Page 18 of Blood on Ice

Did I have any other choice? Who was going to look at my finances and loan me money other than another group of loan sharks like the assholes I was already in trouble with?

But this time I’d be able to pay it off, and I wouldn’t make it bigger by gambling away my earnings.

Are you sure?

Yes, I’m done with that, and it will be a hell of a lot easier to quit here than in fucking Vegas. If I can set up a payment plan, I can stick to it. I’m making boatloads money, and I only need a small fraction of it to live on if I keep my life simple.

I caught sight of the Rolex on my coffee table and shook my head. I’d bought a lot of things I didn’t need. I could hold off on more luxuries until all my debts were paid.

My friend said the Marchesis were my best chance.

He also said they were scary as fuck.

Was I really going to fucking approach the most dangerous family in Boston?

If I didn’t pay them back I would suffer, again and again, and then I would die. I knew their reputation. They didn’t just kill people; they made them wish they were dead first.

I had no business getting involved with them.

But if I got a loan, the threats would stop, and I could buy myself time.

Or buy yourself into an early grave.

I had to do something. I couldn’t be constantly watching for someone to show up and beat the money out of me.

I could make payments, just not one big enough to settle the debt I owed. If I could pay off the guys in Vegas, I’d be able to breathe.

I picked up my phone and made the call. It rang twice before someone picked up. “Marchesi Insurance, how can I help you?”

9

VITO

For the thousandth time that morning, I was thinking about the look on Zeke’s face as he came. A knock on my office door made me jump. My chair tipped back, and I almost spilled onto the floor.

“Are you okay?” Lonnie asked. She was the receptionist for our “insurance” office where we sold just enough insurance to post a believable amount of business to the IRS. Otherwise, we used the offices for our much more lucrative loan business. It was a type of insurance for those who used our services—insurance against bankruptcy or a fate worse than owing us. Of course, for those who couldn’t pay their debts, the collection might prove rather painful.

“I’m fine, Lonnie. I was just…thinking.”

“Oh. Well don’t do that if it’s dangerous. I thought you might have fallen asleep. Figured you were out late last night as usual.”

Lonnie sometimes forgot that she worked for us rather than the other way around, but she got away with it because her fatherhad been one of our most loyal guards. He’d laid down his life for Lucien’s father, so Lonnie would always have a place with us.

“I got you a new customer,” she said. “He’s looking for something big.”

“Can’t you give him to Val?”

“No, Val’s out of town, remember?”

“Shit. Fine.” The last thing I wanted to do was negotiate with some in-debt asshole.

“Meet him at Cam’s Bakery at noon.”

“Will do.” At least I’d have a chance to go watch Zeke play this afternoon. After this appointment, I didn’t have any other pressing business.

Lonnie frowned at me. “Are you sure you’re all right? You’ve seemed distracted for days now.”

I waved a hand to dismiss her concerns. “I’m fine. You’re right. It was a late night last night.”

---