Page 226 of Boyfriend of the Hour

But Mike was good on his word. I’d always known that. It had just never occurred to me to ask how, exactly, Mike had come to be so damn devoted to my shrewish older sister. Or her to him.

Well, now I knew. Lea had, apparently, been right there when some of these exact men threatened Mike just like they were doing now. And she’d thrown herself in their way. Nathan wasn’t in the room, but I knew without a doubt that if he were, I’d do the same.

I’d do it for anyone I considered my family.

“What is it?” I demanded. “What is it you want? I’ll get you anything, I promise. Money? I can get you money. My brother, my sister—they’re married to some of the richest people in the world, I swear it?—”

Ares turned to me like he was surprised I had a voice, despite the fact that he’d been addressing me earlier.

“You think this is aboutcash?” He made it sound like I’d suggested he accept Monopoly money instead of legitimate tender. “You think my father or I give a good goddamn about your money?” He snorted.

I flapped my hands at my sides. “I—well—isn’t it?”

“It’s about pride,” Ares said gruffly. “It’s about principle. It’s about promises made and living up to your word.”

“Whosepromise?” I asked.

“The shop,” Mike croaked. “He wants the shop. He’s always wanted the shop and the cars to help him run shit across state lines.”

“My father wants whatever suits him best at the time,” Ares said. “That used to be your shop and your cars. Now it’s your body. Nothing better then a watery grave to set an example for everyone else.”

My jaw dropped. Mike was literally here to be made an example of. He was no better than an man on death row.

“Joni, get out of the way,” Mike ordered, his voice rough with pain as he tried to push himself up to standing too.

Tried and utterly failed.

“No.” I stuck my chin out at our three jailers. “Lis said he wanted me. Well, I’m here. Let him go.” I glanced back at Mike, who was shaking his head, mouthing no. I turned back to our captors. “He’s no good to you like this, and he has a family. Three kids, a wife who loves him, a shop to keep. So, just let him go, and I’ll—I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll keep the promises for us both.”

The immediate, evil grin that spread across Shawn’s face told me I had no idea the depths of depravity I’d face with that particular proposition. But I stood up tall nonetheless. Chest out. Core in. Ready for the next performance, whatever that had to be.

But Ares just shook his head, almost looking regretful.

“Would that I could,” he told me. “But there ain’t nowhere for him to go. By now we’re miles from New York. In the middle of the Long Island Sound.”

“Just got one stop in Atlantic City to pick up the boys, and then it’s international waters for us, baby doll,” said Shawn as he rubbed his hands together gleefully.

So, we were on a boat. The bobbing wasn’t just in my imagination.

Ares sprang around as if loaded in a slingshot, laying a ferocious backhand across Shawn’s smug face that sent him flying into the concrete wall.

“And who thefuckasked you to run your mouth, Vamos?” he demanded, taking two steps toward Shawn.

That was enough to make the coward flatten himself against the blocks even more. “N-no one,” Shawn said. “S-sorry.”

I smirked. Now who was the one stuttering?

“Then stay the fuck out of it.”

Ares’s voice was low but somehow carried more of a threat than any shout I’d ever heard. If Shawn knew what was good for him, he’d listen.

Ares turned to the rest of us. “Kyle, take her down the hall to get ready with the rest of the girls.” He turned to Mike. “Scarrone, I’ll deal with you later.”

“No,” I whimpered. “Kyle, please, don’t?—”

“Best just do what he says, kiddo,” Kyle replied, though he didn’t seem to be particularly thrilled to be pulling me off the couch.

“Joni,” Mike rasped. “Remember what I said.”