“Aww, I see. You’re a daddy’s girl. So tell me, daddy’s girl, how does dear old daddy treat his daughter? Is he a drug addict? Alcoholic? Does he gamble away the money he’s supposed to use to pay rent and feed you?”
“Stop.”
His lips do curl up, happy he finally hit a nerve in me.
“I used the money to repay a debt my father owes, but my father isn’t a bad man. He works hard and does his best to take care of me. He’s not a drug addict, alcoholic, or gambler. He’s just my dad.”
His entire body exhales as if he disagrees with me, but knows there is no point in arguing with me.
I dig into my pocket and find the two hundred dollars extra I received from selling the watch. I hold it out to him.
He stares at the money like it’s a snake about to bite him.
“What’s that?”
“This is me repaying you for the watch.”
“If all you got was two hundred dollars for the watch, then you made a bad deal. That watch cost me twelve grand.”
I shrug. I should have gotten more than the seven and a half I got. I didn’t make the best deal, but I was desperate. Just like I was when I stole the watch in the first place.
“I know. I got more than that, but that’s all I have left after I paid off the debt.” I square my shoulders to him and hold out my hand. “I will repay you. All of it, plus interest. No matter what it takes or how long. You have my word.”
He takes my hand in a dominating grip. “I don’t need the money, daddy’s girl.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Would you prefer I call you, stupid girl?”
“No, I’d prefer you call me by my name.”
“Jocelyn,” the way he says the name sends shivers down my spine. “But that’s not really your name is it?”
I freeze. How did he realize I’d given him a fake name?
“You don’t go by Jocelyn. You go by Josie, or Jos, or Lynn, but never Jocelyn.”
I don’t move. He thinks he’s so smart, but he can’t even figure out a sixteen-year-old girl’s real name.
Enzo studies me, his thick eyelashes shading his eyes as he does. “I don’t need the money Jocelyn, and as for the watch, I have dozens more at home.”
I still. “Then what do you want?”
“I’m looking for someone. I was told he works down here by the docks, and seeing as you do too, you might be able to help me find him while being more inconspicuous. Help me find him tonight. And I’ll forgive your debt.”
It’s a good deal. It will take me most of my life at my current rate to pay back the debt I owe him. “What do you want with this man?”
He shrugs nonchalantly, but nothing he does is ever casual. Every movement is planned out. His actions are orchestrated to make me as uncomfortable as possible. Make me hate him, while wanting to plant my lips on his at the same time.
“Does it matter?”
No, it doesn’t. I’m heartless, but he doesn’t need to know that. I don’t care what happens to this man. I don’t care if he beats him, extracts a debt from him, or kills him. It won’t be on my conscience.
I squeeze his hand and shake. “Deal.”
He smirks.
“You can tell me what you know about this man while I finish mopping. I have one mor