Page 38 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
“Where’s my money?”
“No idea. Ask my mom.” Pocketing my phone, I got to my feet and stood on the cinder block so I’d have the height advantage.
“Don’t play fucking games with me,” he gritted out.
“How much do you think I owe you?”
“I’m getting real fucking sick and tired of the way you just help yourself tomymoney. I want my eight hundred dollars.”
Eight hundred dollars? I didn’t have eight hundred dollars. I’d been saving for two years, but there were always bills to pay, so I’d only saved six hundred forty-three dollars.
“I can get you six hundred now and the rest later.” I pivoted and walked into the kitchen. Behind me, the screen door slammed shut, and Wade’s footsteps thudded on the linoleum.
“That ain’t how it works.” He grabbed me by the hair, snapping my head back and arching my neck. “You’ll get me that money now, or you’ll be paying for it on your back, just like your momma.” He shoved me hard, and I stumbled, my hands grasping air before my knees hit the floor.
I got to my feet and turned to face him, my hands balling into fists. “That will never happen,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Guess we’ll see about that. You have twenty minutes.”
I edged away from him toward the hallway. “I need more time.” I hated the way my voice shook.
“You love your sister?” He advanced on me. “You want to stay in this house with her? You’d better get the money right fucking now, or I’m kicking your ass out on the street, and I’ll make sure you don’t get any visitation rights.”
The asshole used my little sister—his own daughter—as a bargaining chip. He didn’t even live in this house, and I hadn’t stolen the money. But since when did that matter?
I grabbed my keys and bank card and hopped in my car.
On the way to the ATM, I called Quinn. I hated borrowing money, but Wade hadn’t given me much choice.
“Are you sure you don’t need more?” Quinn asked when she handed me the cash.
“I’m sure. I’m sorry about this—”
“Hey. What are friends for? I’d empty out my entire bank account for you.”
I knew she meant it too. Quinn was that good of a friend. She would give me the money, no questions asked. Just like she’d jumped into her car and came to my rescue tonight. She didn’t even know why I needed the money. Which was for the best. The less she knew, the better.
“Thank you. Sorry, I have to run….” Before I pulled away, I checked my rearview mirror to ensure she was safely in her car before hitting the gas and racing home.
I climbed out of my car just as a tricked-out Caddy pulled up in front of my house. The window rolled down, and the man in the driver’s seat crooked his finger as if he expected me to jump to do his bidding.
“Come over here, sweetheart, where I can see you better.”
Ignoring his summons, I kept walking. A car door slammed shut, and gravel crunched behind me. Someone grabbed my arm, dragged me over to the car, and shoved me toward the open window.
The man in the driver’s seat had a shaved head and a goatee and looked me over like he was trying to figure out how much he’d get for me on the black market.
“You Wade’s girl?” he asked, taking a drag of his cigarette.
“No,” I spat. I winced when the man behind me twisted my arm behind my back.
“Where’s he been hiding you?”
“Leave her alone,” Wade said as he came to stand next to me. “She ain’t got nothing to do with this.” The man released me, and Wade pulled me away from the car. He held out his palm, wiggling his fingers. “Give me the money.”
Gritting my teeth, I shoved the money in his outstretched hand. It nearly killed me to do it. I’d worked so hard to save it. My emergency fund. My get-away quick money. And now I owed Quinn too.
Wade counted out the money. Satisfied, he pocketed it.
