Page 72 of Ruthless Heir

I turn around to face Harper and release her hand. Her eyes are filled with tears but I don’t let the sight throw me off.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I slam a fist into the wall beside her. Really I want to grab her and shake her.

“I…”

“You what? How the fuck could this be a good idea? What do you need the money for?” I come right out and say it. No point waiting for her to tell me.

“I’m in trouble.” Her breath catches and the tears stream down her cheeks.

That… that gets me. Along with those words.

“What kind of trouble?”

“I owe a very dangerous man a hundred thousand dollars.”

All I can do is glare back at her as the truth comes out and charges the air with menacing danger.

I shake my head at her. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

“So you could behave like this? And call me out on my stupid decisions when I already know I fucked up?”

I clench my jaw and continue glaring back at her. She’s right. I would have behavedjustlike this if I’d known before. But that’s no excuse.

“Go get your clothes on. Let’s go home.” It’s best I don’t say anything more.

The drive back home is worse than the journey we took from Massachusetts.

It’s worse in so many ways because now I know the truth.

I wait until we step inside and Harper is about to escape to her room before I stop her, just as she’s about to take off down the corridor.

“Did Nick get the loan?”

She faces me, her eyes red from crying. “Yes.”

“In your name?”

“Yes. We were going to get a place together but I didn’t realize he was about to lose his job.”

That motherfucker played her good. “What’s this dangerous guy’s name?”

“Vito Morales.”

“Does he know where you are?”

“No. He thinks I’m still in L.A.”

“Give me his number.”

“Asher—”

“Don’t. Just give me the number, Harper.”

With trembling hands she pulls her phone out of her bag and finds the number. She shows it to me. Since numbers are my thing I memorize it with one look and nod.

“Asher—”

“Not now, Harper. If you don’t want to argue, don’t talk to me now.”

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