A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

When Charlotte contacted her brother, he didn’t seem to know anything about what went down. But I still asked for him to come over so we could have a chat. It’s the final step in this devious plan … One that’s about to go down.

“So why did you need to see me?” Elijah asks as he picks up his coffee.

I tap my fingers together, and say, “It’s about your father. He’s committed a few criminal acts.”

Elijah almost chokes on his coffee. He immediately glares at Charlotte as though she could’ve had something to do with it. “What criminal acts?”

Charlotte leans back in her seat, casually placing her hands on the armrest. The power she exudes is magnificent to witness. “He tried to have not only me killed but two other innocent people too. There are witnesses.”

“No, Father would never—”

“I have proof,” she says, and she throws a few papers and photos on the table. “Contracts for hired hitmen. Dates and times are included, along with the target. These photos were taken by his men.”

I’m so glad his henchmen were waiting right outside Deion’s door. It was easy enough to capture them and steal the forms they kept in the back of their car. And now that they’re dead, they won’t talk either. But her father might …

“And he almost would’ve succeeded if it wasn’t for Easton’s genius plan,” Charlotte says. “Father believes his targets are dead, which gives us enough time to get him locked up where he can’t harm anyone anymore.”

“But why would he ever do that?” Elijah mutters.

“You know how much he hated me. He would’ve never stopped until he got what he wanted, which was to see my friends killed.” Charlotte folds her arms. “His life was on the line, after all.”

“Because of the deal he made with you, which is also a criminal offense, by the way,” Elijah quips, narrowing his eyes at Easton.

“Because of that same deal, you now sit with the CEO position,” I growl. “So shut up and listen if you don’t want to lose your goddamn job.”

Elijah’s nostrils flare as he slams his lips shut, but he doesn’t say another word and waits.

“He’s going to jail. Whether you like it or not,” Charlotte says.

“And? What do I have to do with it?” Of course, Elijah wouldn’t care about his father. No one does. A wicked smile forms on his lips. Who would have thought his ultimate downfall would be his own children.

After all this plotting and scheming, I’ll still get my revenge.

Just not in the way I originally had planned, but that’s okay. Pretend-killing Deion and Ashanti will only keep that asshole satisfied for a short amount of time, but it’s enough. He’ll be behind bars for the rest of his life soon.

“I want you to testify, and I want you on my side,” Charlotte says. “Bring Father the justice he deserves.”

Elijah frowns and mulls it over for a second. “What’s in it for me?”

“You get to keep your position as sole CEO. No one will get in your way,” Charlotte says.

“And …” I add. “I’ll give you all the shares in the company.”

His eyes widen. “What’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch. But I do want to be done with your family. Forever,” I explain, and I take a sip of my coffee.

“So you want me to leave you two alone?” he asks, raising a brow.

“Yes. That’s all we ask. For all of this to be done and over with,” I say.

“No more talk about business or power. You go do your thing, and we go do ours,” Charlotte adds.

Elijah takes another sip of his coffee, and then he says, “Fine by me.”

Well, that was easy.

“So I just need to give the police a statement? That’s it?” he asks, putting down his coffee.

“That’s it. I’ll deliver the evidence, and Easton will take care of any loose ends,” Charlotte says.

He licks his lips. “So I’ll be the sole owner of Father’s company?”

“The sole owner,” I repeat.

A wicked smile forms on his face. “Deal.”

Charlotte

My heart practically beats out of my chest when I ring their doorbell. It’s as if a million years have passed since I was last at this tiny little house in the middle of the city, but that’s just because so much has happened.

In a short amount of time, I went from a captive on the run, to a lover in peril, to a girl smitten with the man who claimed her as his own. My heart and mind have been through a roller coaster of emotions, and being here calms me down like nothing else ever could.

When Deion’s familiar smile appears from behind the door, I can’t help but jump him to hug him tight. Ashanti runs down the stairs and wraps her arms around me too. One big bear hug as though we’re one big happy family, and we haven’t even said a word to each other.