business, Mr. Millionaire.”
“I just paid off a hundred and ten thousand dollar debt for you. Your business is my business now.”
“For fuck’s sake, just because you’ve got money, you think you own people?” Her voice escalates.
“Deanna, calm down. We owe David.”
“Christ. You’ve really been drinking the Kool-Aid, huh Lilly? You’re just a toy to this guy. He’ll be done with you in what…just one more night, right?”
“Actually, Deanna, I told him I’d stay an extra night,” Lilly says, softly, her eyes downcast.
“What the fuck?!” Deanna throws her hands up and the heels she’s holding clatter together with the gesture. “Why?!”
“Because you came by the other day.” Lilly says.
“What about your flight?!”
“I changed it.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?! That wasn’t part of the deal!” Deanna turns on me. “Lilly said six nights! Why is it now seven?! I knew you were a shady motherfucker, I knew it from the start! You probably did cheat on that first night.”
“I told Lilly that your reckless actions needed consequences,” I tell her firmly. “And I let her choose those consequences. She could have chosen a punishment for you. She chose to give me another night of her time instead.”
“God, you fucking monster,” Deanna grinds her teeth, staring at me with a hate I’ve rarely seen.
“Deanna, stop, please,” Lilly murmurs.
“As I was saying before,” I interject before the twins can get into their next squabble. “I think rehab would do you good, Deanna. Antony agreed to let me buy your debt for $100k. So technically, you now owe me a hundred grand. I suggest you check into a facility within the next three months. If you do, I’ll consider the debt paid. Otherwise, I expect to have that $100k paid back. In full. With interest.”
Lilly looks at me in shock, her eyes wide. “But didn’t she owe him $110k?”
“Yes, but he figures that getting $100k cash in hand today is better than chasing after your sister for $110k he’ll never see.”
Deanna is visibly bristling. “Fucking asshole,” she mutters. But her resolve seems to be fading. She’s clearly had a long night and whatever booze or other substances she’s been on, the effect is wearing off. She’s getting tired and the fight is going out of her. “Well, I’m not going to rehab. So you’ll get your $100k,” she shrugs, “plus interest,” she adds, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Good.” I give her a nod. “If that’s your choice.”
“Yeah, that’s my choice. Fucking tightwad. Not like you can’t afford it. $100k isn’t shit to you.” With another shrug, she turns to Lilly and gives her a quick hug. “Don’t let this jackass pull the wool over your eyes. I’ll be by the day after tomorrow to pick you up. Noon. On the dot.” She shoots me a sharp look. “Don’t try some stupid shit to get her to stay another night.”
And with those parting words, she ambles off, with her heels slung over her shoulder.
“Okay?” I put a hand on Lilly’s arm.
“Yes. Can we go to the car please?” She turns towards me, her eyes shining with just a hint of unshed tears.
“Of course.” I stride ahead but then, realizing she’s having trouble keeping up, slow my pace. Mike follows closely behind us.
“I don’t understand why you did that,” Lilly says softly as we walk.
“What, paid the debt? Or made the condition about rehab?”
“All of it.”
“Like I said, if Deanna hadn’t been able to cough up that cash within the week, Antony would have been forced to make an example of her. I should have had Terry put the word out that she’s not to be extended any credit. Anywhere.”
“Yeah, but what do you care? Deanna hasn’t exactly been good to you. Or even remotely polite.”
We approach the car and I open the door for her, ushering her inside. Then I go to the other side of the vehicle. I’m thankful for the break this allows in the conversation.
“She’s not exactly all that nice to you either,” I say, changing tack as I slip into the seat next to her.
“Yeah, but she’s my sister. With family, it’s different. You put up with people’s crap.”
“True. But you stood up for yourself today. That was good to see.”
“That was new.” She looks down at her hands, folded in her lap. “Usually she just steamrolls over me, over everyone. She treats people so badly when she gets like that.”
“When she’s drunk. Call it what it is, Lilly.” I sigh, sinking back into the cushy leather seats of the