THE ULTIMATUM
But oddly, Cash remained calm.
Carl, in his full 6’4 glory, stormed into the pool area, eyes scanning wildly for his son.
“Hello Dad, long time no see.”
“You! What have you done this time?!” Carl bellowed.
“I just fucked his wife. It’s not like it’s a big deal, It’s just sex, and she wasn’t that great in bed anyway.”
My eyes bulged. The boy was insane!
I sipped my whiskey, watching Carl explode. “Are you fucking stupid? You owe him money, then you screw his wife? He’s a Mexican cartel boss, you’re playing with fire, you stupid kid!”
“Relax, Dad, before you give yourself a heart attack. He just needs sixty million, and the grudge disappears.”
“And how are you going to get that kind of money?”
“You’ll give it to me.” Cash shrugged nonchalantly.
I nearly slapped him myslef.
Did he know how much deep shit he was in?
Carl fumed. “Sixty million… you always get into shit and expect me to fix it. What do I look like to you, Cash? Stupid?”
“Rich enough to get my ass out of trouble.”
“I won’t waste another dime on you!”
“Oh really? That’s not what you said that night when you found me in his room. You promised to give me whatever I wanted, remember?”
Everything went still.
Carl looked like he’d seen a ghost. His silence said more than words.
Cash toyed with his brow piercing. “I heard you want to run for Senate. If you don’t fix this, and it gets out…”
Carl lunged, fists clenched, “You cunt…!” but I stepped between them. “Carl, sit down.” I placed a hand on his chest and gently pushed him back.
He dropped into a chair and I poured him water. “Hey baby, I’m sorry I didn't say hi properly” Carl took the glass and kissed me.
“It’s okay”
“We found a lead. A town in Oregon and we need to look there as soon as possible. How’s your forensic report?”
“Done, we’ll review it before bed.”
“Good.” Carl sighed.
We sat in tense silence until Carl muttered. “I’ll pay the money.”
What?
Cash smiled smugly.
What the hell did he have over Carl to make him agree to such a deal?
"I guess we’re settled." Cash stood, but Carl’s voice stopped him.
“You’re going nowhere,” Carl snapped. “Not until you hear the condition.”
Cash scoffed, “You promised no conditions.”
“I don’t care what I promised. This time, you will earn the money.”
“No,” Cash said.
“Say what again?” Carl stood again and I braced for another outburst.
“Carl, please…”
“I’ll pay the money,” a voice said and we all turned to the doorway.
Cage Graves, Carl’s older son.
He entered, eyes on Cash. “Hello Cash, you don’t know how much I missed you.”
“What the fuck is he doing here?!” Cash barked.
“I heard you were back and I came to see you.” Cage smiled. “You look great…”
“Don’t come near me!” Cash suddenly looked shaken. “Dad, get him away!”
Carl stepped between them. “Sit down, Cage. We’ll talk about this later.”
“It’s just sixty million, I’ll handle it” Cage offered.
“No!” Carl and Cash yelled in unison.
“Cash needs to learn. I’m sending him undercover.”
“What? Fuck no!” Cash shouted.
“You’ll be protected as long as you blend with the locals, and we have a handler there to watch over you. You will report back everything you see and hear. And when we close the case, I’ll settle your debt.”
“You’re joking” his face twisted in rage.
“You know how ruthless the cartel is, and you know what they do to debtors. We’re running out of time, Cash. All you just need is a fake identity”
Cash glared at us and then his eyes landed on me.
“It’s just Oregon, son,” Carl said. “Don’t be stubborn about it”
Time ticked and finally Cash sighed in defeat. “Fine. I’ll go.”
Relief swept over me, I didn’t want to be in the middle of another family drama…
“Only if Isabel comes with me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” I snapped.
“You’re the forensic expert. It only makes sense.”
“Not a chance.”
“After all, I also need adult supervision. I’m not going if she doesn’t come with me.”
Carl groaned. “Okay,” he said.
“What?!” I nearly choked on air.
“It’s just for a few months, Isabel.”
"No. He’s insufferable and he’ll ruin my work. I won’t babysit a man-child."
"Isabel, baby, let’s talk upstairs."
“Carl…”
“Come on.” He took my hand, led me upstairs.
“He’s a juvenile delinquent,” I spun on him the second the door closed.
Carl sighed tiredly, undressing slowly. “Where were you last night Isabel?”
My heart skipped. “The Donovan fundraiser.”
“Funny. I never saw you there?”
“You said you weren’t coming.”
“I changed my mind, arrived later that night.”
“Maybe I left early.”
Carl’s eyes locked on mine. "Are you cheating on me?"
I forced a smile. “Only if I find someone bigger and better than you. Which is very unlikely.”
Carl almost smiled. “If you ever cheat… I’ll kill him. Then I’ll kill you.”
I leaned close. “Relax. I’m still yours.”
“Good.”
It didn’t scare me. Carl’s threats were a twisted version of love.
He kissed me hard, and I kissed him back before I pulled away to fold his shirt.
“Ten million dollars, all yours if you go with Cash.”
I recoiled, “Cash will make everything go awry…”
Carl slammed the drawer shut and I turned to see his angry eyes on me. “Come give Daddy a kiss, you’re going with him. Case closed.”
“I don’t want to.”
Carl walked toward me, removing his belt. “Isabel, don’t make me do this.”
“He’s a child. He’ll ruin everything.”
“He’s my son, he’ll behave”
“I don’t care if he’s your son…”
Carl snapped and grabbed my neck. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
He kissed me again, roughly this time “I love you so much. My sweet Isabel, just do this for me”
“Carl… I can’t breathe.”
“Just obey, like a good girl.”
“You’re hurting me….”
“My word stands, you leave with Cash tomorrow.”
“Carl…”
“You push me too much. I love you, but you keep making me mad.”
“Carl… I can’t… breathe.” I choked and struggled to claw his hand away.
“Ten million dollars, Isabel. Just find the killer for me. Will you do that?”
I felt lightheaded as blood rushed to my face “Yes”
“Will you be a good girl for me?”
“Yes.”
“10 AM. The jet leaves in the morning.”
The door burst open and a gun cocked.
“You fucking dirty cop, get your filthy hands off her…”