I blink slowly as my mind processes. “Is the family about to go bankrupt?”
“Probably. That’d be the easiest way to shed the debt.”
I close my eyes briefly. How could the family go belly up like this? How is it evenpossiblethat the company isn’t doing well? Oberman Events is one of the most exclusive event-planning firms in the world. They only cater to corporate or wealthy clientele whose minimum budget is at least half a mil. “Except for the two mil you owe those men. They don’t look like the type to abide by a bankruptcy court ruling.”
Aaron says nothing. But the lack of denial is telling.
Damn it. “Does Sherry know how bad things are with family finances?”
He shakes his head. “Dad and I don’t—didn’t—want to worry Mom with stuff like that.”
Good. She wouldn’t be able to bear it. “How did you end up with loan sharks?”
“I was trying to make things better.”
“That doesn’t explain how five hundred K turned into a two-million-dollar debt.”
“Yeah, well… I went to Vegas to fix things.”
“Vegas?” A horrible realization dawns on me. “You went gambling?”
“It’s the easiest way to make a quick score!”
Blood skyrockets to my skull. “The house always wins!”
“Over time! Not with every single customer. And I know how to count cards.”
Oh my God. “But you still lost half a million dollars.”
“I was tired and made a mistake or two.”
I look deeply into Aaron’s defiant gaze. He always believes he’s far better than anybody else, smarter than the world. “Did Zachary know?”
He shrugs.
So Zachary knew, but couldn’t stop him. “All right. I’ll take Sherry with me tomorrow, so they won’t harass her. You deal with them on your own.”
“It won’t work.” He shakes his head and looks out the window. “There’s no place you can hide to get away from them.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re everywhere. Do you think they’re going to let you leave?” Aaron scratches the tip of his nose and sniffles, not meeting my gaze. “If you’re lucky, they’ll slash your tires. If not, things could get a bit more personal.”
“Are you telling me I can’t return to my life unless you make good on that ‘loan’?”
His mouth twists. “Don’t sound ungrateful! Remember what my parents did for you!”
“Yeah, I know.Zachary and Sherrydid a lot for me. Not you.”
“You owe it to them!”
I stare at him, my heart racing furiously. “I don’t have two million dollars! I’ve never had that kind of money!”
“Borrow it,” he says, like I can just go out and pick up that money on the streets.
“Aaron.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What bank will lend me that much without any collateral?”
“Didn’t Dad buy you a condo?” he says, with more force than necessary.
