screwed up that made you.”
I pulled out my gun and pointed it at her head. She maintained eye contact even as I threatened her life.
“Answer me.”
“No,” she shouted. It was the only crack in her tough exterior. “I just can’t do this.”
“Then leave.”
“This is my apartment,” she argued.
My patience had run out so much that the threat I spewed next took us both by surprise. “Get the fuck out, or I swear I will bury you beside your mother.”
Fortunately, she was smart enough to know I was completely serious and left.
Six hours later, a knock on the door pulled me away from the window I kept watch through. With my gun at my side, I answered the door to find Esmerelda alone. “Hello, Esmerelda.” Her eyes widened with panic, but then she recovered just as quickly and attempted to pull her gun. I caught it and slammed it against the molding, causing the gun to drop and then threw her inside the apartment behind me. I then slammed the door shut and locked it.
“Why are you here? Where’s my daughter?”
“Your daughter couldn’t watch you die so I sent her away.”
“You’re not going to kill me,” she challenged and smiled. Her eyes shifted wildly around the apartment as she stood to her feet.
“Why the fuck would you think that?”
“Because you’re a slave, and I order you not to. I’m also the closest thing to a mother you have. Can you watch me die?”
Her attempt to mind fuck me was not lost. “Think again. Where’s Lake?”
“She’s secure and alive, but she won’t be for long if you kill me.” Her smug smile was misplaced. She thought she had me until I pointed the gun in her direction and shot the floor next to her knee.
“The next one takes out your knee.”
“Okay!” She held up her hands as if it could stop me and slid away. “She’s in the car. I tied her up and left her there.” I could have killed her right then, but my ringing phone saved her life.
“What?” I snapped without checking the ID.
“You need to get out of there,” Di warned. I was ready to hang up on her when she added, “I called the cops.”
“Why the fuck would you do that?” I growled into the phone. The next moment, I heard the melodic—yet frantic—sound of Lake’s voice.
“Keiran, get down here now,” she ordered. I smiled into the phone, despite the nefarious situation, because she thought she could command me.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.” Her voice had softened, and silence then filled the empty space between us. “Is she dead?”
“No.”
She sighed into the phone, and I wondered if it was relief or disappointment that caused the sound. “Good. Don’t kill her.”
“I can’t leave her alive.”
“And if you kill her now, you’ll go to prison.” She fell silent again, probably to let me work it out on my own. Esmerelda watched me—her smugness had returned full force.
“Very well,” I finally answered and aimed the gun at Esmerelda. I had the pleasure of seeing her smugness wiped from her face just as she collapsed.
*
I heard the sirens and made my way down the hall and three flights of stairs to the parking garage. I opened the door to find Lake pacing angrily and Di crouched against the wall staring at the ground. Lake spotted me first and turned on me.