Making Angel (Mariani Crime Family Book 1) by Amanda Washington

and you, Angel. I-I-I’ll fix this.”
    I chuckled, wondering if he thought I was stupid enough to buy his promises again. Wondering if he thought I had that kind of power. There was a freaking camera on us. My father wanted broken bones, and by God, he would get them.
    “I hope they let you live long enough to do just that. Really, I do. But in the meanwhile, what about me? I have a boss to answer to. I vouched for you, and you left me hanging. How do you think that makes me look?”
    Sweat rolled down the side of his face. “I-I-I—”
    “It makes me look like a damn fool!” I spat.
    A memory flashed in my mind. Freshman homecoming. I didn’t have a date for the dance, so Johnny had set me up with his sister, Melody. I was shy and quiet, and she was popular, gorgeous, and a senior. He’d done me the most important favor of my freshman year. I stared at his hand, wondering if I could really break his fingers. Knowing I had to.
    “But I never—”
    My gaze shifted to his face. The fear in Johnny’s eyes made me sick. It made me hate him for being weak, and hate myself for becoming his boogeyman. He needed to know the consequences of his actions though. If Johnny didn’t wise up, he wouldn’t last the week.
    “They’ll kill you. They’ll kill you, and then they’ll come for me. That’s what happens when you gamble with the family’s money.”
    Johnny started to reply, but Bones lunged forward, punching the bound idiot square in the jaw. “Enough talking!” Bones shook the sting from his hand.
    Johnny’s eyes watered. He opened his jaw, as if to gauge the pain, and it made a clicking noise. He winced.
    Johnny’s beak of a nose started to leak. He tried to wipe it on his shoulder only to wince at the pain of moving his jaw. I forced myself to watch every pathetic, pained move he made, knowing I’d inadvertently put him in this position. I never should have recommended him.
    Bones paced a few steps alongside the bed. I hadn’t bothered to tell him about my father’s orders, mostly because I’d failed the old man, and I felt ashamed. Bones glanced at me, silently promising to rip me a new one later.
    Bones stopped and pointed a finger in Johnny’s face. “You’re lucky to still be alive. And now you got Angel’s ass on the line. So help me, if you don’t pay—” Bones raised his fist, glaring daggers at Johnny.
    Johnny paled even further, if possible. “I’ll pay! I’ll pay! I swear! Oh God, I swear.”
    “Now?” Bones asked. “You gonna pay right now?”
    “Now? I don’t have it right this minute.”
    Bones flexed, his hand still poised to strike.
    “But soon. I’ll get it soon. I swear!” He turned toward me. “Please, Angel.”
    My silence added tension to the room. We marinated in it as I struggled to come to terms with my task. Finally, I leaned back in my chair, lowering my voice to the menacing tone I’d heard my father use when he played the part of the boogeyman.
    “I gave you a shot and you disappointed me, Johnny. The boss told me to cut off your hand and bring it to him, like they used to do to thieves in the old days.”
    Johnny’s bottom lip began to quiver.
    “I’m not a Neanderthal, though. If it comes down to me hacking off your body parts, I’ll just put a gun to your head and end this thing. You feel me?”
    He nodded.
    “Good. I’m hoping it won’t come down to that. It’s not lucrative to kill the people who owe you money. Makes it impossible to collect. I can’t completely disobey the boss and leave you unscathed, though. Bones, will you please release Johnny’s left hand. You’re right-handed, right, Johnny?”
    Johnny nodded again, his eyes wide with terror as Bones circled the bed and untied his left arm. It fell to the mattress, and then Johnny pulled it close, trying to hide it with his body. “What are you gonna do?” he asked.
    Bones chuckled, and the sound made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
    “Give me your hand,” Bones said