A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

He smiles. “Your thank you was enough for me.”

Now he’s made me blush again.

He takes another bite of his food, and then says, “Besides, you seemed like you were in a tough situation.”

I snort. “That’s putting it lightly.”

“Hmm?” He cocks his head, waiting for me to elaborate.

But that’s just the thing … I don’t want to tell him. I don’t want him to know the pain I’ve felt, the humiliation I’ve experienced, and the dark depravity I’ve let myself succumb to. I don’t want this man to see or know any of that, so I don’t say another word and slam my lips together.

“I get it. You don’t wanna talk about it,” he says. “And I won’t force you to.”

“Thanks,” I reply, adding a lopsided smile. “But I do appreciate your generosity very much.”

A cold chill travels up my spine. This amazing brunch almost made me forget about the soaking wet clothes sticking to my body.

He gets up from the chair, and says, “I think you deserve a shower.”

My eyes widen. “A shower?”

Here? In his house? But we barely know each other.

“Yeah. C’mon, I’ll show you the way.”

Before I can say a word, he’s already grabbed my hand, and he pulls me up the creaky old stairs. There are three doors in the small hallway; two of which seem to lead to bedrooms and another one with a lock. He opens the last one and turns on the light to reveal a small shower and sink with just enough room to turn. Deion goes inside and turns on the shower. Grabbing a few towels off the high shelf near the door, he places them on the sink.

“You can shower as long as you want and use as many towels as you want. I’ll grab some fresh clothes and be right back.”

I’m left alone again—this time in a tiny space in an equally tiny home—but I’m not afraid. This man has shown me nothing but compassion, and I’ve felt nothing but humbled ever since. I don’t even know what to do or what to say to his kindness, so I stand there and wait until he comes back.

When he does, he places a pair of pants and a big pullover on the sink. “They’re a bit oversized because they’re mine,” he says with a laugh, “but I’m sure you could make it work with this belt.” He places a brown belt on top too. “Anyway … um …” He scratches the back of his head while I’m still staring at him, wondering if this is okay and I should take him up on his offer.

“If you need anything, I’ll be downstairs,” he says, pointing at the stairs before walking out the door and leaving me to it.

After hearing his footsteps all the way down the hallway, I lock the bathroom door and peel off the ridiculous dress. The mirror in front of the sink immediately draws me in, and I stare at the woman in front of me. The woman I’ve been forced to become. An escapee … living a lie that’ll probably burst. Someday. Somehow. I just know it.

The thought makes my heart palpitate and my head hurt. My father’s placed too much responsibility on my shoulders, and I can’t handle it anymore.

An exasperated sigh escapes as I turn my head away from the mirror and step underneath the shower. The hot water warms my cold bones and makes the shivers disappear along with the darkness that clouded my mind. In here, there is no judgment and no one to tell me what to do or what’s right and wrong. There’s only me … and him.

The sweet man downstairs who just seems to want to help. A trait you rarely find in the real world anymore. One I’ve come to take for granted.

But not anymore. I will cherish this … for however long he’ll let me stay.

Chapter 5

Easton

I sit behind my desk, watching the news while I send out texts to various employees. My fingers thrum on the wood as the world goes round and round while I’m still waiting for someone to give me a clue as to her whereabouts.

I’ve sent out everyone I can spare. They’re all on the lookout scattered across the city in several locations. Hell, I’ve even got people employed all over the country and near the borders as a security measure. None of them have seen a glimpse of her. How hard is it to miss a pink-haired girl as gorgeous as she is? Unless she’s already dyed her hair a different color, but I doubt it, and still … I could pick her out from a crowd.

If only I knew where to look.

Jill walks in and places a plate with toast, bacon, and eggs in front of me, but I ignore it.

“Sir … you have to eat something,” she says, scooting the plate toward me.