“How many?”
I saw Chase and Noah look at each other again. Noah shook his head.
“Too many to really—”
“How many?” Julian asked again.
Chase sighed. “Gotta be six or eight. Barclay, Davie, Lamont…”
“Jamie,” added Noah. “Then there’s Daniel. Bryce…”
“When is this guy there?” asked Julian. “Usually?”
“Whoa, whoa,” I stepped in. “I don’t like where this is going.”
Julian shifted in his chair. “Do you have the money to bail him out of this?”
“No,” I said sullenly. “You know I don’t.”
“Then this is going where it needs to,” Julian answered.
“But—”
“This isn’t the kind of asshole who can be reasoned with,” Julian said, looking me straight in the eye. “What kind of irrational fucking lunatic burns down someone’s house in the dead of night, over a three thousand pound debt?”
I didn’t have an answer for that. Noah stepped in and answered for me.
“The same stupid dumbass who doesn’t realize you can’t get blood from a stone,” he said. “Or money from someone who, up until now, was working and paying you off… but who’s suddenly homeless.”
The last phrase sunk in, the words registering in my mind. And then all at once it hit me.
This is all your fault.
Chase had been paying off his debt. Or at the very least, he was making payments on the interest — enough to keep this guy Killian off his back. And then I ran out of money. I stopped paying him. And now…
Now he was homeless. Penniless.
Holy fuck.
I sank deeper into my chair, feeling lower than ever before. Here I was, accepting charity from people who couldn’t even afford to give it. From guys so self-sacrificing, they were willing to risk their very lives to finish the work they’d started here, rather than go out and take another paying job.
“You’re both staying here,” I said abruptly, turning toward Noah and Chase. “This is your home now, obviously. For as long as you want or need. Until you get another place, or—”
“Thanks princess, but—”
“No, STOP.” I stood up, fists clenched. I was suddenly very angry, and all of the anger was directed at myself. “This isn’t debatable,” I said sternly. “I have a castle here. Sixteen chambers in the keep alone. I’m making up bedrooms for the both of you, immediately.”
“That’s not really—”
“THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the stone walls. “I did this, by not paying you! By keeping you here, and letting you work for free.”
The guys shook their heads slowly, but I wasn’t having it.
“I’ve been selfish!” I went on. “Totally blind. I accepted your charity, not even realizing you have needs of your own. Not even thinking that—”
A hand took mine. I looked down, and saw it belonged to Chase.
“I did this,” he said gently. “Not you. Not Noah. Not anyone else. I screwed up. I was the one running my mouth, making bets with money I didn’t have.” He shook his head sternly. “If anyone’s to blame here, it’s me.”