Page 50 of Blood Money

He as only wearing briefs, so I grabbed one of the designer T-shirts I’d bought him and a pair of shorts from a nearby laundry basket. He put them on and followed me, closing the door behind him.

I started my car and turned the AC on full blast. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“How did you know where I was?”

I ignored the question. “How can you sleep in that heat?”

“Exhaustion. I guess.”

I studied him as he ran a hand through his hair trying to tame it. I didn’t like how little color he had. “I’m getting you something to eat.”

“No, that’s not necessary.”

“Yes. It is.” I put the car in reverse, but Liam popped open his door. “I have to lock the unit.”

“Hurry. And get some shoes. You’re going to burn your feet on the fucking pavement.”

He came back wearing slides and holding keys and a wallet in his hands. “Tell me you’re not keeping the cash you make each night here.”

“I can’t get to the bank every fucking day.”

“Then put it in the safe at Pound.”

“Should I learn safecracking so I can get in?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You really aren’t scared of me, are you?”

“Should I be?” His voice was quieter now, less sure.

“Yes. Anyone with good sense would be.”

He shrugged. “My life sucks. Are you really going to make it worse?”

I sighed as I shook my head. “No, I’m going to make it better. I’m getting you breakfast, then we’re picking up a generator for you to use until I can line up a new apartment for you.”

“I can’t afford a fucking apartment, and you said you weren’t paying my debt. If I want to live in a storage unit so all my money goes to pay off my loan, that’s what I’ll do.”

“You have a second job, right?”

He sighed. “I do, but it doesn’t pay enough for me to make rent. I was already going to be evicted before you ever showed up at my door.”

“You’re telling me that shit hole was too expensive?”

“Yes. Do you even have any idea how much rent is these days or how impossible it is to make it on minimum wage? Even if I’d been making enough, I can’t take as many hours now that I’m working at the club most nights.”

He hadn’t mentioned any other debts. “Why did you borrow money from my family?”

“I’m not going to tell you that.”

I turned and wrapped a hand around his neck. “Try that again.”

“Please. It’s my secret. Let me keep it.”

Tears formed in his eyes, and I let go for now. I’d made plenty of men cry, made them sob and beg for mercy I was never going to give them, but I couldn’t stand seeing Liam like this.

I should never have left him last night. He’d needed to be held. Even if all he cared about was paying the debt, he was my responsibility. He was mine and I needed to make him see that, even if he couldn’t love me, I wasn’t letting him go.

“Fine. Keep your secret for now.”

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