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“No, not the prison.”
“Put it through.” Eden covered the bandage on her arm with her sleeve. Blaze would only worry if he saw it.
He strolled into the living room. “Hey. I thought we could catch up.”
“Your incoming message is complete,” ELVIS said. “It’s from the Diamond Dust Debt Collection Agency.”
Eden closed her eyes and groaned. Crap. That was all she needed.
***
Blaze tilted his headas Eden stiffened in front of him.
She whirled around and glared at the screen. “ELVIS, get rid of that message.”
“It’s already processing.”
“Dammit.” She glanced at Blaze, fury dancing in her eyes and her cheeks coloring.
“This is a message for Eden Franco. This is Jamison Murphy. We’re contacting you about the debt incurred by Miss Lucy Franco. The debt has been unpaid for almost a year. And with the interest accrued and fine, you owe over fifteen thousand.”
Blaze’s eyebrows shot up as he listened to the message. “Who’s Lucy?”
Eden kept her back to him, her arms crossed over her chest. “No one.”
“It’s her mom,” ELVIS said.
“ELVIS, I swear on the stars, if you keep blabbing my secrets, I’ll find your central processor and rip it out with my bare hands.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” Blaze rested a hand on Eden’s shoulder.
She whirled around. “How would you know if it’s okay? Have you got people chasing you for money that has nothing to do with you?”
He winced at the sharpness in her voice. “No. But it can be dealt with.”
“Sure it can. I’ll just get the money out of my savings, and it’ll all be forgotten about. Oh yeah, until the next asshole shows up with a debt my mom racked up without telling me and using my name as a guarantor.”
Blaze hissed out air. “I had no idea.”
“You’re not supposed to have any idea. It’s none of your business. It’s no one’s business but mine.” She turned back to the screen, her shoulders tight around her ears.
He wanted to comfort her, but the rage radiating off her suggested it was the last thing she needed. She’d mistake it for pity.
Eden stared at the screen and then sighed. “ELVIS, is there anything else?”
“A document for you to initial, confirming you’ve received the information, and a repayment schedule.”
“Screw the repayment schedule. This isn’t my debt.”
“It is. I read through the initial contract. You signed the paperwork, along with your mom,” ELVIS said.
“Like hell I did. She’s shafted me again. I’ve already got two agencies after me for money she’s wasted.”
“I can help if you need money,” Blaze said.
Eden didn’t turn to face him. “You can magic away my mom’s debts for me? You’re going to ride in on your white stallion and save the day like the good little prince you are?”
He sucked in a breath. She didn’t know how close to the truth she was, although maybe not about the white stallion. “I was thinking about offering you legal help. I know some people. But if paying the debt would get them off your back, I’ll loan you the money.”
