a

, pausing in the foyer as he

wit and cunning humor. He always enjoy

the area, looking at the pictures on the side table near the couch. Ha pa

at day vividly, how Dad had taken me to the beach and then for ice cream.

d never forget, even though now, the fond memories I ha

hotograph back down with a bang that almost shatters

not to let them see how intimidated I was. These guys could really hurt me if they wanted to.

lifted his hand and wiggled his finger

unt of sleep before work tomorrow. "Just tell me how much he owes y

ckle. "Straight to business. That's someth

ike anyone Ivan, don't lie to me," I

ing personal." He shrugged and stepped even clos

e for you much either." I glared at him, hoping he'd

and acted as though he had been sh

s as it actually was. If I didn't give him any of the money my dad owed him, he could have his goonies

enty K, love," Ivan replied li

ad doing down there? If Ivan didn't kill Dad, I sure

he smirked and looked me up and down. "W

oing what he had once suggested to me when I was in a similar situation. Nope

ive you another week for one more and from there we can make a payme

I was going to need to take it

k. Wait, what was this? Why was the third envelope so light? I turned it over

I asked to no o

llowed me into the room and was

hundred in there earlier that

the nearly empty envelope down on the desk

e! How could he seriously go and do t

was buzzing and answered it, turning away. I threw the envelo

d and moved to his boss' side. "Sir?" He

he whistled. "Oh, well

. "What is it?" My voice

re coming with u

y head, I raised my hands as his

grips were painful, my skin pulled and rubbed raw as they manhandled me out of the house and tossed me into the back seat of th

eat. Just f

bout thi

but he had some morals. At least for a mobster. But

ed, leaning up to shout at him wh

ready buried himself inside the hole." Ivan c

hed out. This w

" That just made

est, but I held it down

, looking back the way we'd come over my shou

. "Yes, I did. Here are your keys. Funny thing

ered against mine for a brief moment. His fac

, Sara," he said w

re acting out of character." Even h

ed again, leaning back into his seat. "Am I?

a mannequin. What are you d

I actually do like you, love. You are strong, independent, determined. You bale out your deadbeat d

tell me what it is?

he window. "We'

nding more information. Ivan had the upper hand here, and who knew what was at the other end

came to a halt and one of the henchm

the poker venues that Ivan ran. I had been outside it once picking up Dad a

He tried to give me a reassuri

nd seethed. I didn't want to be

ore he urged me down a set of

the venue. The men that wandered around the tables were dressed like the henchmen and individua

own had handguns hiding in their waistbands that peeked out of their trousers. Some of the h

r as soon as we ente

and down with his eyes, looking for any sign of injury.

t's going on,

eyes. "I'm so sorry. I had no ot

d stooped so low already. "Wha

p it. Why didn't you put i

taking what didn't belong to him?

going to give me any answers.

is going on?

ft as he spoke. "Your

"W

ld you

even an

father ju

t twisted and cut off the oxygen

all around the room and bounced around into my en

M