So, I have something else in store for him right now. I want my money back, and I will do whatever is necessary to get it.
“I was afraid this would happen, so I went out of my way to dig up some dirt on you… Guess what I discovered? I found out you have a daughter. A very, young, naïve, innocent, daughter. I bet she’s very capable of handling dear old dad’s debt, don’t you think?” My voice is sinister, calm, and deadly. His face is a mask of confusion until what I’ve said hits him square in the chest.
“No. Please. Amara has already suffered and lost so much. I borrowed the money for her to go off to college and lead a normal life…”
“So it’s really her debt to pay anyway?” I raise my eyebrows at him as I question his words.
His eyes bulge out of his face in shock. “No! No! This is my debt to pay, not hers. Please, I beg of you. Please, don’t bring her into this.” His features pale as his eyes brim with tears. He is at my mercy, begging for his daughter’s life. I should feel sorry for him, yet his pleading means nothing to me.
I would love to say that I have a heart somewhere underneath my hatred, anger, and coldness, but I can’t. I know who I am, and I make no apologies for it.
“I didn’t bring her into this, old man. You did,” I hiss out, shoving his words back at him. He is trying to make me feel guilty, but situations like these never make me feel bad. If anything, it fuels the inferno inside of me and makes me feel more powerful.
“Please…” he whispers as he begins crying again.
At that moment, I wonder if my mother cried when she begged for my life the day someone put a gun to her head and killed her.
My mother’s killer never even gave her the chance to beg or plead for her own life. She only begged for mine. At least I’m considerate enough to allow my debtors that chance.
“You have two weeks until I come back to collect. If you don’t have the money by then, I will be choosing an alternate payment. One way or another, I’ll get something out of this.” I smile, simply because I’m a sick bastard like that.
My men release him, and before I step out of the rundown farmhouse, my eyes land on a photo of his daughter. She is pretty, a bright smile and kind eyes. That would soon change if her father didn’t come up with the cash.
“Your daughter would bring a pretty penny at auction. Probably more than you owe me. I’d let you have the difference.”
“No, please, she is innocent.”
“That’s why she would make us a lot of money, old man.” I grin, and my guys chuckles.
She is almost too pretty to let go. Too innocent to sell.
Maybe I’ll keep her for myself.
I swirl the amber liquid around my glass as I look at her picture for the hundredth time. I don’t know what it is about her, but it has me captivated.
Her image has been pulled up on my laptop since I returned from her father’s farm. I might as well set it as my wallpaper. What the hell is wrong with me?
I never get like this with a woman, especially not one I’ve never met. All I have seen are a few pictures. I don’t know how she smells, sounds, or feels. Ugh, the thought of touching her has my cock hardening in my slacks.
The more I think about keeping her for myself, the more I like the idea.
Never before have I wished for someone not to come up with the money owed. I find myself hoping he can’t pay, so I can take her instead.
If he does pay, I might have to come up with another way to get my fingers on her.
A knock on my office door drags me out of my thoughts.
“Come in,” I order gruffly, annoyed by the interruption of my picture ogling.
Mack walks in a moment later. He has been my right hand and closest friend for many years. One of the few people I trust. I have many men working for me, but besides Mack, Eli, and Jared, I don’t really trust anyone.
“Want to go out and have some fun tonight?” he asks, grinning from ear to ear, and I know exactly what kind of fun he is insinuating.
“Why don’t you head out alone tonight. I’m busy.”
“Anything I can do?”
“Actually, yes. Before you head out, find a way to send a message to Amara Morris. I want her to come home when the old man’s time is up, and make it look like it came from her father. I don’t want her to be suspicious.”
“No problem. Consider it done.” Mack sounds confident. I hope he can get it done.
I need her to be here. Because regardless of her father being able to pay, I will find a way to make her mine.
2
Amara
It has been almost two months since I’ve seen my dad. I’d been hesitant about leaving for college because it meant leaving him all alone at the farm. Especially after the promise I made to my mom.
Truthfully, I wasn’t sure he could even make his own breakfast in the morning, do his laundry, or figure out how to run the vacuum.
Mom had always done everything, and after she died, I tried my best to take care of him and the house. He never asked or expected me to do most of the household chores like cooking, cleaning, and laundry, but I did because I loved him.
I pull my car onto our dirt road and instantly feel as if there is something wrong. I can’t yet put my finger on it, but something feels off. Honestly, when I got my father’s message asking me to come home, I felt something was off.
It wasn’t like him to send me an email. He would usually call, but his email sounded urgent, and he wouldn’t answer his phone, so I got in the car and came.
Getting closer to the farmhouse, I notice two black SUVs parked in front. The sight did nothing to ease the knots forming in my stomach.
Who the heck could that be? The only people coming to our house are the occasional salesman or people from the local church. Neither one would be driving cars like this.
I spot a man in a dark suit standing outside of one, his hand on a shiny item at his hip.
Is that a gun? My mind is reeling as I try to figure out what the hell is going on. Is my dad okay? Why is this man at my house? Are there more men like him? There had to be since there are two vehicles parked here. Are they robbing my house? Where is my dad?
I put my old Jeep into park but leave the engine running. Sitting very still, I wonder what his next move will be. His eyes roam over my car as if he is inspecting it.
Time stands still for a few seconds before he comes walking toward the Jeep. My heart is beating out of my chest, and my eyes glance down to my cell.
I reach for my phone to call 911, knowing it might be my only chance. Frantically, I move my fingers over the screen as I punch in my code wrong three times. Shit!
A loud knock against my window has me jumping up. Losing the grip on my phone, it slips from my hand and falls to the floorboard.
“Get out of the car, and don’t even fucking think about reaching for that phone to call the cops,” the man growls at me through the window. His voice is loud and has a dangerous edge to it, which sends shivers down my spine.
Despite the fear coursing through my body, I suddenly have the bright idea to just drive off. The door is locked, and he can’t get in.
Grabbing the clutch, I put the car in reverse, ready to speed off when I see the man lift his gun and point it straight at my face.