Page 54 of Money Shot

Christmas would be upon us in a matter of days.

“Come here for a minute?” I asked Hector.

“Take your sister and get in,” Hector said as he motioned toward the SUV.

“You know where our shop is?” I asked as the children crawled inside the car. “Our clubhouse?”

“Couple blocks east of the pizza place?” he asked.

I nodded my head. “You have me the eight grand buy January 15th? No bullshit, can you?”

“I can get the eight to you tonight. It’ll be tight, but I can do it,” he responded.

“Here,” I said as I handed him the watch in my cupped hand.

He shook his head and raised his hands as if he wasn’t going to accept the watch. “I can’t get you $10,400. I can’t even get you $8,400. I wasn’t bullshittin’. Just keep it. I’ll tell her something.”

Based on what I knew about people, I was pretty sure what he was telling me was true. I shook my cupped hand in front of him.

“Keep the watch. Get me $8,000, and we’re straight. Merry Christmas,” I said.

“No shit?” he asked as he took the watch in his hand.

I nodded my head and extended my hand. “Bring it to the shop by the 15th, just put it in an envelope with my name on it.”

“You have my word,” he said as he shook my hand. “Merry Christmas, Vince.”

“Merry Christmas to you and your family,” I said. “And this didn’t happen. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

“What didn’t happen?” he said as he clasped the watch on his wrist.

“Exactly,” I said as I turned away.

And, just like that, I was out of the mood to collect debts and in the mood for Christmas. I got in my truck, glanced at my watch, and realized it was nowhere close to the three o’clock time it depicted.

This fucking watch.

As much as I needed a new watch, I knew it would be a cold day in hell before I broke down and bought another one. I would have no problems spending money on Sienna for Christmas, though.

Because there was no doubt in my mind that she was a necessity.