“Well, pay it off before they come back to harass Sherry.”
His mouth flattens. His transparent expression shows pride warring with bitter reluctance.
“I’m flying back to Monroe tomorrow morning,” I remind him, so he understands that,ifthere’s a next time, Sherry might be on her own.
He spits out a word in a voice so small, I can’t make it out. Probably something likebitch. Aaron’s vocabulary for cursing me out isn’t very creative.
“I need to head back and change.” I start toward the door.
“Can’t,” he says, louder.
Can’t…?I stop and face him. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t pay it,” he grinds out.
“Why not? You just dropped over two hundred grand on a car.” Aaron drove a brand-new Maserati GranCabrio to Zachary’s burial.
“That’s different.”
“I’m sure, but half a mil isn’t a big deal, not for you.”
“That’s the principal.”
That’s the principal?“What the hell are you talking—”
“The half-mil is just the principal of what I owe those guys.”
Uh-oh. “How much do you owe, in total, with the interest?”
“Two million.” His voice is as small as mosquito buzzing.
What the hell?“How did you let the amount grow to four times the principal?”
“Hey, shit happens!” He scowls and sticks his chest out. The bravado doesn’t mask the defensiveness underneath. He knows he fucked up.
“Well, whatever. Just pay it off.” Two mil is a lot, but still, something the family should be able to handle.
“Ican’t. There are no liquid funds.”
“Sell your car, then.”
“Won’t be enough to cover the loan.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have bought it in the first place.”
“It’s a fucking amazing car!”
My jaw slackens with shock. “More amazing than not having creeps come after you and your family?”
“Someone like you will never know or appreciate it.” He exhales harshly, then admits in a tiny voice, “There’s no money.”
I let out a hollow laugh. “Stop joking around. It’s not funny. Look, I don’t want whatever Zachary left behind. It’s all yours. I’ll put it in writing if you want.”
“I’m not joking. There’s reallyno money. The company isn’t doing well, and the house is already mortgaged to the hilt.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline. “Are you telling me the family has no money? At all?”
“Do you fucking understand English?There’s no money!”
