Paint You Wings

Twenty-nine

I wake up more energized than I have in a while. Sleeping on a prison bed doesn't suffice.

I glance at Aaron. He has his back turned to me. His shirtless attire makes my stomach fill with butterflies, but I have no time to think about it right now. I have to find out about Richard. I check my phone. I have missed calls, but they're not from anyone important.

I sigh and carefully get out of bed. Taking a quick shower, I have to get out early to the sound of my phone ringing. The second I exit the bathroom, I smell the pancakes and bacon. I put my phone to my ear as I towel dry my hair.

"Hello?"

"So it's true!" Richard exclaims, "You're out of jail!"

"And I was only in there because of you." I hiss.

Richard laughs. "So feisty. Why'd they let you go?"

"Because I'm innocent. They have multiple things to prove it."

"Ah," Richard sighs. "Well, it's come to my attention that I still don't have my half a million dollars. You're just a smidgen overdue."

"I have your money, Richard. Where do you want to meet?"

The line is silent. It must've came as a surprise that I have the money. "This is a trap. What kind of fool do you take me for?"

I scoff. "The kind that doesn't want his half a mil',"

"Touché," he chuckles, "how'd you get it if you were in jail?"

"Aaron has his ways," I reply smoothly.

Richard clicks his tongue, disaprovingly. "So you told the fiancé?"

"You can't expect me to get that kind of money on my own."

"And I can't expect him to either. His dad is in debt. He's lucky that I didn't make my men go after him again upon his discharge from the hospital."

I completely forgot about when Aaron told me that. "I never said he got it from his dad." The comeback is weak, but I cross my fingers he believes it.

"Then where did he get it from?"

I hesitate. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." Use the excuse every action movie does.

Richard laughs. "Whatever. If you're lying to me, I will kill you. I want my money."

"I understand. I'll give it to you."

"Good, meet me in the alley behind The Lion in thirty minutes. Come alone. I won't hesitate to kill you and anyone you bring along."

Before I can say anything, he hangs up. I immediately dial the number that the cops gave me. I tell them everything that happened.

"There's something up with what he's saying." The cop, Officer Marshall says.

"What do you mean?"

"It's exactly what we wanted to happen. There's some kind of catch, a gimmick."

I immediately think, "Fuck." Officer Marshall is probably right. There's no way Richard really believed me. Unless... "Unless he just really wants his money."

The officer sighs. "I don't know. I'll make sure to have the area secure."

We bid our goodbyes and hang up. Aaron is behind me the second I turn around. "Did you talk to Richard?" He asks, taking a strand of my hair between his fingers.

I nod. "Yes, the plan is set up."

"Okay, I'll get dressed."

I shake my head. "I have to go alone."