Loan Shark's Obsession Read online

  I pull out the five dollars and six cents and place it down on the counter for her. As always, the place is slammed. A few minutes later, she drops my bag and my cup down for me before grabbing the cash off the counter.

  I push out of the store to head back home. It would be nice if on one of my days off the heat would let up and I could go to the park or something. Instead I’m holed up in my five-hundred square foot apartment.

  I take the alley between Gino’s Italian Cuisine and the laundromat. It leads to the back door of my apartment. I fumble with my stuff to try and get my keys out. I scream when I drop my hot chocolate and it splatters all over my leg.

  I grit my teeth and wait for the pain to fade. It doesn't. I shove my key in the lock and open the door to the stairs that go straight to my place over Gino’s. I think at one time this was meant to be an office or something. It’s tiny, but I don’t need a lot of room. More than anything, it’s cheap, and I’m not in the worst area of town.

  When I get upstairs, I drop everything onto the small table before grabbing a hand towel to try and clean off my legs. I cringe when I see red welts already starting to form. I bite my bottom lip when it starts to tremble. I will not cry. It’s only a few small burns and a lost hot chocolate. I suck in a breath and go over to the table to sit down. Why can’t I have one day where I don’t have to worry about anything? When everything goes the way it’s supposed to? The tears threaten even more.

  I really should have taken the handsome man from the casino up on that date. One nice night out sounds heavenly. Would he dote on me?

  “That’s pathetic,” I tell myself when my mind lingers on the thought of him taking care of me.

  You need to take care of yourself. I give myself a hard nod, which shakes a couple of useless tears free. I know it wouldn’t only be a night out when it came to that handsome stranger. He has heartbreak written all over him. I have this weird tendency to get attached to things and obsess over them. I have no control over it. Kind of like brownies and hot chocolate. It’s always the same.

  My phone buzzes from inside my purse. Only two people have my number. My brother and Star.

  “Hey,” I answer.

  “I don’t think she can be saved.” At least Scott sounds mildly apologetic.

  I close my eyes. “It would cost more than the whole car is worth to fix it.”

  I nod. Another tear slips from my eye that I quickly wipe away. I knew it was coming, but still I was holding on to one small piece of hope. How can all my luck be bad? Shouldn’t something good get to slip in there every now and then?

  “Laura?”

  “I’m here.”

  “I’m going to have them scrap it.”

  “No!”

  “Why? I might be able to get a couple hundred from the parts.”

  “Can I think about it?”

  “Why? It’s—”

  “Please?” I cut him off.

  “Fine.” He gives. “I’ll be right out,” Scott shouts to someone. “Gotta go, sis.” He ends the call before I can say goodbye. I toss my phone across the room and cringe when it hits the ground. Great. A broken phone is the last thing I need.

  The screen looks okay when I pick it up. I toss it on the sofa this time. My eyes linger on the windows across the street. The same man from the store is standing out on the sidewalk staring at my building. Yikes. I pull the curtain closed.

  Great. Not only is it a shit day, but some weirdo is following me. I groan and fall onto the couch, where I let myself have a good cry until I start to get tired. I close my eyes and picture the man from the casino, making me smile. This time I kiss him. It’s only a dream. In dreams, you can have anything. It’s something that I can hold on to, and no one can take it away from me. And today out of all days, I need something to hold on to.

  I’m almost asleep when I hear a knock on the door.

  I groan and pull myself off the couch. If it’s Gino wanting the rent, and I’m certain it is, he’s two days early. I mean, that’s what a grace period is for, right?

  “Listen, Gino—” I pull the door open, then I scream. But the sound is quickly cut off by duct tape, a black hood over my head, and me being thrown over the weirdo’s shoulder as he carries me down the stairs and stuffs me in what I’m certain is a trunk, though it’s oddly soft and cushy, as if there’s a down comforter beneath me.

  I’m a goner. And the worst part is, I didn’t even get to have my hot chocolate as my last meal.

  4

  Xavier

  She’s shivering, fear all over her like a fine perfume.

  I want to tell her I tried to do this in a more direct fashion, tried to entice her any number of ways, but none of it worked. So this is the way it has to be.

  One of Fat Tommy’s minions drags her brother Scott into the room.

  “Guys, look, I’m good for it, okay?” Her brother tries his usual sweet talk, but that only works on burlesque dancers, not on paid muscle.

  The guard shoves him into a chair, then eases Laura into her own seat. Good. She’s the prize here. Her brother, though, roughing him up isn’t a concern of mine.

  “You know why you’re here.” Fat Tommy stands from his seat behind a grubby desk in his office. A building that used to be a liquor store to the rich and famous back in the '60s is now a deserted eyesore just south of the Strip, the location where Fat Tommy takes bets and does business. All under my watchful eye.

  I run most of the bookies in this town. He’s one of my best earners. Maybe that’s why Scott picked him, because I can tell when I look at the boy that he has never once in his life danced with Lady Luck. He’s a loser. Not in the general sense, but literally. Nothing he touches will ever turn to gold.

  My eyes flick to Laura, who’s mumbling beneath the black bag over her head.

  When the guard pulls it away, I grit my teeth. He’s taped her mouth. That wasn’t his instruction. It’ll hurt when it’s pulled off. He’ll pay for every ounce of pain he gives her.

  “What’s she doing here?” Scott tries to rise, but another guard shoves him down and keeps him in his seat.

  “Hey!” Laura yells when the tape is pulled off. “What is this?” Her eyes wide, she looks around and focuses on Fat Tommy. “Scott, what’s going on?”

  “Scott is in trouble, little girl.” Fat Tommy—who might weigh 100 pounds soaking wet—leans against his desk and crosses his arms. “He owes.”

  “I told you I’m working on it. I’m getting $200 tomorrow.”

  Fat Tommy barks a laugh. “That doesn’t even make a dent.”

  “That’s the money from my car.” Laura turns to Scott.

  “I know. I’m sorry.” He reaches for her bound hands with his.

  “It doesn’t matter. You need money? Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I didn’t want you to worry.” Scott shakes his head, his dark blond hair falling into his eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”

  “Twenty large is a big deal to me, Scott.” Tommy tsks.

  “Twenty thousand dollars?” Laura’s voice rises with each word, her eyes widening. “We don’t have that! How did you even have enough to begin with to dig a hole like that?”

  “Calm down.” Scott manages to grab her hands with his. “Come on, sis, it’s not that bad.”

  She opens her mouth, but no sound comes out. She just stares at him, shocked.

  I can answer her questions—all of them, in fact. Usually, Scott wouldn’t have access to enough money to bet and lose it plus more to get into a 20 thousand dollar hole. But thanks to a streak of luck at my friend’s casino, Scott managed to win just enough money to be dangerous. And then? Then he did what I knew he’d do. He thought luck was on his side, when in fact I’d rigged the system to get him the seed money that led to his doom. And now here we are.

  “Look, I can get you the money, Fat Tommy,” Scott pleads. “I don’t know why you brought her into this.”

  “Collateral.” Fat Tommy shrugs his bony shoulders.
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  “She’s a person, not a car or a house.” He has the nerve to sound indignant. “You can’t leverage Laura.”

  “She’s valuable.” Fat Tommy’s tone is clear, his intent lecherous.

  I don’t like it. Once again, he isn’t following my instructions to the letter. Perhaps I’ve been too lax with discipline on his part of my operation. That will change tonight.

  “Don’t look at her like that.” Scott finally shows some backbone as he tries to stand.

  “Hey, pretty little girl.” Tommy steps closer to Laura and ignores Scott. “What’s a kiss worth?”

  “What?” Laura blinks.

  I can’t tell if she’s horrified or confused.

  “Stop,” Scott growls. He knows exactly what’s going on.

  I’m fucking livid. Fat Tommy will bleed for even making that suggestion.

  “Ten dollars? More?” Fat Tommy rubs his hands together. “A sweet piece of ass like you, a kiss might be a hundred dollars? How’s that sound? You can help your brother right now. Work off some of his debt. I’ll pay one hundred for a kiss, but if you really want to help him, you’ll have to give me more.” He licks his lips.

  My hands fist. Fat Tommy is an earner, but he’s expendable, and he’s walking a fucking fine line. Laura is mine.

  “You’re disgusting.” She spits at him.

  That’s the fire I’m after, the spark I saw inside her when we first met.

  “If you touch me, I’ll kick your dick off!” she adds.

  I smirk at her phrasing.

  Fat Tommy shrugs and backs off.

  I relax just a hair.

  “Well, if you won’t work off your brother’s debt, just what are we going to do with the two of you? I can’t let you go on not paying.” Fat Tommy sighs. “So I guess we’ll have to make an example out of you.” He jerks his chin at one of his goons. “Dirk, get the saw.”

  “What?” Laura shrieks.

  “Circular or jig?” Dirk asks.

  Fat Tommy rolls his right shoulder. “Let’s use the jig on him, the circular’s so hard to control when it gets bloody that it hurts my joints. Grip’s all slippery. Dangerous, really. I could mess up and cut my own leg off.” He shakes his head and chuckles.

  “Oh my God.” All the blood drains from Laura’s face. “You aren’t serious.”

  “Oh, I am, little girl.” He points at Dirk. “Get the tarp, too.”

  “Wait!” she cries.

  Fat Tommy turns back to her. “What is it, little girl?”

  “Laura, no.” Scott shakes his head. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” She throws up her bound hands. “They’re going to cut off a limb! I can’t let that happen. Look, Mr. Fat Tommy, we can work this out.”

  “Can we?” Fat Tommy moves toward her again.

  I grit my teeth.

  “Yes, I’ll um, I’ll …”

  “Laura, don’t. Don’t do anything. I’ll be okay. He’s just bluffing about the saw thing and—” The other guard gags Scott as Dirk returns with a blue tarp under one arm and a jigsaw in his other hand.

  “Okay, you can do what you want with me!” Laura cries. “Just don’t hurt him!”

  “I was gonna do that anyway, little girl.” Fat Tommy laughs. “And besides, even if your pussy’s worth 20 large, I don’t have that kind of money.”

  Dirk fumbles with the power outlet, but finally gets the saw plugged in. It makes a nice zzzzz sound, the blade sawing up and down.

  Laura screams.

  Finally. That’s my cue.

  5

  Laura

  The sound of the saw buzzing is one I’ll never forget. I scream. I know it’s pointless, but the thought of that saw harming Scott or me is too much. How did I get here? Tears begin to take over. I’ve never felt more helpless. Scott fights to try and free himself.

  Today, I’m going to lose something. I just have to hope it’s not my life or my brother’s. I think it’s going to be something much worse. Knowing that my first kiss will be with Fat Tommy isn’t sitting well. I'm going to throw up.

  “Off!”

  My head jerks to the door when the booming order echoes through the room. A large figure fills the dark space. I wonder what this guy’s nickname is if they’re calling that little guy Fat Tommy.

  The buzzing stops instantly.

  I swallow. Did this somehow just get worse?

  “Let her go!” Scott keeps fighting to break free.

  “You’re hurting yourself,” I hiss at him. His hands are starting to turn purple.

  I suck in a breath when the man steps into the room. My heart starts to race. I know that build. Not many men are built like my casino man. He’s not only well over six feet, but he’s broad and thick all over. But it can’t be him. I’m hallucinating that he’s come to save me.

  “Laura.”

  I close my eyes. There’s no mistaking that voice. This isn’t happening. I’m still asleep on my sofa. I scream when I hear a loud whack. My eyes fly open. Nope, I’m awake.

  “Fuck.” Fat Tommy sways on his feet and almost falls on his ass. He holds his hand to his nose. Blood gushes from it. I stare in shock. This keeps on getting weirder and weirder.

  “Tape?” casino man grits out to Tommy.

  Tape? Oh God, there’s a tape? Is he mad over some recording?

  “She would have screamed if he hadn’t done it. Fuck, Mr. Vincent.”

  Casino man—Mr. Vincent, I guess—turns his gaze on me. He drops a large duffel bag on the floor.

  It makes me jump.

  He stares at my mouth. I fight not to lick my lips, but I lose the battle and wet them.

  “Does it hurt?” His dark eyes narrow just a hair.

  I stare up at him. Does what hurt? No, better yet what the hell is he doing here? My head starts to spin.

  “Your mouth, does it hurt?”

  I shake my head. It’s then I realize he’s talking about the tape that was over my mouth. It does hurt, but I keep that to myself. I’m not sure I can talk at this point. Nothing is making sense.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  Mr. Vincent levels Scott with a glare.

  Thankfully, for once, Scott shuts up. He’s not getting us anywhere good by talking. None of them are listening to him. Everything keeps coming back to me, like this is my fault.

  “I’m the man with the twenty grand you need.”

  The duffel bag. Is it full of cash? How did this man just happen to show up with twenty grand in a bag? I stare up at his handsome face. In the dim light of the room, he looks more like a villain then anything. A hot one, but still a villain.

  “Why?” My voice cracks. My throat hurts from the screaming.

  “Does the why really matter right now? You made your deal, and I’m going to be the one collecting.”

  He can’t be serious.

  “What the fuck does that mean? You’re buying my sister?” Scott starts struggling again.

  I fist my shaking hands. Tommy makes an mmp sound as he tries to stop the blood. Wait. Did Mr. Vincent hit him because of the tape over my mouth?

  “Tommy, I’ll remove your fucking eyes if you look at her again.”

  I cringe. My stomach drops. Tommy stops looking at me immediately. He’s actually scared Mr. Vincent will follow through with his threat. I shouldn’t be grateful for this, but I am. Scott is once again quiet.

  I gasp and close my eyes when Mr. Vincent pulls out a knife. Is he going to kill Tommy?

  “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  I open one eye. He’s right in front of me now, so close I could reach out and touch him.

  “Yeah, because you just paid twenty grand for her, you sick bastard.”

  Mr. Vincent raises his other hand, prepared to slap the shit out of Scott.

  “Please don’t.”

  Mr. Vincent stares at me, then slowly drops his hand.

  “She saved you.” Mr. Vincent slides the knife through the plastic zip ties and frees my hands. I jer
k them to my chest and rub my sore wrists. Tommy snags the bag off the ground and takes it over to the man who’s still holding the saw. He grumbles as he puts the torture tool down, clearly crestfallen he didn’t get to use it.

  Mr. Vincent points at Scott. “This is how this is going to work. Laura comes with me.”

  “Hell no!” Scott again tries to get free.

  “Knock it off.” If my choice right now is between Fat Tommy and Mr. Vincent, I’ll take Mr. Vincent. Or maybe I should be worried that Tommy is scared of him.

  “She’s collateral. When you come up with the twenty grand I paid for her, you can come and get her.”

  “No deal!” Scott shouts.

  “Dirk,” Mr. Vincent says, though he keeps his eyes on mine.

  Dirk grins, and the saw comes back to life.

  “Deal. It’s a deal!” I shout. “Please turn it off. I can’t take it.” I drop my head, tears sliding down my face.

  The saw stops, and I can feel Dirk’s disappointment even if I can’t see it.

  “Laura, don’t do this.”

  I shake my head. “There’s no choice.”

  “There is! I can get us out of this.”

  “Yeah, by losing a limb. I’m not letting that happen.” I lift my head to look at him. “You’re all I have.”

  “Shit, Laura.”

  Mr. Vincent holds his hand out for me. I stare at the roughness of his palm that doesn't go with his fancy suits. I hate that my hand shakes as I put it into his.

  “Laura, I’m sorry.” Scott sounds defeated. Then he gets back on his usual bullshit. “If you hurt her, I don’t care who you are, I’ll burn you down!”

  Mr. Vincent pulls me to my feet. My legs are weak and not ready to stand. I fall into his chest. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me even closer. Why does he have to smell so good?

  “Did Tommy scare you?” He asks it so gently, nothing like the tone he’s used so far.