Page 67 of Outcast
“There is one way,” I said, straightening.
Dad shifted, face creased with a frown. “We can’t defer this again, and we can’t refinance at this late date.”
“No, I know.” I looked at Holden. “You own your other property outright, don’t you?”
“Yes, but?—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “How would you feel about a home equity loan?”
“I don’t understand how another loan helps,” Holden said.
Gray was keeping up, though. “We could take out a loan to pay off this debt on the business, right? Then make payments on the new loan?”
“That’s the idea.” I flicked a glance at my dad. “It would give them a fighting chance, at least.”
“Paying debt with more debt is never a good idea,” Dad said.
“But they didn’t take out that first loan. Don’t they deserve a chance to prove they’re upstanding members of the community?”
Dad’s gaze swept over them, and for a beat, I was afraid he’d still say no. Holden wore dark jeans and a dress shirt, but the rest of the guys were all in jeans and T-shirts. They wore their hair longer, and tats covered Gray’s and Axel’s arms. Hardly the sort of white-bread business associates Dad schmoozed with. The brothers ran an auto shop, so it seemed reasonable, but would Dad see their potential or write them off as more trouble than they were worth?
“You always say we’re about investing in the community,” I said. “That we’re here to help our neighbors achieve their dreams.”
Dad considered me carefully, one eyebrow arched. “It’s your call, Emory.”
My stomach flip-flopped. I’d wanted him to sign off on my plan. Tell me it was good business.
My palms broke out in a sweat. If I vouched for these guys and it didn’t work out…
Well, maybe I’d get the chance to hand my job over to Shayla after all.
I bit my lip, glancing back at Gray. He lifted one shoulder as if to say he’d understand if my decision didn’t go his way. Surely he’d be upset, though. He could lose his home or business.
I couldn’t stand by and let that happen when I had the power to do something.
“I’ll have to come out and see the property to assess how much value is there,” I said.
The youngest brother, who’d been quiet until now, whooped.
“You won’t regret it,” Holden said.
Gray rushed forward to shake my hand, his palm warm and strong around mine but gentle too.
“You’re going out on a limb for us,” he said, “and we won’t let you down.”
“There’s a process for approval,” I said, nerves spiking at how damn happy they all looked. “We’ll have to look at your books to ensure you can pay the loan.”
“We can do that,” Holden said. “Just let us know when you want to finalize the details.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
Gray gave my hand one last lingering squeeze.
“We’ve taken up enough of your time,” Holden said. “Thank you again for working with us.”
Gray’s eyes met mine. “It means a lot that you’re giving us a chance to prove our character. We know our foster dad didn’t exactly leave the best impression of our family.”
Dad nodded. “I sure hope you boys can pull it off.”
