Page 2 of Paying Daddy's Debt Collector

I wait for him to object. Surely a father won’t just hand his daughter over to someone like me. He must have all sorts of ideas running through his head, and I can’t blame him.

What perverted plans do I have for his innocent little girl? I half expect him to throw a punch at me for even insinuating that he might entertain the idea. Hell, if she was mine, I’d probably kill any man who suggested something like this to me.

He says something but I’m so caught up in thought that I miss it entirely.

“What was that, Jimmy?”

“And…and you’ll extend my terms?”

Well, shit. This fucker is actually considering it. I can’t believe my ears. Even a semi-decent father would at least throw the proposition in my face and tell me he’d find another way. Apparently, not Jimmy.

It’s good news for me and I’m not complaining, but it only strengthens my resolve to not let just anyone near her, especially someone who doesn’t even think twice about selling her to the highest bidder.

“Yes, Jimmy. I’ll extend your terms.”

“Okay, she’s yours,” he says without a moment of hesitation.

I don’t know whether to shake his hand or throw him out the window. I want her and he’s given her to me, but in doing so, he’s proven that he’s a scumbag who she needs to be protected from at all costs.

Despite the overwhelming desire to dish out violence, I guess sending her father flying out a second-story window to the sidewalk below won’t make a very good first impression. Instead, I pull him close and snarl, “You’re a loser, Jimmy. Always were and always will be. Next time we meet, you’ll have my money or we’ll kill you.”

2

CASSIDY

Idon’t know what’s taking him so long, but it can’t be anything good.

It’s my fault that we’re here. My father was going to try to run from this, but when he told me what was going on, I convinced him to come here and ask for an extension. From what he told me, these people are very dangerous and wouldn’t think twice about killing him. He was afraid to face the boss, but I figured it would be even worse if he ran.

There’s a stray kitten out here playing under the streetlight, its tiny paws swatting and pouncing in the air. When it notices me, it tilts its head and just looks at me for a moment. It doesn’t take long for it to continue its playful romp on the cracked pavement.

It makes me sad to see it all alone in the streets, so I coax it over and pick it up, chuckling at the way it’s purring in my arms. I run my fingers through its coat and stroke its head.

I look up at the only window of the building that’s illuminated to see if I can make out what’s happening in there.

I gasp when I see a big man in the window looking down at me. He’s staring at me, hands shoved into his pockets. This must be him because even at this distance, danger comes off him in waves. He’s the kind of guy no one wants to mess with and no one wants to make an enemy of.

If this is really him, then my father doesn’t even stand a chance.

A part of me thinks I should be terrified at the way he seems to be checking me out. I’m the only one around here, so clearly, his eyes are focused on me and me alone. The other part of me wonders how it would feel to have someone like him on my side. He doesn’t come across as a man who takes anyone else’s shit, and he seems perfectly capable of winning fights.

Sighing, I think about how safe I’d feel beside him. No one can and will hurt me ever again.

The streetlight begins to flicker, and I put the kitten back on the ground. I like to take it home with me, but my father will never have it. It’s another mouth to feed and that will take money away from his drinking and gambling.

As I stand and flick the tiny tufts of fur from my dress, four men exit the building and walk my way. My heart hammers in my chest, my hand flying to my mouth.

My father looks like he’s been beaten up but not as bad as I feared. He still looks like he got off easy. The big man is walking behind my father and the other two. He has his head down but is still more than a foot taller than the other men.

They reach me and stop. I lower my hand and glance at my father, but he refuses to look at me, turning his head to the side, shoulders hunched.

“What’s going on? Can we leave now?” I ask him.

He looks up at me and shakes his head. He swallows hard, lips pressed to a thin line. “Listen. I’m sorry kid but…but you have to go with them.”

A cold chill runs up my spine and my pulse jumps in my throat. Everything fades into the background, noises muffled, and all I can hear is my ever-increasing heartbeat. My mind is racing with visions of what could happen, all the worst-case scenarios my brain can conjure. “Go with them? What do you mean go with them? Where are they taking me?”

“I’m sorry, kid. Take care of yourself.” My father doesn’t give me a chance to reply and practically sprints to the driver’s side of the truck. He leaps inside and starts the engine. Things are happening so fast that I feel like I’m getting a whiplash.

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