Chapter 4 - The Ransom of Toby
Mave stepped directly in front of the gun barrel.
She did not care that this man ran the most dangerous syndicate in the city.
"He is just a kid," Mave said, her voice steady and demanding.
Gallagher did not blink.
"That kid is holding my property," Gallagher rasped.
"It belonged to the guy who just shot up my restaurant," Mave countered.
"That makes it mine now," Gallagher said, thumbing the hammer of the gun back.
Mave turned around and ripped the black notebook out of Toby's hands.
The boy whimpered, shrinking back against the wooden cabinets.
"Run," Mave ordered him.
Toby hesitated, looking between Mave and the mob boss.
"I said run out the back door and never come back here!" Mave shouted.
Toby scrambled to his feet, slipping on the spilled alcohol, and sprinted blindly toward the emergency exit.
Gallagher's men started to move after him, but Gallagher held up a hand to stop them.
He kept his gun leveled right at Mave.
She turned back to face him, holding the black leather notebook out in the open.
"You let him go, and you get the book," she said.
Gallagher stared at her for a long, calculating moment.
He slowly lowered the weapon, tucking it into his waistband.
He stepped forward and snatched the notebook from her hand.
In the same fluid motion, his thick fingers closed around her wrist like an iron vise.
"You just bought that boy's life with your own," Gallagher whispered.
May you like
Police sirens began to wail in the distance, cutting through the quiet night.
"You are coming with us, Mave," he commanded, pulling her forcefully toward the exit.
