Page 28 of Love Collided

“Is there a problem?” she asked, one eyebrow arched.

“A few, yes,” I said, looking around the old warehouse. There was one creepy main door, a roll up garage door which was so rusted I didn’t think it would work anymore, and the rest of the building was a faded blue color, but was so overgrown I couldn’t even make out the logo that had once been there. “The first one being, what are we doing here? Who are you meeting?”

“Someone for my dad, and I have some money to give him. The rest is not your business.”

“Is your dad in some sort of trouble or are you…in business with him somehow?”

“I think that falls into thenot your businesscategory. I need to go inside. I’m waiting for someone. You can stay in the car.”

“Not a chance would I let you walk into that building alone.”

“How chivalrous. Then come on and please keep your mouth shut. Not only tonight, but keep your mouth shut about this forever. No one else is allowed to know we were here.”

“Yeah, I got that. You don’t have to worry. I tend to keep my mouth shut about any illegal things I do.”

We reached the door, and she rolled her eyes. Rather than making any effort to open it herself, she chose to stand there, waiting for me to open it for her.

“So I take it you like my gentleman act now?” I asked, pulling it open.

“My hands are frozen. I figured if you were offering, I’ll accept.”

“Suddenly finding your value now?”

She stopped, spinning to face me, her face etched with anger.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” I said, waving her forward. I wasn’t going to explain the irony that I should be the one holding open doors, but her boyfriend could treat her like shit and get away with it.

Her phone pinged, and she looked down at it. I could see the number wasn’t saved, and it put me more on alert. We obviously weren’t meeting friends. “He said he will be here in ten minutes.”

I only nodded, walking down the long hallway and looking in each room. There was one office at the end that I waved her over to.

“This one has two doors and two large windows. Let’s wait here.”

“Why?”

“In case we need to leave quickly, we have some options.”

“Seriously? I don’t think I’m here meeting a mob boss. They just want to be paid.”

“Paid for what?” I asked, crossing my arms and doing my best to intimidate her into telling me. It didn’t seem to be working at first, but she finally blew out a long breath.

“Gambling debts.”

My arms dropped as my eyebrows shot up.

“Are you and your dad big gamblers?”

“My dad is.”

“So you’re here paying off his debt?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“But you don’t seem happy about that. Is it his money?”

“Wow, so observant. No, it’s not his money, so I’m not happy about it. Would you be?”

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