“He was sentenced to twenty-five years.” I clenched my jaw. “But somehow, he got out early.”
Her breath caught. “So… he’s out?”
I nodded. “And he wants his money. Plus interest.”
Mel inhaled sharply. “How much?”
“Thirty thousand.”
Her eyes widened. “Damn, Nick. Tell him to fuck off.”
“I can’t.” My voice was low, deadly serious. “Guys like Diablo—when they have nothing to lose, they don’t let things go. If I don’t pay, he’ll come after me. My family. Eden, you, and I can’t let that happen. I won’t.”
She ran a hand through her hair, her breathing uneven. “How much do you still owe him?”
“Almost twenty thousand. But thanks to my awesome marketing department, the restaurant’s picking up business.”
A faint, almost ironic smile tugged at her lips. “Well, at least there’s that.”
“I should have it all paid off soon.”
Mel rubbed her face, letting out a shaky laugh. “So my life is potentially in danger?”
I hesitated. “Yes. No. Shit—maybe. But I’m handling it.”
She let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Jesus, Nick. Why didn’t you tell me all this before I agreed?”
I met her gaze, my stomach twisting. “Because I was desperate. And I didn’t want you to say no.”
Silence stretched between us. The weight of everything pressed down like a vice.
Mel exhaled, long and slow, shaking her head. “So… after everything with Diablo, what made you enlist?”
I hesitated. “Honestly? It wasn’t some noble decision.” I let out a small, bitter laugh. “A buddy of mine was talking about it—how he enlisted, how he would see the world, how the military paid decently. And I just stood there thinking… maybe that was my way out.”
Mel’s gaze softened, but she stayed quiet, letting me continue.
“Colt just got drafted to the NFL and I felt stuck, like I didn’t have a future. Not one that didn’t involve running or constantly looking over my shoulder. My sister needed me to be somethingbetter, and my mom… she never said it, but I think she was afraid of what I’d become if I stayed.” I swallowed hard. “So I walked into the recruitment office the next day and signed up.”
Mel studied me for a long moment before whispering, “Did it work?”
I huffed out a breath, glancing up at the night sky. “For a while.” My voice dropped. “But the past doesn’t just disappear, Mel. And now it’s caught up to me.”
She reached for my hand then, her fingers warm against mine. “Then we’ll figure it out.”
I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to believe her. But deep down, I knew—this wasn’t something you just figured out. This was something that either buried you or forced you to fight like hell to survive. And I wasn’t sure which one I was headed for yet.
46
MELANIE
When we walked back inside, Loco trailing beside me, the house felt eerily quiet. My mom and Richard were gone. I turned to Nick, my chest tightening. “Did my mom say anything to you before you came to find me?”
He shook his head, jaw clenched. “No. Richard just insisted they talk privately. I’m sure he’s filling her head with more bullshit.”
I let out a hollow laugh, nodding slowly. “Of course. Just when I think she might actually put me first for once…” I trailed off, swallowing hard. “Guess some things never change.”
Nick’s eyes softened. “Mel?—”
