He waits for what seems like an eternity as he analyses the stubborn set of my jaw and finally relents. He has the sense to know this is a battle he will not win. I won’t back down, and all of this is delaying the inevitable. He sighs heavily, eyes dropping as his intense digging of my features soothes away.

Mico picks up the money and holds it momentarily, weighing it as though he’s thinking of trying again. Defeat crosses his face as he thinks better of it and slides it back into ...