Page 36 of Brave as It

“Fuck your money,” I tell both of them looking O’Leary right in his eyes.

O’Leary raises up backhanding me on my cheek so hard I fall into Dia. She takes the hit staying upright, keeping us both from falling since we can’t balance with our hands. I stand back up because they will not see me break. I refuse.

He can beat me, she can too. I will not give them what they want.

This has all be a game to get them something I didn’t even know existed.

My mother gives me the look. The one that in childhood would rattle me. In this moment, it infuriates me. She can glare all she wants. She can do her very best to intimidate me. All she’s doing is putting nail after nail into her coffin. If by some miracleI get out of this alive, she’s dead to me. No matter how many years she has left upright, she is dead to me forever.

“Give it your best, but I haven’t had anything to do with anyone’s money but my own. I’m not about to start now.”

My mother steps forward into my space. “You’re gonna get on the plane. Mr. O’Leary here is going to escort you to the bank. You will take your passport and retrieve the money left for you by your father. Mr. O’Leary will take back the portion your father took from him plus an additional twenty percent. The rest of the money I will get. I’ll get you back to your life of mayhem with your biker and all will be right in the world.”

“You expect me to go with this man to retrieve money that doesn’t belong to either of us so you can have money to fund your lifestyle. That was your life and death predicament? You had me leave my car behind. Always looking over my shoulder. Not knowing what comes next or when I would get a call. I had to live life one day to the next. I gave up school, my whole future, for you to get some money that isn’t yours? Did I get that right?”

“Your integrity is admirable, young lady,” Patrick O’Leary says to me with an almost proud smile.

“I want no part of this. It’s another scheme, mom. The last one got my dad killed and I almost died myself. How about get a job? That’s what normal people do for money, mom.”

She juts out a hip clearly losing patience with me. “When you say all of it like that it sounds awful. Emmalee, your father worked hard, and he wanted us to have the lifestyle we’re accustomed to. He’s gone, but I shouldn’t have to change because he left me with nothing.”

Exasperated, I have had enough. “He got dead, mom. This money, Mr. O’Leary’s and whatever other money you are talking about is what got him dead. It’s insane that you think this is okay. He didn’t earn this money, mom, you aren’t entitled to it, and neither am I.”

“I think you’re missing the point. The money is there, Emmalee. No one can do anything with it without you. If your dad was alive, I wouldn’t have to do this because he would provide for me. He’s gone and I’m in need of that money.”

“Need, no. Want, yes, and it ain’t gonna happen.” I try to stand firm.

“Bullshit, this is all bullshit.” Dia chimes in. “Lady, you’re fuckin’ crazy.”

O’Leary looks to her, “I like you, little Doll.”

At the reference to her mother, Dia’s face changes. She is livid now. Dia lives for family. He crossed a line.

A plane emerges from the hangar.

These people think I’m stupid. “I get on that plane, I’ll never come back home.”

I’m running out of time for me and Dia. It’s the truth. I can see it all over O’Leary’s face. Once he has the money, I’m as good as dead and so is my mother. Although, truth be told in this moment, I’m fine with her death.

“Have some faith,” O’Leary taunts, “I’m not the enemy here, Emmalee.”

“Well, you aren’t my fuckin’ friend,” I shout back.

Dia kicks me in the back of the leg. I turn to her she shakes her head. “Let it ride,” she mutters. “Don’t rattle the cage.”

What does she know that I don’t? Dia Crews doesn’t let shit ride.

“Okay,” O’Leary raises his hands in surrender. “You’re right. I haven’t given you a reason to trust me.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” I should hold back my sarcasm, but I can’t. If these are going to be my last moments, I’m not going to make it easy.

He looks around getting the attention of one of his guys. They approach, he gives a nod to Dia. The man takes out a key and removes her handcuffs.

“What a show of good faith you have given me, O’Leary.” I don’t hold back my frustration. “I’m so freaking impressed.”

Dia is looking at me wide-eyed. I don’t know why she’s so shocked, I’m taking a page out of her book. She never backs down and uses her mouth to shake things up not to suck dick like the barflies. I’ve had enough of everyone’s bullshit.

He nods to his goon. The man moves in and releases my handcuffs.

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