MAVERICK
Mira chose a song, hit the play button, and the title popped up.
“You’re kidding.” It is one of the most popular pop songs on the internet today.
“No belting necessary,” she said, laughing. “We’ll just have fun.”
“Good choice, considering I can only sing Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.”
“No one is going to score us. Chill out.” She laughed again.
“Right, because this isn’t embarrassing enough.” I had no choice but to join with her.
She could sing, but I couldn’t. Halfway through the song, I started to loosen up. We even got hip moves on our own until the song ended.
“I can’t believe I didn’t hear anyone boo us.” I laughed with Mira. “I need a drink.”
When I went back to the bar, Genesis pushed my Martini with four olives.
I grabbed the stick and ate the olives before I talked to Homer. “If you ever tell Lake I went to the stage and sang, I will kill you in your sleep.”
With a slight smile, he raised his hands for surrender even though he had probably already told Lake and maybe taken a picture and sent it to him.
I ignored Dallas and Genesis’ gazes as I sipped my Martini. “I’m awfully embarrassed.”
“You had fun. That’s what matters.”
“Yeah. I feel like my armpits are dampened, Homer.”
“I can’t wait to tell boss.” His body shook as he laughed silently on the stool.
“Don’t ever try.”
My phone vibrated from my bag. Maybe it was Lake calling to laugh at me. I fished it out, but it was an unknown number. I hit the red button and sipped my drink.
It was turned for Cooper to sing, but he was joined by Rocket, who was singing a hit boy band song.
My phone vibrated again. It pissed me off that it came from the same number.
“Hello. Who’s this?”
“Before you end this call, listen to me very carefully.”
I could barely hear the man’s voice from the other line. I excused myself from Homer and went inside the locker room.
“Who’s this?”
“Listen to me-” The accent made my heart drop to my stomach. That accent- it was Italian.
“No. You listen to me-”
“Do you want to see your grandmother blow up to pieces?” His words hit me hard. My heart stopped beating for a moment.
A shiver coursed through me. If someone was messing with me and he thought it was funny, it wasn’t. I was going to knee his nutsack and make sure it turned into a bloody pulp.
“Is this some kind of a joke? It’s not funny. Leave me alone.”
My phone pinged. I received a message. I drew a deep breath as I ended the call and checked it while already fuming with anger.
Why was it always my grandmother? How did that asshole get my number?
I checked the message. It came from the same caller, and it made me gasp. My hand was on my mouth the moment I recognized the picture of the house. Unshed tears instantly blurred my eyes. It felt like it was a deja vu all over again, and Nana was always the target of some assholes with malicious intent.
Didn’t Linden’s men install a security system at Nana’s house?
I dialed the number with my shaky and sweaty hand, the other on my face. “What do you want? Who the hell are you? If you won’t leave me alone-”
“You’re not in a position to make a threat, Maverick.” He was confident and knew my name. Son of a bitch.
“Then show me your face.” I gasped and swallowed hard. While I couldn’t recognize his voice, I had already begun to panic.
“This is not how it works, sweetheart. Listen to me very carefully because I’m not going to repeat it again. If you ever tell your husband or inform your bodyguard sitting at the bar. I know who your father is.”
“You’re lying.” Whoever this person was, he’d been watching me. He clearly knew me. Was this man one of my father’s enemies?
“Am I? How do you think she got poisoned?”
I sucked in a breath. My heart pounded so hard. “Son of a bitch.”
“I could have killed her, but you did not take my warning seriously.”
“You will pay for this.”
“Then I will just kill her. If you call your grandmother or tell a soul, I will blow her up. Give it a try, and I will show you that I’m not messing with you. Surely, Gaetano Siciliano’s men couldn’t make it there on time to save her. Then her blood is on your hands,” he continued, taunting me.
“Gaetano is dead.”
“Don’t take me for a fool. I will leak your secret all over the internet and global news outlets.”
“I did nothing wrong!”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You did not only kill her, but you also ruined your husband’s life. Is that what you want? He will be charged with aiding and abetting your brother, the most wanted criminal. I know you went to Italy to attend his funeral.” He seemed to know much about me, whether he was bluffing or not, given that he even got my number.
My stomach dropped, and my heart twisted and bled a thousand times. My chin began to tremble as I listened to his threat, and I knew for a fact it wasn’t empty.
“Just tell me what you want from me?” I asked. My voice shook in the end.
“First and foremost, you steal five million dollars from your husband.
“Are you kidding me? That’s-”
“Don’t tell me that’s impossible, Maverick. You do it, or I will kill your grandmother and leak your precious little secret.” I chewed on my bottom lip, taking in all of his threats. “You have one day to comply. I will know if you did it or not. I have eyes everywhere. If you care about your grandmother, don’t play games with me. You leave Lake Winston forever. Then your grandmother will live, and your secret is safe.”
“Why are you doing this?” I began crying, just thinking of the horror in Nana’s eyes. “How do I know you will keep the end of the bargain?”
“You’re not in a position to ask or make a deal. Five million from his bank account, and then leave without telling him. If you tell him the reason. You know what will happen. And I don’t like being played, Maverick. Memorize this number and delete my message and the call logs. If you fail to comply, I will blow her up and the entire house.”