Moses lifts his chin, and the words he spoke finally penetrate the chaos of my head.
“You owe me a hundred grand, plus fifteen years of interest.”
“You got your numbers wrong, Moses. I sold your shit for fifty grand.”
Those fucking creepy eyes flash with humor before they narrow on me. “Ain’t my fault you were a terrible gangster. The cargo in that truck you jacked was worth a hundred K. You only got fifty? We’ll call the other fifty a penalty for taking what wasn’t yours. And that interest rate? Yeah, it’s gonna be about a hundred percent.”
He taps his finger alongside the trigger of the gun resting against the side of Bump’s trembling head. “We’ll call it a million and a half, because I like round numbers. Now, I want my money, Gabe.”
Fucking. Christ.
A lead anchor sinks to the pit of my stomach. “If you’ve been watching me, then you know I don’t have that kind of cash.”
Scarlett shifts beside me. “I do. I can get it for you, but it’ll take a few days. Just ... leave us alone, and you’ll get your money.”
Fuck.I jerk my head up to look at Scarlett, not sure whether I should hug her or shake her right now.
On one hand, I’d do anything to save Bump, but I don’t want Scarlett mixed up in this. And letting Moses know she has that kind of cash?Bad fucking idea.
Before I can say anything, Moses leers like a fucking coyote smelling fresh blood in the air.
“Oh, Gabe. You really fucking leveled up with this bitch, didn’t you? Solid choice.”
When he shifts his attention to Scarlett, I want to shove her behind me so he can’t look at her.
“Noble shit you’re trying to do there,cher. But I don’t want your money. It ain’t no good with Moses. I want this motherfucker to pay, even if it means I take it out in blood. Did you know he stole from me? He tell you that? GabrielLegend—nice fucking new last name, brother—jacked my truck of electronics, sold the shit, and planned to skip town like a little bitch.”
“She doesn’t need to know,” I manage to get out from between clenched teeth, my jaw aching with tension. “She isn’t part of this.”
Moses purses his lips. “Oh, she’s part of it, all right. Every single person in your life is subject to forfeit until you give me my due.”
“I told you—I don’t have the fucking money.”
“That’s why I’m here, Gabe. Because I heard you got yourself one hell of a fine opportunity on the table. You’re going back to fighting, aren’t you? And ain’t that fight against Bodhi Black? They’re already talking about the odds.”
My brain stutters to a halt. “Wait. You fucking come out of the woodworknowbecause of this fight?”
That grin flashes across Moses’s face again. “Yeah. You see, I’m betting a fuck ton on Black, and you’re gonna take a dive to make sure I get paid. That is, unless you got that one point five mil handy right now.”
Scarlett sucks in a breath beside me, but thankfully, she says nothing.
“No. Gabe is gonna win. Gabe won’t lose.” Poor Bump looks like he’s going to blow a gasket, and I pray that he doesn’t move or run his mouth any more.
Moses jabs him with the barrel. “What part ofshut the fuck updon’t you understand, kid? You must have nine fucking lives.”
The reminder that Moses’s crew is the reason Bump is the way he is ignites an inferno inside me.Keep it together.I lock down my rage and stare at Moses, mentally crushing him with my bare hands.
“If I lose that fight, I lose everything.”
Moses’s grin has caused plenty of men to piss themselves, but I sure as fuck am not one of them.
Not back then. Not now. Not ever.
“You win this fight, boy, and you lose everything anyway. Whatever youthinkyou have right now, it’s only becauseI allow it.I can take any fucking thing from you anytime I want. That’s how it works when you’reme.”
“How long have you known?” I don’t need to voice the rest of the question, because Moses gets what I’m asking.
“I’ve had my sights set on you for years. Been waiting for you to come back and try to fucking kill me, but you never did. Surprised me with that, Gabe. I thought you loved that bitch. You were willing to risk everything for her. Guess she wasn’t really worth that much to you if her dying meant nothing.”