Page 31 of Love Collided

And I was feeling a bit better that he was out there taking care of this.

That was until the older guy stepped forward, flashing a gun at his hip. Chase didn’t flinch. His body relaxed while they talked, but mine wasn’t.

I couldn’t let him get hurt because of me and my dad. This wasn’t even his fight.

Without hesitation, I was pushing open the door, making every single one of them jump.

“Scout,” Chase growled, his eyes darkening when he looked at me. “What the hell are you doing?”

“While I love meeting new people, I have somewhere else to be. I’ll take the money and be leaving,” the main brute said.

Chase nodded, handing over the envelope of cash I had brought. The guy flipped through it. “All the money?”

“No,” I said. “I could only get five grand. But I counted it over and every dollar of that is in there.”

The guy's eyebrows shot up, looking me over and then Chase.

“You’re giving me five grand because you couldn’t come up with the ten I originally wanted?”

Chase’s eyes whipped to me, but I didn’t dare look back. I could already imagine they were already burning with anger.

“I’m still trying to get the rest. I hoped you would agree this would be enough, and I could have two weeks for the rest.”

“It might have been. Until you rolled up in this car, both of you dressed like that. It seems like you’re trying to insult me now. You don’t play poor very well.”

“None of this is mine,” I said quickly. “This dress included. I don’t have any more money to give you tonight.”

The guy turned to Chase. “But I think he does.”

“He’s just my ride. He has nothing to do with this.”

“So? He’s here. He obviously must have some care about what’s going on. Another five thousand right now, or I will double the original price.”

“Double? Come on, I’m fighting to get another five thousand. How would I manage to find another ten?”

He didn’t care what I said, not looking away from Chase.

“You had to get out of the car, didn’t you?” Chase said, shaking his head and pulling his watch off. “Here. This is a vintage Rolex. It’s older, but it should get you five at least. It will more than cover what she needs.”

The guy looked over the watch, apparently impressed. “I usually don’t collect items for payment, but I like this one. I think it will look nice on me.” The goons next to him nodded along as he slid it on his wrist. “This will hold me over for now. I’ll contact you if your father fails to pay the rest.”

“The rest?” Chase asked, and the guy laughed.

“This was a payment to keep her friends out of it. Her father is still deep in his own trouble. If he figures it out, you won’t hear from me again.”

Chase shook his head. “We both know that isn’t how this works. What happens when he doesn’t figure out his own mess?”

“I like to text now. You’ll hear from me when that happens.”

I was frozen, watching the guys get back into their car. Chase stayed at the front of the car while they pulled out before coming over to me.

“Come on. You’re getting soaked.” Chase's hand moved to my lower back, leading me to the passenger side and pulling open the door for me to slide inside.

I could only stare at his empty wrist as he turned the car on, blasting the heat and making sure my vents were open.

He pulled out without a word, and I could feel myself cracking. Emotions boiling up faster than I could handle.

“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice breaking, the small sob betraying me.

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