26
Israel
Alice yelled after me. “Israel, wait!”
My father’s voice bellowed over the parking lot. “If you leave this house in this condition, boy, you’re in for a world of hurt!”
I brushed off his threat and kept trucking towards the car until I dropped down against the seat.
“Where to, sir?” my driver asked.
I drew in a sobering breath. “Just drive around. I need to figure out where Bonnie is before we go anywhere.”
“Of course, sir.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Bonnie’s number. No one picked up. I knew I had just stepped into some pretty deep shit with my father, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what my brother was up to now. I had to track Bonnie down. I had to get to her before her uncle sank his claws into her.
“Come on, pick up,” I murmured.
And as my driver eased down my father’s winding driveway, the phone call picked up.
Another voice answered. “You know, I was wondering how long it would take you before you called her,” Pava said.
My back stiffened. “Where’s Bonnie?”
“She’s with me. She’s fine. For now.”
I growled. “What do you want?”
“I want to have a meeting with you. Man to man.”
“I know you’ve sent plenty of your men to try and kill Bonnie. And if you harm her--.”
“All right. If your mouth doesn’t want to talk, then maybe your wallet will.”
I shook my head. “Money, Pava? Really? Is that all you can think about? You have no sanctity for the idea of family?”
“Israel!” Bonnie exclaimed.
A chill rushed down my spine. “For every mark you leave on her, I’ll slaughter a person in your family. For every bruise, I’ll execute them in front of you. And for every drop of her blood that spills—”
“You really are into theatrics, aren’t you?”
I put my hand over the receiver of my cell. “To Pava Moretti’s house. As quickly as you can get there.”
“Yes, sir,” my driver whispered.
Then, I removed my hand. “I’ll pay whatever you want for her. But if she’s harmed—”
“Fifty grand,” Pava said.
That seemed a little light. “Done.”
He chuckled. “For every piece of her body.”
That sounded more like Pava.
“Israel, no! Don’t do it,” Bonnie shrieked.
