I nodded and Benny gestured to my friends. I lifted my chin to feign confidence. “They’re with me.”
“I’m afraid your companions will have to wait outside,” the doorman said in an abnormally deep bass tone.
Travis immediately took me by the arm. “She’s not going in there alone. I’m coming with her.”
Benny eyed Travis and I swallowed. When Benny looked up to his doorman and the corners of his mouth turned up, I relaxed a bit.
“Fair enough,” Benny said. “Mick will be glad to know you have such a good friend with you.”
I followed him inside, turning to see the worried look on America’s face. Travis kept a firm grip on my arm, purposefully standing between me and the doorman. We followed Benny into an elevator and traveled up four floors in silence, and then the doors opened.
A large mahogany desk sat in the middle of a vast room. Benny hobbled to his plush chair and sat down, gesturing for us to take the two empty seats facing his desk. When I sat down, the leather felt cold beneath me, and I wondered how many people had sat in that same chair, moments from their death. I reached over to grab Travis’s hand, and he gave me a reassuring squeeze.
“Mick owes me twenty-five thousand. I trust you have the full amount,” Benny said, scribbling something on a notepad.
“Actually,” I paused, clearing my throat, “I’m five K short, Benny. But I have all day tomorrow to get that. And five thousand is no problem, right? You know I’m good for it.”
“Abigail,” Benny said, frowning, “You disappoint me. You know my rules better than that.”
“P–please, Benny. I’m asking you to take the 19,900 and I’ll have the rest for you tomorrow.”
Benny’s beady eyes darted from me to Travis and then back again. It was then that I noticed two men taking a step forward from the shadowed corners of the room. Travis’s grip on my hand grew tighter, and I held my breath.
“You know I don’t take anything but the full amount. The fact t
hat you’re trying to hand me less tells me something. You know what it tells me? That you’re not sure if you can get the full amount.”
The men from the corners took another step forward.
“I can get your money, Benny,” I giggled nervously. “I won eighty-nine hundred in six hours.”
“So are you saying you’ll bring me eighty-nine hundred in six more hours?” Benny smiled his devilish grin.
“The deadline isn’t until midnight tomorrow,” Travis said, glancing behind us and then watching the approaching shadow men.
“W–what are you doing, Benny?” I asked, my posture rigid.
“Mick called me tonight. He said you’re taking care of his debt.”
“I’m doing him a favor. I don’t owe you any money.” I said sternly, my survival instincts kicking in.
Benny leaned both of his fat, stubby elbows onto his desk. “I’m considering teaching Mick a lesson, and I’m curious just how lucky you are, kiddo.”
Travis shot out of his chair, pulling me with him. He jerked me behind him, backing up toward the door.
“Josiah is outside the door, young man. Where exactly do you think you’re going to escape to?”
I was wrong. When I was thinking about persuading Benny to see reason, I should have anticipated Mick’s will to survive and Benny’s penchant for retribution.
“Travis,” I warned, watching Benny’s henchmen approach us.
Travis pushed me behind him a few feet and stood tall. “I hope you know, Benny, that when I take out your men, I mean no disrespect. But I’m in love with this girl, and I can’t let you hurt her.”
Benny burst into a loud cackle. “I gotta hand it to you, son. You’ve got the biggest balls of anyone that’s come through those doors. I’ll prepare you for what you’re about to get. The rather large fella to your right is David, and if he can’t take you out with his fists, he’s going to use that knife in his holster. The man to your left is Dane, and he’s my best fighter. He’s got a fight tomorrow, as a matter of fact, and he’s never lost. Mind you don’t hurt your hands, Dane. I’ve got a lot of money riding on you.”
Dane smiled at Travis with wild, amused eyes. “Yes, sir.”
“Benny, stop! I can get you the money!” I cried.