“See, that’s a problem,” Leon says, stroking his ridiculous mustache. I’ve told him a dozen times he looks like a porn star from the seventies, but does he listen? “If we can’t find him, we gotta get the money somewhere else.”
Her gray eyes—Christ, they’re beautiful—go wide with understanding. “You can’t be serious! I didn’t borrow money from you people. That’s not how debt works.”
Smart girl. Even scared out of her mind, she’s calling bullshit on their logic.
“Too bad for you,” Tony says, leaning in close enough that she flinches. “We’re not chasing that deadbeat all over the country. You’ll do just fine.”
When Leon grabs her wrist and she cries out, something primitive and violent unfurls in my chest.
“Tony. Leon.” My voice cuts through the alley like a blade, and both men freeze like deer in headlights. “Step the fuck away from her. Now.”
The color drains from their faces so fast I’m surprised they don’t pass out. They know exactly who they’re dealing with, and more importantly, they know what happens to people who displease me.
“Boss,” Tony stammers, backing away from the woman like she’s radioactive. “We’re just trying to collect on a debt.”
“Fifty grand,” Leon adds helpfully. “Her ex owes fifty grand.”
I don’t look away from the woman as I ask, “Who authorized the loan?”
“Luca.”
Perfect. My cousin won’t give a shit about the money. I could end this right now. Send these idiots away, pay off the debt myself, and let this gorgeous stranger disappear back into whatever life she came from.
But I haven’t been this attracted to a woman in a long time, and I’m not usually known for my self-restraint.
“I’ll handle this,” I tell them, my tone making it clear the discussion is over.
“You sure, boss?” Leon asks. “We could always just?—”
“Did I fucking stutter?” The words come out low and deadly. Both men practically trip over themselves getting out of the alley.
Now it’s just me and her. She’s pressed against the wall, trembling, but there’s something sharp in her eyes. She’s scared—terrified, actually—but she’s still thinking. Still trying to figure out what kind of danger she’s in now.
“What’s your name?” I ask, taking a step closer.
She flinches back against the brick, and I catch the quick way her eyes dart over my expensive watch, my tailored suit, how easily those two soldiers obeyed me. Even scared out of her mind, she’s putting pieces together.
“N-Nina,” she stammers, her voice barely above a whisper.
The gold nameplate on her uniform confirms it. At least she’s not lying, which is smart. Lying to me would be a very bad idea.
“Well, Nina.” I keep my voice gentle, non-threatening. No need to make this worse for her. “Looks like you’re in some serious shit.”
She swallows hard, her hands pressed flat against the wall behind her. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” The words come out small, defensive.
“‘Course not. But from what I gather, you have terrible taste in men. Your ex borrowed money from very dangerous people.” I shrug, trying to keep this conversational. “Sometimes life’s a bitch that way.”
Something flickers across her face. Anger, maybe, or just exhaustion. “I’m not responsible for his mistakes,” she says quietly.
“Tell that to the guys who were about to rearrange your face. Someone has to pay, and your ex is in the wind. That leaves you.”
I watch her process this, see her shoulders sag with the weight of it. “Fifty thousand dollars,” she whispers, like she’s testing how the words sound. Then she looks up at me with those gray eyes. “I’m a waitress. I don’t have fifty thousand dollars.”
“Then you’ll be paying it off for a very long time,” I tell her. “Interest compounds daily.”
Her face goes pale. “So I can never pay it off.”
I don’t deny it. Her mouth falls open slightly, and I can’t help but imagine what else those lips could do. The thought should disturb me more than it does.
