NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 7: I know where Leon is
I meet his gaze, my eyes unwavering "i know about the risks involved, Alexander" I reply looking calm and my voice steady despite the tremor of nerves beneath the surface.
"But I also understand your cousin's debts and I also understand the length he would go to avoid paying them. The longer he stays hidden, the more desperate his methods would become. Finding him now minimizes the risks for anyone involved". I left it at that, letting the implication of the potential consequences hang heavily between us.
The silence stretches, a tense standoff punctuated only by the rhythmic tick-tock of the clock on the wall. Alexander's eyes bore into mine, assessing and evaluating. He is clearly weighing the risks and rewards of my offer. The scent of stale cigarettes and desperation hangs heavy in the air, thick and suffocating. The fate of Alexia's van, Leon's gambling debts and my own precarious financial situation all hang precariously in balance waiting for Alexander's decision. The air crackles with anticipation.
I waited patiently but Alexander still haven't decided. So I decided to show him something that would change his mind completely. I reach into my worn handbag, pulling out a crumpled photograph. It's a blurry shot, taken from a distance, but clear enough to show Leon, his face partially obscured by the shadow of a baseball cap standing outside of a dingy-looking motel on the outskirts of town. I slide the photo across the counter towards Alexander.
He picks it up, his thick fingers carefully unfolding the creased paper. His eyes scan the image, his expression unreadable, a carefully constructed mask of neutrality. The silence stretches, thick and heavy, punctuated only by the nervous shuffling of Alexia's feet and the rhythmic ticking of the clock.
After what feels like an eternity, Alexander slowly places the photograph back down on the counter. He doesn't look at me, his gaze fixed on some unseen point beyond my shoulder.
"This...changes... everything" he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper.
"This..... significantly changes things". He pauses, taking a long drag from his cigarette, the cherry glowing like a malevolent red eye in the dim light.
"The.....van" he says finally, his voice gaining a measure of his usual sharpness "is a small matter compared to this. My cousin..... he's not a man to be trifled with, especially when cornered. You have placed yourself in a precarious position, Daniella".
He leans back in his car, the grease on his bald head gleaming under the dim lights.