Page 1 of Love Collided

ONE

SCOUT

The cold asphaltunder my hands was a harsh contrast to the warm blood trickling down my face. They had come up from behind, pushing me hard into my car before I fell to the ground.

The brute who had knocked into me was talking and I tried to sit up to focus, but fell back again. I leaned back until I could feel the cool metal of my door against my head, and looked up, finally getting my bearings again.

“We need the money,” he said.

“I have like fifty dollars on me. Go ahead and take it, but ask a lady before throwing her to the ground.” I wasn’t sure what kind of muggeraskedfor the money, but I guess it was better than hitting me more.

He gave a harsh laugh before kicking at me again. I jumped, tucking my legs up and out of reach.

“Fifty dollars isn’t going to cover the ten thousand dollar payment we are expecting.”

My stomach dropped as I tried to piece together what he was droning on about. “Ten thousand dollars? For what? I don’t have any debts.”

“Your next of kin does and says you’re the one to help pay. So, congratulations, now you do.”

“I don’t have ten thousand dollars to just hand over! Do you think I keep a stack of money in my purse?”

“I think based on your car and the garage you work at, you have something to spare,” he said, the toothy grin making my lip curl.

“The garage?” I couldn't hide the panic in my voice. He said next of kin, which could only mean my dad, and if he was mentioning the garage, it meant my dad had told them about the crew too.

“Business seems fine. Plus, it's hard to spend money when you share the living costs with several friends.”

My dad, his debts, my friends. My stomach clenched, threatening to throw up everything I had eaten today.

They knew everything about me.

“My dad said I would pay his debts?” I asked, not quite believing the answer I already knew was coming.

“He said you’re good for the money because he’s out. And I think he was right. You have two weeks and then he’s out of time.”

“And what happens when he’s out of time?”

“We will first do our…due diligence with you and your friends to get the money.Of course, this is simply a polite reminder. After that, he’s out.”

“Out of what?”

“Money, time, life,” he drawled. “You name it, he’s out. Either way, you’ll be paying up. Two weeks,” he said, stepping back towards the black SUV parked behind him.

I stayed frozen, watching the tail lights light up bright red in the dark night. They became the only thing I could focus on as my thoughts spiraled. I watched until the fuzzy red color disappeared and there was nothing but black.

My dad sold me out. He told them everything about me so I would pay his debts.

I couldn’t move, my fingers freezing and every inch of me starting to shake in the cold night air.

As though I didn’t have enough to think about, now this? I don’t know how long I sat there before I finally got up, brushing off dirt and rocks and getting in my car.

Ten grand had to only be the start of what he needed, and there was no way I would be able to get that, unnoticed, in two weeks. Even if we had it in the garage savings, I wouldn’t be able to take that much out without endless questions from the crew. It didn’t matter what reasons I had, none of them would ever agree to letting me do this. They knew my dad and his issues, they would try to stop me even if they were in danger.

There was also no way I would be able to come up with so much money in such a short time.

I turned the car over, but let it idle, trying to warm up along with the engine. Everyday I seemed to wake up to find my life getting messier. The worst part was I couldn’t figure out how to clean any of it up.

Two DaysLater

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