I couldn’tstandthe idea of Shiloh being hurt that way.
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” he said. “This isn’t abuse.”
“Then what happened? Someone hurt you, Shy.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t cancel our session tonight. I shouldn’t be laying this on you.”
I’d been in a low mood and looking to Shy to lift it, but my baggage took a back seat to that glaring bruise on Shiloh’s face. I didn’t care about anything else, not right now.
“I want you to lay it on me. Please tell me what’s happening. I’m worried about you. Maybe I don’t have the right to be. I’m sorry if I’m overstepping or crossing boundaries, but I can’t help it, Shy. You mean a lot to me.”
His eyes filled with tears, and he turned his face, this time not to hide the bruise but the pain.
Finally, he rasped out, “I’m in trouble.”
“Tell me.”
Haltingly, he explained about his ex-boyfriend’s debt, about the two guys harassing him to make payments on it, about the escalating fees, the fact that they’d gotten him fired from his day job, and the assault that might just be the first of many if he didn’t pay them enough.
“This isn’t good,” I said grimly. “You’re not safe.”
“I know.” He sounded so tired. “If I can do enough cam shows, maybe…” He trailed off, biting his lip. “But I don’t know if I can.”
I considered offering to advance him for a few extra sessions. But where would it end? By his own account, they kept raising the amount he had to pay each week. They’d bleed him dry, and then maybe literally bleed him dry.
The more money Shiloh gave them, the more they’d want. There was no winning in this situation.
“You need to go somewhere,” I said. “Get away from them.”
“I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Family?”
He shook his head, mouth tight. “Not an option.”
“Friends?”
He hesitated. “I don’t want to put them at risk. What if they follow me or something?”
I nodded. “What you need is to get out of town.”
“I’ve drained my savings for these guys. I’m already overdue on half my bills. I can’t afford to go on the run. Where would I even go?”
My heart leapt. “You could come here.”
“What?”
“Let me come get you, Shiloh. You can stay with me until we figure something out.”
CHAPTER 4
Shiloh
My shocked expressionstared back at me from the video screen. Holden remained hidden on the other side, and yet he was offering me a place to stay.
Part of me wanted to accept, to run from my hopeless situation. But that would be a terrible idea, wouldn’t it?
“You don’t even know me,” I whispered.
