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“Ouralligator,” Damon corrected him. “I hate how you always introduce him as yours.”
“I’m sorry, bro, did I step on your sensitive toes? Did our mother not give you enough love, so you feel lost when I leave you out of our pet’s life?”
“Jesus, fuck.” Hector shook his head. How the hell had his evening go down the crapper like this?
“Boys.” Kristoff’s order couldn’t be missed.
Angel and Damon immediately looked contrite, though Hector didn’t miss the spark in their eyes.
All of it is just a damn joke to them.
He was tempted to bash in their skulls with the suitcase when the door opened.
“Brian can see you now.”
Hector surged passed the guard. He came to a halt when he saw his wife in the corner.
“Hector!” Mary jumped up from her seat and ran up to him.
His arms opened of their own accord. Only when she was in his embrace could he breathe again. He cupped her cheek and noticed the trail of blood on the corner of her lip. It was like hellhounds ripped open his chest.
He tucked her behind him and looked at the men sitting at a table in the corner. He didn’t have to ask which one was Brian; the guy wasn’t the biggest of the trio, but he did have the most calculating eyes. Two men sat next to him; one ripped, bald guy wearing a tracksuit, the other, a short version of Baldy.
Gina was huddled against the radiator, looking scared out of her mind. He dismissed her pleading look.
“Who hit my woman?”
When Shorty’s eyes darted to the bald guy, Hector had his answer. He was getting his wife out of here and then he was going to destroy that bald motherfucker. No man got to hurt her and live.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Kristoff and the twins spread out behind him, almost as if they were having his back.
“You touched her, Irish.” Kristoff’s voice was arctic.
Brian shrugged. “Actually, it was Mick. And that happened before we spoke and I found out who she was. I held up my part of the deal. Where’s my cash?”
That was Hector’s cue to move. He walked up to Brian and handed him the suitcase.
The guy put it on the table and opened it. He didn’t count it, probably assuming coming from Kristoff, that would be proof enough that it was all there.
Gina crawled up from her position on the floor, looking immensely relieved.
Brian snapped his fingers at her. “Where do you think you’re going? You haven’t paid my interest yet.”
Ah, shit. Hector was really hoping it wouldn’t come to this. “I’ll pay the interest,” he offered. He had an inkling Mary would object to him leaving her sister’s sorry ass behind.
“That’s not how this works, Hector ‘The Beast,’” Brian said.
His muscles pulled taut when he was reminded of his old street fighter name. “Then fucking enlighten me how it works.”
“You got your woman. She owes me nothing. Take her and leave. The little bitch that owes me interest is another matter. If I let her go, the next bitch who owes me will think she doesn’t have to pay me on time either.”
“She’s a pain in my ass, but I can’t leave without her,” Hector growled. “In-laws, what can you do? Give me a number.”
Brian went to stand right in front of Hector. “Blood or sweat. That’s the way people pay me if they are too late. But since you’ve asked a number, how about one?”
“One?” Like one million? That was a lot of money, but it would hardly make a dent in his savings.
There was a cheer outside, announcing the end of a fight. Brian cocked an eyebrow and Hector just knew. He knew it before Brian spoke the words.