“Yes, I do know. I’m one of them. I’ve terrorized dozens of men, so stop being a pussy and listen to me. I’ll call you back when I know the next step. Until then, you work on getting the money and getting your divorce papers signed. You get me those two things and I can make this happen where everyone wins. I’ll call you when I know something!”

“Donatti, you don’t know what you’re asking me to do. It’s walking into a death sentence!”

“I realize you’re scared, Devek, but right now, you’ve got no choice. Because if you don’t do what I tell you, I’m going to come over to Goa and put a bullet in your brain like I should have done eleven years ago! Which I just may do anyway because at least it would save me money on Terry’s divorce. Now stop being a fucking pussy and man up, for Christ’s sake. Think about what I said, and I’ll get back to you as soon as they call me.”

He hung up.

“Fucking asshole.”

Donatti looked up and saw Juleen staring at him, a terrified look on her face. He said, “I told you to stay in the bedroom.” When she didn’t answer, he said, “How much did you hear?”

She still didn’t speak.

Donatti said, “You can’t breathe a word of this to your mother. She cannot know what’s going on. It’ll kill her if she knows.” No response. “Juleen, you need to answer me. Not a fucking word!”

She nodded.

“Good.” He checked his watch. “Your teacher will be here soon. Go practice your pieces and I’ll talk to you later.”

She didn’t move. Tears in her eyes.

Donatti exhaled. “I got you a phone, by the way. Limited internet, but you can call your mother, Gabe, and me. I’ll bring it to you when your mom comes to see you later.” He started to walk away.

Juleen whispered, “You were talking to my father, weren’t you?”

He turned to face her. “I was.”

“You said you’d kill him if he didn’t do what you said.” She swallowed hard. “Don’t deny it. I heard you.”

“I’m not going to kill him. Stop worrying.”

“You called him a coward for not going to Sanjay.”

“You shouldn’t eavesdrop.”

“I didn’t eavesdrop. You were shouting.”

He had been shouting. He exhaled and then said, “Your father’s not a coward, Juleen.” He walked toward her, then stopped. “He’s just a man who’s … out of his element. He’s scared! And he should be. The people I’m working with are not nice.”

“You would go if it was Gabe, right?”

“Yes, I would go.”

“Then my father is a coward. He’s a coward and a gambler and I hate him!”