Chapter 13 Tommy #2
The question is, why is he suddenly on edge? And more importantly, what is he not telling us about this stone? I’m inclined to believe that it’s a heirloom—the way it was displayed at that party suggested it carries some importance—but there is more to it, or he wouldn’t be throwing millions at us.
“Come on, my friend,” he pleads Niko, smiling sweetly. “The Crew are after you because of it. Sell it to me and I’ll take care of your problem. You’ll be able to go back to a peaceful life with your beautiful fiancé. Isn’t that why you are here, asking for my help?”
Technically, he’s right. But also—
“Tommy decides what happens to the stone,” Niko states, folding his arms. “I’m just the bodyguard.”
Whom I promised seventy percent of the profit, but ten million each is plenty of money to live off, so I don’t think Niko is going to insist on our original deal. Besides, we are kind of together now, aren’t we?
Still, something in my gut tells me not to rush into agreeing. I don’t know what it is—it’s just a feeling, like something hanging over me that’s ready to strike any moment. I want to know why Isidoro is so eager to get his hands on this stone and why he’s willing to part with so much money for it.
I meet our host’s hopeful gaze. His bouncing has gotten worse, and now there is also a wild spark in his eyes, like he’ll go mad if I don’t say yes. It makes the red almost glow, which in turn is kind of creepy.
“I… Even if it is some kind of a heirloom with importance to people like you”—whatever that means—“I think there’s more you aren’t telling us.”
“I promise you, there isn’t.” Isidoro picks his glass of wine, not taking a sip, but merely swirling the liquid inside it. “It’s just an important trinket to my family.”
His family. The Altamiranos. Who are they, really?
Nothing unusual came up when I did an online search on the plane.
They are very rich and very well connected in the underground world.
That’s probably how and why Niko even knows this man.
Their two main fronts deal with luxury furniture and construction.
I want to believe Isidoro, and I want this nightmare to be over. But everything in me screams to hold on to this stone until I know exactly what this eccentric is hiding.
“I’ll think about it, if that’s okay…”
“Really, it’s just a stone important to certain… individuals. Nothing more,” he insists, a spark of crazed determination flashing in his eyes.
A shiver creeps down my spine. But Niko is right next to me, and as if he can sense my tremble, he squeezes my hand encouragingly.
“Drop it, Isi. Let Tommy think about it first. It’s his stone.”
I nod, squeezing Niko’s hand back.
“Twenty-five million each. Fifty total. This gem means the world to me.”
Fifty fucking million dollars? My jaw drops to the floor for the second time in the last ten minutes.
I can’t believe my ears. Holy shit, this guy is insane.
Even Niko goes still at the sum his friend is offering.
There is definitely something fishy going on here—this can’t only be an heirloom.
I don’t doubt the fact that it carries some personal significance to Isidoro, I can see that in the way his demeanor has changed, but it’s not the sole reason he wants it so much.
“Wow. You really want it, don’t you? Why?” I challenge, tucking the gem safely back inside my pocket.
Isidoro bares his teeth at us like an animal, looking like he’s about to lunge at me and take the gem by force. Niko reacts immediately, swooshing in front of me and placing a hand protectively on my ribs.
“Isidoro,” he growls, every letter punctuated. “Get a grip, or things might get ugly.”
This halts Isidoro, who first looks confused, then seems to catch himself and what he was about to do.
Clearing his throat, he pats away invisible dust from the luxurious fabric of his shirt, then crosses his hands behind his back and smiles.
“My sincerest apologies, friends. This gem belonged to someone very dear to me before the Crew killed them and stole it. I wish to have it back, so they can rest peacefully.”
Okay. This sounds plausible. Explains his willingness to buy it from us for so much, too.
Still… Something rubs me the wrong way. I can’t explain what it is, but it’s there, hanging in the air, living in the shadows at the corners of the room, nudging me in the gut to take a step back and reevaluate the facts.
“I understand. But please, give me some time to think it over. We almost died, on multiple occasions, because of this thing. I want to make sure it ends up in the right hands, you know?”
Because, and I hate to even think this considering Isidoro came running when Niko asked him for help, what if he takes the stone and kills us?
What if this is a lot more than just an heirloom with sentimental value?
What if it’s worth billions instead of the fifty million he’s offering us?
Life has taught me to be suspicious by nature, especially when something sounds too good to be true.
I mean, not only is he saying he’ll get us new IDs and fly us to Europe, but he’ll also give us a place to live and fifty million on top of that?
Yeah, that kind of stuff doesn’t just fall into the hands of people like me.
Which means…
Something doesn’t add up here.