A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

There he is.

Easton Van Buren. My husband. My captor.

Here to bring back a girl taken away from her father, her home.

Here to take me back to mine.

I swallow away the lump in my throat as we stare at each other, the moment lasting an eternity in the span of a single second.

My eyes instinctively lower in defeat and connect with Ashanti instead. She smiles and breaks free of Easton’s grasp, only to hug me instead. “Charlotte,” she mumbles.

Tears spring into my eyes as she releases me and runs past me, straight into her daddy’s arms. The way they cuddle with tears of joy brings a broad smile to my face.

Easton clears his throat, and says, “I’ve held up my end of the deal. Now it’s your turn.”

The smile on my face fades as I realize there is no way back now.

“Under one condition,” I say. “Promise me nothing will happen to them. Promise me they’ll be safe.”

He mulls it over for a second, and says, “I promise.”

I nod and gaze down at my feet. This is it. My freedom in exchange for that little girl, crying in the arms of her father right now. The small amount of time I had with them lifted my spirits like nothing else could. And in the end, it was worth it.

Easton holds out his hand.

I suck on my bottom lip and look up into his eyes. “Can I say goodbye first?”

He nods. “But do it fast.”

I spin on my heels right as Deion and Ashanti stop hugging each other. “Guys, I have to go now.”

“What?” Ashanti exclaims. “But you only just came here.”

“I know …” A blush forms on my cheeks. How do you explain all the reasons for an adult’s decision to a girl who can’t possibly understand? A girl who shouldn’t even know about this underground world and its existence?

It’s because of me that she was taken, and now I have to face the consequences with pride and dignity.

Ashanti suddenly runs up to me and wraps her little arms around my belly. “Please, don’t go.”

My eyes sting with tears.

“Ashanti … come.” Deion beckons her, and Ashanti frowns while walking away from me. “She has to go.”

“But it’s not fair!” she exclaims, stomping her feet. “Make her stay.”

“I can’t,” Deion says, looking me directly in the eyes. “I would ask in a heartbeat. Beg if I needed to.” He swallows, and the pain in his eyes hurts more than a thousand shards of glass.

“But she can’t.”

I nod a few times, rubbing my lips together to stop the tears from tumbling down.

“But I just got back. Why does she have to go?”

Deion goes to his knees in front of Ashanti and grabs her by the shoulders. “Zij heeft jou gered van die slechte mannen. She saved you from some very bad men. En nu moet ze gaan. And now she has to go. Geef haar maar een allerlaatste dike knuffel. Now go give her one last hug and make it count.”

Ashanti nods. I’m honored to have been able to learn a bit of Dutch under their wing. At least now I can semi-understand Deion’s words to his daughter and all the love they hold.

She runs to me and hugs me one last time, gazing up at me with those soulful eyes. I know she’ll be okay. She’s safe now and right where she belongs.

“It’s okay, Ashanti,” I say as she sniffs.

“Promise me you’ll visit us,” she says.

“I … I …” I hold my breath for a few seconds to stop the tears from flowing. “Maybe. Someday.” And I throw a pleading glance at Easton, who merely cocks his head in acknowledgment.

Ashanti immediately runs up the stairs and slams her door shut, practically knocking the air from my lungs. Deion and I gaze at each other, and he takes some steps toward me. Just a few. Enough to shake hands but not enough to hug. Easton’s watchful gaze stops him in his tracks.

The silence between us is deafening.

He clears his throat. “Well, I guess this is it then.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, lowering my eyes. I don’t know where to look. I don’t want to cry.

“We’ll miss you,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’ll miss you guys too,” I reply.

The gentle smile he gives me tugs at my heartstrings.

He holds out his hand and waits. It takes a few seconds for me to get the cue and take his hand too. The shaking seems to last an eternity. That’s when he suddenly pulls me in for a hug, wrapping one arm around my shoulder.

Easton steps forward but stops himself before interfering. He knows I need this … this goodbye. It needs to be good in order to last.

“Thank you … thank you for saving her.”

His whispers undo me. Unravel a part inside me I didn’t know existed.