“Va–Val!”
He cocks the safety. “Yes or no?”
“Yes!” Using the wall at my back for support, I scramble to my feet. “I’ll pay it.”
Charlie cries softly. Gabriel looks at me as if he notices nothing else. His eyes pin me to the spot. Under his gaze, I’m a frog splayed and nailed to a board, and he holds the scalpel in his hand.
He doesn’t lower the gun. “Do you know how much?”
“Yes.” My voice doesn’t waver.
“Say it.”
“Four hundred thousand.”
“Where’s the money?”
The ghost of a smile is back on his face. Behind the scarred mask is a man who knows how to hurt people to get what he wants, but for now he’s entertained. The bastard finds the situation amusing.
“I’ll pay it off.”
He tilts his head. “You’ll pay it off.” He makes it sound as if I’m mad.
“With interest.”
“Miss Haynes, I assume.” Despite his declared assumption, he says it like it’s a fact. Everything about him shouts confidence and arrogance. “Tell me your name.”
“You know my name.” Men like him know the names of all the family members before they move in for the kill.
“I want to hear you say it.”
I wet my dry lips. “Valentina.”
He seems to digest the sound like a person would taste wine on his tongue. “How much do you earn, Valentina?”
I refuse to cower. “Sixty thousand.”
He lowers the gun. It’s a game to him now. “Per month?”
“Per year.”
He laughs softly. “What do you do?”
“I’m an assistant.” I don’t offer more. It’s enough that he already knows my name.
He regards me with his arms hanging loosely at his sides. “Nine years.”
It sounds ridiculous, but the quick calculation I do in my head assures me it’s not. That’s almost five thousand per month, including thirty percent interest on the lump sum. I can’t call him unfair. Loan sharks in this neighborhood ask anything between fifty to a hundred and fifty percent interest.
“Nine years if you pay it back with the lowest of interests,” he continues, confirming my calculation.
Of course, I’m not planning on staying a vet assistant forever. It’s only until I qualify as a vet in four more years. By then, I’ll be earning more. “I’ll pay it off faster when I get a better job.”
He closes the two steps between us with an uneven gait. He’s standing so near I can smell the detergent of his shirt and the faint, spicy fragrance of his skin.
“You misunderstood my offer.” His eyes drill into mine. “You’ll work for me for nine years.”
My breath catches. “For you?”
He just looks at me.
“Doing what?” I ask on a whisper.
The intensity in those iced, blue depths sharpens. “Any duty I see fit. Think carefully, Valentina. If you accept, it’ll be a live-in position.”
I know what any duty implies. He’s no different than Tiny. Loathing fills me.
Gabriel regards me as if he’s making a bet with himself. “Either I shoot your brother and you walk away, or he’s free, and you work off his debt.”
“Give me whatever contract I need to sign, and I’ll find my own way to pay you.”
He chuckles. “It’s my terms or none.”
What choice do I have? My knees feel shaky, but it’s hardly the time to be weak.
“I’ll do it.” As I say the words, a ball of ice sinks to my stomach.
For a moment, he looks surprised, but then his expression becomes closed-off. “You have five minutes to pack.”
“I have a condition.”
The amusement is back on his face. He taps the gun on his thigh and waits.
“I want my brother’s safety guaranteed.” If I’m not around, Charlie will need protection. I don’t want a repeat of what got us into this mess.
“Fair enough. He’ll have my protection.”
“I need to call someone to fetch him. He can’t stay alone.”
He takes his phone from his pocket, punches in a code, and pushes it into my hand. “You’ll use mine until we’ve ensured yours isn’t compromised.”
Turning my back on them, I type my only friend’s number. While I’m dialing Kris, the man with the dark eyes searches my purse that hangs over a chair in the kitchen. I watch the men from the corner of my eye, my hand shaking as I wait for Kris to take the call.
“It’s Valentina,” I say when she answers.
Dogs bark in the background. “I didn’t recognize this number. Do you have a new phone? I saw you called earlier, but I haven’t listened to your message yet.”
“Kris, listen to me. I need you to fetch Charlie. Can he stay with you for a while?”
“What happened?”
“Charlie made debt at Napoli’s. I’m with the creditor.”
“What?” she shrieks. “You’re with a loan shark? Where?”
“My place. Things have changed. I’m going to work off Charlie’s debt, but he can’t stay alone.” My cheeks grow hot as I add, “It’s a live-in position.”
“What about your job here?”
“I’m sorry. I know how much you need me.”