A Debt Owed (The Debt Duet 1)

“He’s our father; how could I not?”

He sucks on his bottom lip again almost as if he can’t believe what I’m saying. Maybe I have more of our mother inside me than I thought. I don’t remember much about her, but I do remember she was always kind to people. And she genuinely loved and cared for us, unlike our father. Too bad I didn’t get a lot of time with her. Cancer’s a bitch.

“Well, whatever the case, if you need my help for whatever reason”—Elijah leans forward and winks—“you know you can always come to me, right?”

I soak up his words and cock my head at him. “You think I can get out of that house? That I have access to a phone, the internet, basic things?” I laugh. “You really have no idea, do you?”

He looks befuddled.

“I’m a prisoner, Elijah. I’m not free to do whatever I want. I have no way of contacting anyone on the outside world,” I say, clenching my drink as though it’s my lifeline. “In fact, this is the first time I’ve been outside the property’s fences since we got married.”

He grimaces. “Does he hurt you?”

“No … not physically,” I say.

Elijah squeezes my arm. “Tell me.”

“It’s …” How can I tell him? How can I explain to my brother what it’s like to be a woman? To be wanted for your body but not your brain? To be used like a sex doll and thrown aside like an old toy?

I can’t. Not when my father’s life and Elijah’s position as CEO are at stake. Despite the fact that my father doesn’t give a damn about me … I can’t let him die. That’s not who I am.

“It’s nothing,” I say.

“You’re lying. I know when you’re lying, Charlotte. You did it all the time when we were young.”

“You don’t understand,” I snap. “I never had anyone before. He’s my first. My first ever … the man who’s keeping me as a pet.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I fight to keep them at bay.

Elijah grabs a few strands of my hair and tucks them behind my ear, and his gentle touch has a single tear rolling down my cheek, which I wipe away with the back of my hand.

“You’re right, I don’t. But I know you’re strong, and you can do anything you set your mind to.”

His words feel rehearsed, just as I’ve come to expect from the man who has to follow in my father’s footsteps. It’s only natural for them to feel less and less over time. After all, emotions only hold you back and keep you from true power.

I turn my head and close my eyes, breathing out a sigh.

“It was nice speaking with you, Elijah,” I say. “Go entertain your guests.”

He nods. I’m sure he understands there’s nothing more we can do for each other. No one can destroy Easton’s desire to claim me as his own, not even my brother. And as long as Easton remains their biggest investor, there’s no way Elijah would risk hurting or even killing him. Sacrificing his spot as CEO to save me from this life is too much to ask of him.

Even though he’s my brother, even though people always say family goes above all else … my family values money above all else, and nothing will ever change that.

“In any case, I’m going to investigate how Easton knew about this event. Maybe he’s been digging into our family business,” Elijah mutters.

He gets off his stool, but before he goes, he orders another drink for me and scoots it over to me. Then he says, “Make sure you enjoy this … as long as it lasts.” He adds a tentative smile before leaving me behind at the bar. The smile on his face grows when he spots familiar people, probably others our father introduced him to for the sake of the company. Everything is for the sake of the company and our legacy as a family, including his fake smile that appears and vanishes as quickly as his heart does.

As I grab the glass and stare at the contents, I notice the camera hanging in the back of the room. It immediately reminds me of all the cameras in Easton’s house, and how he’s always aware of where I am. And it makes me question … where else does he watch people? How do I know it’s contained to his house only? What if …

The glass in my hand topples over, and I stare in disbelief at the alcohol pouring over the bar. The bartender jumps into action, wiping it all up.

“Sorry,” I mutter, frozen in place.

“It’s fine,” he replies, swiftly cleaning the bar and leaving it as shiny as it was before I knocked over my glass.

I didn’t mean to, but something made me snap. A memory of a night from before I was married when I was still in my own bed in my own home …