Declan's Demand

An interesting fact, but I don’t know what he expects me to do about it.

“What did he steal?”

Again, he ignores my question.

“I want you to get it back.” He leans down, offering me a hand to get up.

I stare at his hand for a minute or so, wondering if I take it if that dooms me to something worse. He rescinds the hand and resumes pacing with his hands crossed behind his back and staring out the window.

“Can’t you just ask him?”

He laughs. “No. But you’re going to get it for me.”

“Why?”

“Because if you don’t, I’ll kill your father faster than the drink can. I’m not the only one he owes money to, princess.”

I gulp down dry air into the back of my throat. This is a less interesting fact and more of a surprise. Nothing should have shocked me by now, but—well, it did.

“M-more money?” I stagger to stand up, clutching my robe around my shaking body.

“A shitload more.” LeHavre turns, looking out the window and then back at me with pity. “Probably why Declan saw you as a lost cause. Even if you put out better than a Friday night whore, there’s no way he’d recoup that money if he paid it all off.”

“How much money is it?” I’m so ashamed I don’t even stop to think this through. I don’t ask why he wants whatever it is back, and I don’t care. Declan Natas can’t be any better than this man. I’m greedy. I’m selfish. I value my life over some stupid feud between two grown-ass men.

“The exact amount is four hundred sixty-seven thousand dollars at ten percent interest.”

My mouth drops opens. Almost half a million dollars. What the hell was my father doing gambling and losing that kind of money? Where did he get that kind of money? My head is spinning and I feel sick to my stomach, choking back bile.

The reality sets in.

“I could never repay that.”

“I know, Sydney. Not even on your back could you hope to make that in a reasonable amount of time.”

I glance up at LeHavre through messy hair and tears.

“What did Declan…?”I hesitate to say steal, and LeHavre finishes for me.

“It’s the deed to a property.”

“How the hell do I get that?”

LeHavre slaps me hard and I cup my face to ease the burning sting. It couldn’t have been easy, could it? I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut, could I?

“Don’t be mouthy,” he growls.

Great. LeHavre is another one of those alpha assholes I’m caught in between.

“The property deed is for a location on the waterfront. It’s between my property and Declan’s for pier eight off Shipway Plaza.”

“By the naval yard?” It’s technically near a museum and park.

LeHavre’s eyes narrow.

I have no idea what a property like that means to either him or Declan, right under the navy’s noses, but his eyes are filled with a greedy want.

I lick my dry lips and ask, “Where do I find it?”