“That’s… unfortunate,” he says without the slightest trace of sympathy.
Denial washes over me, making me shake my head vehemently. “No way,” I argue. “Mom wouldn’t borrow almost three hundred thousand.”
“She didn’t,” he agrees smoothly. “I lent her two hundred thousand five years ago. But she defaulted on the interest payments when she was diagnosed and had medical bills to pay.”
Oh… shit.
“Now that Sophia Brewer is dead, the debt falls to you.” He stares straight at me.
“M-me?” I croak. “But why?”
“Because she put you as her collateral.” His voice is calm, almost gentle, which somehow makes it worse. “The question is, can you pay it?”
Even though I’ve already said I can’t, my mind races through the bakery’s finances. But there’s no point when I already know it isn’t so successful I can just pull out almost three hundred thousand.
“I… I don’t have that kind of money,” I say again, my voice cracking. “But I can work out a payment plan. The bakery makes a decent profit. I could—”
“No,” he interrupts smoothly, “The contract clearly states that in the event of Sophia’s death, or if she was unable to repay the debt within ten years, I’m collecting you.”
The words don’t make sense at first. They float in the air between us, disconnected from reality. Then their meaning crashes over me like a wave of ice water.
“What? No! You can’t… that’s not…” Panic explodes in my chest. I lunge for the door, shoving hard against his shoulder as I try to slip past him.
Raffaele moves with terrifying speed for such a large man. One moment he’s at a respectable distance, the next, his hand encircles my upper arm, stopping me mid-flight. His grip clamps around my arm like a steel cuff. I twist hard, trying to wrench free, digging my nails into his wrist.
“Let me go.” I twist frantically. I slam my free hand against his chest, then again, aiming higher this time—his throat, his face,anywhere I might slow him down. It’s like hitting a brick wall. “Help! Somebody help me!”
“No one will hear you,” he says, his voice unnervingly calm. “And if they did, no one would interfere. This is Russo business.”
I blindly reach for something—anything—I can use as a weapon. That’s when I see it; the lamp on the dresser. I dive for it, my fingers brushing the base before his hand snaps around my wrist and yanks me back.
Now he has both my arms, holding me immobile before him. I kick out, aiming for his shin, but he shifts his weight, avoiding the blow.
“Are you finished?” he asks, sounding bored.
A soft meow interrupts my struggle. Onyx limps into the room, his yellow eyes wide with concern. He stops just inside the doorway, looking uncertainly between me and the massive stranger holding me captive.
Raffaele follows my gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he takes in the small black cat with its distinctive white paws. “Yours?” he asks.
I nod jerkily, afraid to speak lest my voice betray how terrified I am.
Something shifts in his expression—not softening exactly, but recalibrating. He releases one of my arms, though he keeps a firm grip on the other.
“I’m going to make this simple,” he says. “If you stop fighting and come with me willingly, the cat can come too. Keep fighting, and you’ll leave him behind. Forever.”
My breath catches in my throat. The idea of abandoning Onyx—the one creature who’s shown me unconditional love, who depends on me completely—is unthinkable. But the alternative…
I swallow hard. The fight is still there, clawing in my chest, but I force it down. For Onyx.
“Fine,” I say, forcing myself to meet his gaze even though my heart is hammering. “As long as he comes with me.”
“Good choice.” Raffaele releases my other arm and steps back like a man who already knows I have nowhere to go. “Pack whatever you both need. You have five minutes.”
My legs feel like rubber as I kneel to scoop up Onyx, cradling him against my chest so I can protect him if Raffaele decides to use him against me. His familiar warmth and weight are the only things keeping me from completely falling apart.
I gather his food, his favorite toy, and the blanket he loves to nap on during the day. Once I have his things waiting by the front door, I go to get my own things. It’s only when I enter my bedroom that I realize the lights are back on.
Huh, Raffaele must have done it while I gathered Onyx’s things. It’ll make it easier to pack, so I’m glad for it.
