Surprise flashed over the big male’s face, and suddenly I wasn’t the focus of his attention any longer. “It’s about damn time,” he rumbled.
When the claw at the end of one thumb extended, and he used that to slice open the envelope, I gasped. But he ignored me to pull out the paper inside.
There wasn’t a check?
I mean, I knew Dad’s finances were shit, but he’d won in that big game against the LeClair brothers, yeah? It wasn’t like he was going to stuff fifty thousand cash in that envelope—it was too thin—but I’d expected a check.
Fuck, it had better not be another IOU. The asshole had too many of those.
Judging from the way Garrak’s expression had hardened into something a little scary as he read the letter, I guessed it was. I found myself beginning to back away. But when he lifted his eyes to me, and I saw the fury in those dark depths, I froze.
“What in the hells is this?” he growled, lifting the hand that still clamped the letter and the envelope. “Thiswas your plan?”
My gaze flicked warily between the paper and his face. “I don’t…what?”
“Was this your idea, or Hendricks’” He shook the letter. “He thinks this is going to fly?”
My heart was pounding against my ribcage, that worry back, so much stronger than before. “Mr. Longspear, I don’t know what the letter says. Is it another IOU?” In which case, why send me?
The big male stepped forward, so he was standing in the doorway, as he lifted the letter to read.
“I told you I don’t have the fifty thousand, but apparently a monster is too stupid to understand that. I still don’t have it, but I have something better. The whore who just handed this to you? She’s here to dowhateveryou want to repay my debt. I’ll bet a filthy beast like you can come up with some way to use her that’s worth fifty thousand.”His voice got even harder as his gaze flew over the words.“And you tell her that if she gets cold feet, I’ll tell the LeClair brothers about what really happened in New Orleans.”
The orc lowered the paper, glaring at me…but I wasn’t paying attention.
No.
I was staring, wide-eyed at his chest, trying to get my breathing and my pulse under control.
Whore. Use her.
What?
What?
My father had…what? What did he expect me to do?
You know damn well what he expects you to do. It was all there in the letter. That bastard sent you to Eastshore Isle to fuck your way out of his debt and didn’t even give you warning.
Would it have mattered?
Hell yes, it would have! I would’ve taken that plane ticket and…
And what?
The LeClair brothers have a far reach.
I was screwed, wasn’t I? I had to do what Dad wanted—what thatassholewanted, or I’d end up in even more trouble. I didn’t have a choice.
So I swallowed, straightened my shoulders, and plastered a smile on my lips.
I could do this. I had to.
Garrak
Humans generally hadno idea how perceptive orcs’ senses really were. For instance, I doubt any of thisfemale’s friends would have noticed her distress as I read the letter, considering how good she was at hiding her response.
But I’d been watching her from the corner of my eye when I readShe’s here to do whatever you want to repay my debt, and I scented her surprise.
