I wasn’t kidding when I told Alexa to grab something valuable. I end up with an antique vase I know is worth some money plus a couple of my father’s Rolex watches. She watches while I grab the stuff, shaking her head, but she doesn’t stop me.

We leave the house not too long later. Buddy’s still asleep on the kitchen table. I check to make sure he’s alive, and I’m actually a little disappointed when he’s still breathing.

We head back to my house, although we stop off to pawn the watches first. I get a few hundred for them, which is good. I’ll find a real buyer for the antique vase when I get a chance, or maybe I’ll just throw it up on eBay and see what that gets me.

I’m in a good mood when we head back to my house, but I shouldn’t be. I don’t know why I let my guard down on that car ride. Maybe it’s because Alexa was holding my hand, a smile on her face, still flushed from the sex we had earlier. Maybe it was the lingering effects of the orgasm, or just my overwhelming desire for her. Whatever it is, I’m totally caught off-guard when we find several black SUVs parked outside my shop as we drive down the street toward my little house.

I slow and come to a stop. Alexa’s grip on my hand tightens. “Is that them?” she asks.

I nod, frowning, staring at the cars. “It’s them,” I say.

“What do they want?”

“We’ll have to go find out.”

“Right now?”

“Right now,” I say, nodding. “No use going back to my place, they’ll just follow and probably be more pissed off.”

“Yeah.” She looks away. “Should I be afraid?”

“No,” I say. “I promise.”

I pull the truck into the lot outside the shop and kill the engine. The SUVs are all empty, which means the guys are inside. Tentatively, I go toward the front door. It opens as we approach, and Jimmy looks out at us.

“Well, well, well,” he says, grinning huge. “I fucking knew it.”

I glance back at Alexa then to Jimmy. “What’d you know, Jimmy?”

“You and the girl. I knew she was involved.”

“You got me, Jimmy. She’s my girl.”

His laughter is harsh. “Doesn’t matter, I guess. The old man wants to see you.”

I stop dead in my tracks. “Raymond’s here?”

“Yeah, he’s fucking here, what’d I just say?”

“Shit,” I say, which makes Jimmy grin bigger.

“Better not make him wait,” Jimmy says, stepping aside.

I walk into my shop, Alexa close behind me. Jimmy closes the door as we pass and follows, near on Alexa’s heels.

“I knew you were involved,” he whispers to her. “Should’ve hurt you back then, but I guess I’ll get another chance soon.”

I look back at Jimmy. “Threaten her again and I’ll break you, little boy.”

He grins at me but doesn’t argue. I know it’s probably an empty threat, considering my workshop is full of mafia muscle, but I can’t let him talk to Alexa like that.

I can see the fear in her eyes, but I keep a brave face on. I can’t let her see the fear inside of me. I have to hold this together for both of us.

There are eight guys in the room, including Raymond Costa himself. Raymond is seated on a stool, holding a cane in one hand, wearing a gray windbreaker, dark blue slacks, and reading glasses. His hair is thin and gray and he looks like a normal grandfather, except I know what he really is.

He’s a viper, ready to strike.

I stop just inside the door, and two guys come to either side of me. They pat me down, making sure I’m not carrying any weapons. Jimmy pats down Alexa, and is about to grab her breasts, but he catches my look. Instead, he finishes the pat-down. Alexa looks like she wants to throw up in his face, and I want to kill him, but at least he didn’t touch her that way.

But before I can say anything, Raymond stands up.

“Hello, Elias. I’m sorry we have to meet under such unfortunate circumstances.”

The two thugs let me go and I step over toward Raymond. “It’s a shame my father causes everyone problems,” I say.

Raymond laughs softly. “That’s putting it mildly. Your father, he’s a political genius, but he has demons.”

“He always has,” I say. “I gave up on him a long time ago.”

“Yes, so I hear.” His smile doesn’t falter. “You’re a very disloyal son, it seems.”

I flinch at that. “It’s hard to be loyal to a man like Buddy,” I say.

“He’s a man without honor,” Raymond says softly. “I can understand how the son of such a man would feel anger toward him. But family is most important, you know that, right?”

“Yes,” I say grudgingly, and glance back at Alexa.

Raymond notices and smiles. “And who is this?”

“This is Alexa,” I say. “She’s with me.”

“I can see that,” Raymond responds. “How are you mixed up in this, dear?”

“She’s—” I start, but Raymond holds up a hand.

“Let the girl speak.” He smiles at Alexa.

She clears her throat. “I, uh, stumbled into it,” she says. “I’m, ah, with Elias.”

“I see.” Raymond continues smiling, and I’m afraid of what will happen if she stops. “Is this a serious thing, between you two?”

“Yes,” she says.

I nod my head. “It’s serious,” I say.

“Good, good.” Raymond seems pleased. “Maybe you can’t be loyal to your father, but you could be loyal to her, yes?”

“Yes,” I say fiercely.

He laughs lightly. “Good boy. So, pleasantries aside. Let’s get to business. Your father owes me a lot of money, and I’ve come to collect.”

“I don’t speak for my father,” I say.

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong.” He shakes his head sadly. “Some say that the son shouldn’t be held responsible for the sins of his father, but I call that bullshit. You are blood to him, and you have to pay if he can’t.”

I take a sharp breath and let it out. I can feel the thugs getting closer to me, ready to lash out at any moment.

“I can’t pay you,” I say. “Not in full, at least. But I can make a start.”

Raymond cocks his head. “Go on.”

I reach back into my pocket. The thugs react, but Raymond waves them off. I pull out the wad of cash I got from the watches and hold it out.

One of the thugs takes it, counts it, and passes it to Raymond, speaking softly into his ear. Raymond nods and slips the money into his pocket.

“That’s a start, but a small one.” He watches me for a moment. “What else do you have?”

“I have another few thousand in here, but it’s hidden. I’m sure your boys can find it sooner or later, but if you’ll make a deal with me, I’ll save us all some time.”

Raymond’s face lights up. “A deal?” he asks me. “You want to make a deal?”

His thugs all laugh. I catch Vito’s eye and his grin is particularly malicious.

Raymond stops laughing and sighs. “Truth is, I’ve made many deals with your father. I’m tired of making deals with your family, Elias.” He hesitates a moment. “But I will hear you out, if only because one of my captains holds you in such high regard.”

Inwardly I thank Marko for being such a good friend before speaking. “The money is a down payment. If you agree to leave us in peace at least for a few weeks, I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

“How?” Raymond asks me. “You don’t have this kind of money.”

“I’ll find a way,” I repeat.

Raymond watches me for what feels like an eternity. I can feel Alexa tense beside me, but I don’t back down. I won’t be afraid. I have to stay strong for her and for my baby.

Eventually, he nods. “Okay then. You have a week. Where’s the cash?”

“In a plastic bag inside the toilet tank.”

Raymond sighs. “I hate that trick. The cash always smells like shit, no matter what you do with it.”

I shrug. “Sorry about that.”

He snaps his fingers and two guys leave the room and head into the bathroom. We wait in silence for a minute before they return with all my cash in the world, wrapped in plastic and still damp from the toilet bowl.

The thug opens it up on my bench and flips through it. “Looks like three, maybe four,” he says.

“Three thousand six hundred,” I say. “Just about.”

“Fine,” Raymond says. “That’s a very, very small down payment. We’ll accept it, because you are not your father. But you will be responsible, Elias. Like it or not, you will.” He watches the pair of us for a moment before smiling again. “Take care of her, young man. She seems worth keeping.”

“She is,” I say softly.

That seems to please him. He nods at his guys and heads back through the front of the shop. The thugs filter out after him. Vito and Jimmy linger last.

“We’ll be back in a week,” Jimmy says. “And I think the old man won’t keep us on a leash next time.”

“Good,” I say to him. “Now fuck off.”

Jimmy looks pissed but Vito pushes him away. “Just get some cash, okay, kid?” Vito says to me. “Something substantial. Make the old man happy.”

“I will,” I say. “Now you can fuck off too.”

Vito shakes his head and pushes Jimmy out of there. Finally, I’m alone with Alexa, and I turn toward her. I pull her against me, wrapping my arms tight around her body, hugging her close.

“It’ll be okay,” I say softly. “We’ll figure it out.”

“How much?” she asks.

I hesitate. “Eight hundred thousand.”

She takes a sharp breath. “How?” she asks me.

“I’ll figure it out. I’ll sell the house, the shop, everything if I have to.”

“Elias,” she whispers, and I pull her tighter.

“I’m sorry you’re mixed up in this. I promise, when it’s over, I’ll make it up to you.”

“Do you really think it’ll be over?”

“Yes,” I say, and I realize that I mean it. I can suddenly see in myself the capacity to end this, or at least the willingness to go as far as I need to.

It’s not just for me. It’s for Alexa and the baby. I agree with Raymond, she’s worth protecting, and I’m going to do it. I don’t know how, or what I’ll have to do, but I’ll sacrifice anything. I’ll sacrifice myself for her if I have to.

In the end, it’s for her and the baby, and I don’t matter. I really don’t.

I hold her tight and kiss her, savoring her. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to, so I’m taking every single moment I possibly can.

I pull back and force a smile. “Come on, let’s go home,” I say.

She nods a little and smiles back. “Home. That’s weird.”

“Yeah, guess so.” I kiss her again, take her hand, and we walk out together.