Hooked

want her parents to know what she’s been doing and begged me to keep it quiet. Of course, she’ll be well taken care of financially. She’s going to take a vacation until this blows over.”
    “Women should know the risks when they embark on questionable careers. But they don’t always.” Russo drained his glass. “Maybe the Gods are pissed off at you, Mr. Cooper. See that your problems don’t leave your house.”
    “Yes, sir. I’ll make sure.”
    “Our business is finished for now. I want Mr. Martell’s tape. He said there’s a puny little fairy who controls this operation from the office. I suggest you have a nice long talk with him to determine if he’s your weak link. My guess, he is. If you don’t, I will. And if the incident with Mr. Martell becomes public…well, I’m not one to make threats, you understand, but if you think bad things are happening to you now, you have no idea how bad your life can get.”
    Russo’s eyes resumed their cold stare, and Benny’s knees weakened. If he were standing, he’d surely crumple to the floor in a sweat-sopped heap.
    “Get the tape. I’ll pour myself another drink and wait.”
    Benny wobbled to his feet, left his apartment, and strode shakily to the office. With every step, anger boiled inside him. He glared at Colin. The little man shriveled into himself. “Get Martell’s tape.”
    “But―”
    “Get. It.”
    Colin unl ocked a cabinet and fingered through the tapes until he found the right one. “This could put us in jail. You realize that, don’t you?”
    “What would you prefer, you fucking little backstabbing cocksucker? Jail or death by Russo?”
    Colin handed him the tape.
    “Don’t go anywhere,” Benny said. “We have to talk.”
    “I…I have to leave,” Colin said. “I have an appointment.”
    Benny pulled Colin up by his Polo shirt. “I ought to pulverize you myself, but if you aren’t here when I get back, I will inform Mr. Russo that you’re a fucking loose cannon who should be dumped into the next building excavation.” He threw him back into his chair. “Do I make myself clear?”
    Colin nodded nervously.
    It was only right the motherfucker should be as scared as Benny. He left the office with the tape. His hands shook so much he could barely hang on to it. He’d never spoken to anyone like that. At what point had he crossed the line and lost control of his operation? At what point had he become a fucking accessory to murder and blackmail? Because even though he had nothing to do with either, he’d aided and abetted the cover-up of both. His nightmares were now reality.
    If Russo was feeling the scotch, he didn’t show it. He took the tape and placed it inside the flat leather folder slung over his shoulder. “Remember what I said, Mr. Cooper.”
    “You have nothing to worry about.”
    “I’ve heard that before. It isn’t always true.”
    Benny popped open the door of his apartment. What could he say? Russo was right.
    “Nice place you have here. I’d hate to see it closed down. There’s a need for places like this. I’m curious how you got into this business. It isn’t exactly the career change I’d expect from a hedge-fund manager.”
    “Well, sir―”
    “Curious,” Russo said, “not interested. There’s a difference.”
    Benny walked him to the front door, an idea forming in his fertile brain. “Mr. Russo,” he said, “I have a proposal.”
    * * * * *
    “W hat the fuck were you thinking, Colin? Do you know how close you came to getting us both killed? You think Russo didn’t know who called Martell to blackmail him? If it wasn’t me, you stinking little shit, who do you think he’d pin it on? One of the girls?” Benny knotted his fist and pulled back his arm, ready to strike. Then he dropped the pretense. “What am I doing? I don’t hit people. I’m a peaceful man. I go to temple twice a year.”
    “That bastard Martell called my bluff, Benny. I thought he’d roll over and play. Who’d have thought a fat accountant had steel cojones ?”
    “You’ve seen his cojones ,” Benny said. “It takes some doing to find them, but they’re big ones. Steel? They’re fucking cement.” Ordinarily he would have chuckled at the thought of the big man’s hard-to-find balls, but he wasn’t in a chuckling mood. “Jesus, Colin, don’t you make enough money? You have to fucking blackmail a mob accountant? Did I say you’re a genius? You’re a moron.”
    “I thought it was worth a