42. Tommy

Chapter forty-two

Tommy

M y nostrils flare as I take in the sight of the men in our doorway. "What the hell are—"

Holding up one hand, Ricardo reaches into the small of his waistband. When the gun is brought forward, I take a step back. I can feel Tilly's hands grip onto my arms. She's cowering behind me.

The thought only manages to enrage me more. "Just stop. This is how this will happen. You will transfer the money and talk. I'm just here to make sure nothing goes wrong. Everyone will remain calm and collected, or people will start getting hurt. You understand?"

I nod, the movement jerky. Behind me, I feel Tilly shaking.

"Now sit," Ricardo says.

I turn around and keep my face as stoic as possible. "We're just talking, okay? Nothing's gonna happen, Til. I swear it." She nods, though tears are falling down her cheeks.

Papa closes the door and stands with the others in front of the beds. "Matilda, I am going to speak, and you will not interrupt me. Do you understand?"

She silently agrees.

"Your arrangement with Tia has been rescinded. You will pay Mr. Lopez his $500,000, and then Tommy is coming with us."

She's shaking her head, but I put a hand on her knee and squeeze as hard as I can. "That's fine, yes." Papa nods and goes to where her phone is resting on the mattress. He holds it out.

"Unlock it." She lets the phone scan her face, and he takes it back. After clicking a few times, he tosses it back beside her.

"All right then. Let's go." He looks expectantly at me.

Though I know what's going to happen, I start getting up. Tilly grips onto my arm, pulling me back down. As calmly as I can muster, I put my forehead to hers. "Loving you these last few months has been euphoric, Matilda. Please let me go." She shakes her head, the tears only growing faster as she shakes completely from head to toe. "Yes, Matilda. Tree and Bush need you." I give her a sad smile.

"No, don't joke, Tommy! I can't—" Ricardo huffs and walks over, grabbing onto my arm. He starts yanking me away. I use my other hand to pry Tilly's fingers off my forearm.

"I love you, Tilly!" I yell it as loud as I can, wincing at the choked sound that bursts from my throat. Tilly gets up and rushes after us, but Papa steps between us.

"Don't make me do something we'll both regret, Matilda."

"Why, Papa? Tia said it was fine!" She's openly weeping, but her grandfather's face remains stone.

"Tia is dead. This family is under me now, and I am not letting everything go to waste because you and Miranda had some wild burst of conscience."

Tilly stops shaking and takes a step back from him. "Papa, what did you do? To your own daughter?"

Papa laughs, actually laughs at her words. The sound makes me sick. "I didn't kill her. But our friends from the Ukraine got wind of your little stunt. It was either her or you. Tia took the fall. You feel better now? How many people are dying because of you?"

I've heard enough. Maybe these men can take me out, but no one speaks to my girlfriend that way. Rage builds in my chest, a guttural, animalistic feeling. "Fuck you!" I scream out.

Keaton stomps over and rears back before punching me in the gut. "That's for my black eye." I fall to the ground, and Keaton cocks his foot, kicking me in the same spot. "And that's for this little outburst."

I curl into myself. But Keaton grabs me by my hair and pulls my head back. His fist raised, he pounds my face. "And that's cause I don't fucking like you." I roll to my stomach, blood already coming from my lip. I groan and hold up a hand, trying to show I'm okay.

I can hear Tilly wailing and look over. She's thrashing against her grandfather. But Papa shoves her back a little until she's back on the mattress.

Ricardo reaches down and yanks me to my feet. "All right! That's enough. You hit him too much, and it won't look good. Everyone calm the fuck down!"

"I'm calm," I manage, spitting some blood out. "Tilly, we're calm, right?"

She nods shakily.

Ricardo bobs his head once. "You're a smart man. Let's get this over with." He opens the door and tucks his gun away. As we walk away from the room, he whispers into my ear. "Say one fucking word, and I will come back for her. Do you understand?"

"I understand you're an asshole." I whisper the words back, but Ricardo only laughs.

"A rich asshole that's not at the bottom of Griffith Park, so I'll take it." I cast one final look over my shoulder. The hotel room door has closed. I guess that Keaton and the rest of them will wait until the deed is finished before leaving Tilly's side.

I close my eyes as I'm led to a waiting car. If I can pretend my children and Tilly will be safe because I'm gone, it might almost be worth it. But deep down, I know it will never end. Tilly and my babies will forever be at the mercy of the Cardenas family. I have failed.