Page 5 of A Quick Buck

“I talk. You listen. Do you understand, dear Noah?”

Noah resisted the urge to roll his eyes and nodded stiffly.

“Good.” Alistair turned back to the piano. “I would advise against trying to scream for help. As I’m sure you know, your closest neighbor is several acres away. No one is going to hear you. I also took the liberty of letting all the staff go except for a very kind gentleman named Jamie and his wife, Frida. They don’t seem to like you or your uncle very much.”

Noah glared.

“We’ve been waiting here ever so patiently for you for two days now, and wow, did they have some stories to share. Jamie has been gracious enough to take care of us and offer us some rooms to stay in, and he informed me that your uncle is not available since—”

“He’s out of town,” Noah blurted out.

“Ah ah,” Alistair tutted. “Silence, remember?”

Noah bit his tongue.

“Where was I?” Alistair stroked the keys with a practiced touch, pecking out a brief melody. “Ah, yes. Jamie told me your uncle left a few days ago for Strassen Springs. After a brief investigation, we found out he’s trying to secure private transportation to Florida.”

Noah frowned. As far as he knew, Uncle Patrick had gone to some conference.

Panic crept up his spine.

What the fuck was going on here? Had Patrick known something like this was going to happen?

He must have, Noah reasoned, to want to flee across the country without saying a word.

And he left you behind, knowing these assholes were coming for him…

Noah didn’t know whether to be angry or sad. Maybe both were appropriate. He and Patrick weren’t that close, and they fought constantly over money and Noah’s lacking aspirations to do anything with his life. Even so, it stung that Patrick would have left Noah behind with such dangerous people after him.

Noah made up his mind that he was going to kick Patrick’s ass when he saw him next.

Ifhe saw him, his mind unhelpfully corrected.

“I’m not sure if you are aware of your uncle’s business ventures, but he was interested in purchasing some property from me,” Alistair went on. “Real estate has always been a passion of mine, and I was happy to make the sale for the right price. Your uncle, however, thought he could convince me to lower it.”

“He’s cheap,” Noah muttered. “Always has been.”

“Ah, now that’s the second time you’ve spoken out of turn.” Alistair smiled, warm and happy, like a grandpa who still got a card on Father’s Day. It was unsettling. “I’d hate to have to teach you some manners, dear Noah.”

Noah gritted his teeth. He was on his knees, totally powerless, and he absolutely hated this.

And he still wanted a shower.

“Now,” Alistair said, “we were able to work something out after weeks of negotiations, but your uncle’s recent actions have created an unusual deficit. He owes me a great debt—”

“Tough fuckin’ shit!” Noah snapped. “I don’t have any fuckin’ money. I don’t have shit! My uncle has it all. Can’t help you. And even if I did, fuck you!”

Mace laughed. “Wow! Cupcake is feisty!”

“Rich boy gots some bark,” Junior agreed with a chuckle.

“Lose that gun and this rich boy will kick the shit out of you,” Noah warned, holding up his head defiantly.

“Oh, you’re just fuckin’ adorable,” Junior sneered.

Mace and Crybaby laughed again, apparently amused by how riled up Junior was getting.

Erasmus was quiet, but the ends of his mouth twitched up in a small smile. His pale gaze remained eerily blank, and Noah didn’t think he’d seen him blink yet.