“You’re brave,” I said slowly, letting each word drip with warning. “Or foolish. Maybe both.”
Howard whimpered behind her, shrinking further into the couch cushions, while she stayed rooted, unflinching. I let the silence stretch, letting her feel exactly how much danger she was courting—and how easily I could erase it.
“Do you know what your dear daddy has been up to?” I asked her.
A flicker of confusion crossed her face, but she didn’t back down. Defiance burned brighter than the fear I could sense just beneath the surface. Ah, the foolishness of youth. Perhaps she hadn’t yet grasped the full weight of the world surrounding her, but that only made the scene more… entertaining.
I let my gaze linger, measuring her, weighing her bravery against the reality of what she’d just thrown herself into. Dangerous? Yes. Bold? Definitely. Intriguing? Undeniably.
“Your father has borrowed $60,000 from us,” I said, driving my boot into Howard’s stomach. “And has neglected to pay it back.”
The color drained from her pretty face as she echoed the amount, lips trembling slightly. From the look she gave, I could tell she knew her father had a gambling problem, a problem that had likely spiraled far beyond her awareness.
“Please,” she said, her voice tight but desperate. “Just… give us time. I’ll get the money. I swear I’ll pay you back.”
I let her words hang in the stale air, watching her shoulders tremble, watching the fear and determination fight for dominance in her eyes. Her plea was sincere, naive even, but the world she was stepping into didn’t bend for sincerity.
“The time was up two months ago, sweetheart. It’s time to pay up now.”
Her eyes widened, panic flashing over the desperate determination that had only moments ago filled her gaze. “B-but we don’t have the money!”
“Sure you do,” I said, hauling Howard up by the back of the shirt. I tapped on his chest. “This right here is worth $200,000 alone.”
Howard’s face paled even more, and a strangled scream tore from his throat. “No! Please! Don’t! I’ll get it! I’ll get it!” He clawed at my hands, his knuckles white, eyes wide with pure terror.
I didn’t flinch. I let him struggle for a moment, letting the sound of his panic fill the room, and then tightened my grip slightly, just enough to remind him who was in control.
“Howard,” I said, voice low and lethal, “this is what happens when you can’t pay your debts.”
The panic in Howard's eyes was almost satisfying, a glimpse of the fear I’d become accustomed to evoking. But even as I tightened my grip, I couldn't ignore the woman’s presence. She stood there, defiance mixing with desperation, and I found myself studying her more than I intended.
“Please,” she begged, getting down on her hands and knees. “I will do anything.”
I should have ignored her. Should have focused on the debtor in front of me. But the sight of her on her hands and knees did something to me. A mix of irritation and… something far more dangerous. My pulse tightened, awareness sharpening as every detail of her—the curve of her neck, the fire still lingering in her eyes—etched itself into my mind.
I leaned slightly closer, voice low, controlled, yet heavy with a dark amusement. “Anything, huh? Be careful what you offer. Some promises are harder to keep than others.”
Howard’s eyes widened, panic twisting his features even further. “Y-yeah… yeah, take Tessa. Take her! Just don’t kill me! Please!” The words tumbled out of him like a prayer, desperate and unthinking. His hands shook as he pressed himself further into the couch, as if shrinking small enough could make me ignore him.
I let the name roll over me, tasting it like a new piece of information, letting it sink in.So, her name is Tessa.My gaze flicked to her, noting the defiance still flickering in her eyes despite the fear that lingered beneath.
“You throw your daughter to the wolves to save your own skin?” I said, voice low and cutting, letting each word land like a whip.
Howard whimpered, his face paling further. “I—I didn’t mean—”
“I’ll do it,” she interjected, getting off her hands and knees and standing.
“You’ll do what?” I asked, my voice low, almost a growl, as I leaned closer, intrigued and amused.
Her eyes met mine without flinching, defiance still burning even as her hands trembled at her sides. “I’ll be your payment,” she said, voice steady despite the quaver I could hear underneath. “Just don’t hurt my dad.”
Howard flinched at her words, relief and terror mixing on his face, while I let a slow, deliberate smirk tug at my lips.
“Is that so?” I murmured, voice low, letting the words linger like a knife. “And who said I accepted this new form of payment?”
Her chest rose and fell quickly, but she held my gaze, a flicker of defiance mingling with the fear in her eyes. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” she said, voice steady, though a tremor betrayed her nerves.
Howard whimpered behind her, shrinking further into the couch, but my attention stayed locked on her. Bold. Reckless. And fascinating. The audacity of offering herself—willing, yet cautious—was both dangerous and compelling.
