“R-right,” I stammer. “I suppose so.”
I follow him in through the front doors and the receptionist smiles. “I’m here to see Vernon,” Stace announces.
“He’s in the back office.”
Stace nods and grabs my hand as we walk through a dingy hallway until we get to a closed door.
“This is sketchy,” I whisper.
“You think,” he whispers back as he knocks three times.
“Come in,” the voice calls.
Stace opens the door and we are greeted by the sight of a huge, overweight man sitting behind a large, black desk. His hair is long and in a ponytail, and he has a whole biker gone wrong vibe going on.
He sits back and shakes his head as he smiles smugly. “Well, well, well… if it isn’t the dead man walking? I was wondering when you would show up.”
Stace glares at him. “I need two passports.”
“Not a chance in Hell, man.”
Stace glares at him.
“Vikinos himself came to visit me and said if I made you and her…” His eyes flick to me. “A passport, I’m dead, too.”
“Nobody will know.” Stace growls.
“I need to be alive for my kids,” he fires back. “Death isn’t on my to do list this week.”
“When was he here?”
“A couple of days ago. He has a lot of men with him.”
Stace glares at him as he processes his words.
My eyes flicker nervously between the two men. Please let this work out.
Stace leans over him on the desk. “Maybe you didn’t understand me.”
Vernon’s eyes narrow.
“I said… I want two fucking passports and you are going to make them for me. Now!” Stace sneers.
“The answer is no.” His eyes hold Stace’s for an extended time, and eventually he fakes a smile. “I estimate you have about six hours to live.”
Stace dives over the desk and grabs Vernon around the throat. “Make the fucking passports or I will kill you myself.”
My eyes widen in horror. God, he’s losing his shit.
Vernon chokes and coughs. “Let me go. Let me go,” he cries.
Stace holds him, one hand around the throat and squeezes. “I want the fucking passports.”
“I can’t.” He coughs.
Stace bangs his head down on the desk. “Don’t make me fucking kill you.” He growls.
My hands fly to my head in a panic. This is getting out of control.