“I can’t just cancel them! It’s my job,and I need the money. I can’t afford to?—”
“I’mfucking paying you.” His gaze snaps up from the screen of his phone, his grip on it tight, like he’s losing his patience.
I blink at him. “How much?” It’s a bold question but I’ve got my priorities.
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. It’s almost dry now, and he messes it up while letting out a deep breath, looking out the window like he’d rather be doing anything else other than having to talk to me.
“How much do you want?”
“Ten thousand, seven hundred,” I say without thinking.
That gets his attention. “Tenthousanddollars?” He stares at me, and I nod.
“And seven hundred,” I say, doubling down. Standing by that number despite the look on his face.Enough for Remi’s medication.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“Ten thousand, seven hundred dollars, and I’ll be your willing little slave for two weeks.” I don’t stop to think of all the ways I could live to regret those words…
Koen’s eyes flash and I have to fight the urge to run and hide under the covers of my bed.
“A month,” he counters, and I chew my lip. Remi will be home in two weeks. There’s no way I can keep her a secret from Koen if he’s still around by then.
“Three weeks.” I lift my chin and narrow my gaze, staring him down. “No club and no lessons, but I can’t compromise my studio and rehearsal time. I have a showcase coming up. I have to be able to practice.”
“Fine,” he says, leaving me shocked. His attention drops back to his phone, no longer interested in me. “Three weeks. You’ll get the ten thousand…seven hundred,” he adds when I look at him expectantly, “at the end. Assuming you deliver.”
“Okay, and what do I have to do?”
He looks up at me and the corner of his mouth ticks up.
“Whatever I want.”
41
THE AUDACITY
BRIAR
Now
There’s a man named Mac sitting outside my door.
Alargeman named Mac.
I know this because, when I tried to leave for the studio about an hour ago, I almost fell running into him.
He winces. “Sorry lass, but you can’t be doing that now. Rí says you stay here.”
“Rí?” I ask. Surprised he’s using the name Koen gave me when we first met.
“Aye Rí. Theboss, Koen,” he confirms, and my lips press tightly together.
The audacity.
“Okay, well, you can tell yourbossto shove it. I need to get to the studio.”
My attempt to slide past him fails miserably.
