Olivia - Just another phone call

Olivia - Just another phone call
"Liam, where the fuck are you?" Billy's authoritative voice spoke into his sleeve.

"The frogman's dead. They all are. It's rude to drag your feet when you make a deal with a mob boss, Mr. Money Bags. As you can see, I managed to liberate myself. So now, new deal," said JR, sticking a gun into our faces.

"What do you want?" Billy deadpanned, the complete opposite of me as I stared down the barrel of the gun.

I was losing my shit. Clammy palms. Raging pulse. Hyperventilating. It was just like when I was attacked by Yamazaki. I froze.

"What I've always wanted. One billion dollars and a mafia prince. You're going to make a great bargaining chip, Mr. Hunter," said JR to Billy before shifting her attention to me. "Get out of the car, angel. Run along and tell daddy I have Mr. Money Bags. He'll know what to do. Tell him he has twenty-four hours or I blow your brother's brains out. Just like I did to your entire security detail."

Reflex kicked in and I touched the pendant around my neck again with my fingertips. Not missing a beat, JR's eyes followed the movement.

"It's okay, Olive. Get out of the car," said Billy, eyes on JR.

She looked like shit. Dried blood caked her oily hair. Dark circles sat under her eyes. Minor cuts and bruises littered her body. Her dress had light blood splatter on it. She was still stunning, but it was clear she had seen better days. The laser-focused, murderous look in her eyes terrified me.

"Change of plans," she said, gaze fixated on the pendant. "You get out. She stays," said JR.

"Be smart. I'm the billionaire, not her. She can't give you anything," Billy said calmly.

"It was never about the money. That's just a bonus. It's about Boy Wonder. You don't know what those rubies around your neck are, do you?" JR asked me, her scathing gaze snapping up to meet mine.

A chill went down my spine. My fist closed around the pendant possessively. JR let out a sinister snicker.

"Maybe you do know. You really must be a good fuck. Look what he did to you," she said, leaning in to take a closer look.

I inhaled sharply when she traced the muzzle of the gun up my neck, following the trail of love bites Harmon left behind.

"I could never get him to fuck me. He had ridiculous restraint. Was loyal to a fault to Marino. Or maybe he was just too smart," she said with a shrug, lifting the chain of the pendant with the barrel of the gun.

The closer she got to the rubies, the more she pissed me off. A tiny flame rose inside me, slowly overriding the fear. I watched her plot a course for the proof that I was his.

"But he fucked you. Again and again from the looks of it and then there's the damn rubies. You're wrong, Mr. Money Bags. She's not just a lay. She's my prince's achilles heel. That makes her far more valuable than you. Get the fuck out," said JR, moments before she tapped on my fist.

"Fuck you," I spat at her, finding my voice, unwilling to part with his rubies. "You can't have them."

My voice was unsteady, but she'd have to pry his pendant off my cold corpse if she wanted it.

"If it's about Harmon, why not take this up with him? Why are you in a car with us?" Billy asked, trying to gently steer JR into giving him information he could use against her.

I fought with myself not to look at him so as not to draw attention to Billy touching the smartwatch around his wrist.

Daddy, are you listening?

"His fucking name is Chance. Boy Wonder. Ghostblade. The legend that killed Goremaster. Do I look like I have a death wish?" JR bellowed at Billy before pressing the muzzle of the gun against my chest. "I know when I'm being stalled. Get out or she dies."

"I'm so sorry, kiddo. I should have listened to you. We will find you. I love you, Olive," Billy said, a pained, panicked look on his face as he opened the door of the car.

"Please don't leave me with her. Billy please," I pleaded, turning on the waterworks as I grabbed his wrist.

It was easily done. I was terrified of the situation I was in. Harmon taught me long ago that fear was no excuse not to try and fix a fuck up. To use whatever was at my disposal, even my own emotions. Of course he was talking about dazzling Billy at work, not outwitting a trigger happy woman I almost bedded. Harmon, no Chance, would kill me himself if he knew what I was doing.

I can't fix it this time daddy, but I can try to help you.

"He will never stop hunting you if you hurt her," Billy warned JR.

I clung to Billy's wrist for dear life.

Just a little more. Need more time. JR obliged, unable to resist running her mouth.

"I know. Tell Ghostblade I told him the real thing would be so much more fun. I can't wait to play. I've missed him," said JR as I watched Billy step out of the car.

I resisted the twitch of the corner of my mouth, heart hammering in my chest, my senses failing me.

The sound of traffic faded. My fingertips felt numb and cold. My vision blurred. The scent of gunpowder, soot and blood eluded my nostrils. My mouth was dry.

JR leaned over and yanked the door closed. Then she returned to the driver's seat, started the car and sped off.

"I need you alive for you to be useful, but I will shoot you if you try anything back there angel," she said as my eyes darted around the car.

I forced myself to occupy the space Billy had just been taking up regardless of my disoriented state. Our eyes locked as the car moved away from him. Mere seconds after the car started moving, my gaze fell upon a different face.

"Olivia," Harmon shrieked, face contorting in anger and panic.

The devastation in his outcry. The look on his face as the car pulled away. A pang went through my chest. My windpipe closed up. I fidgeted, restless in my seat. One of my feet struck the smartwatch I had taken off Billy's wrist moments before he left.

Stilling for my discovery, I stole a discreet look down. Steeling my nerves, I ignored the blood rushing into my ears and nudged the watch until it was hidden under the passenger seat. A tiny sliver of pride followed by hope mingled with fear, panic and shock.

Don't be too mad that I tried to help. Think of it as just another phone call. Come and find me, daddy.