Page 17 of His Dark Hunger

“I own your house.” Kyle’s lips stretched into a smirk.

“What?” The kid’s brow furrowed.

“This house.” Kyle gestured to the brickwork separating them. “I’m the landlord. I need to speak to your parents.”

The young guy rolled his eyes as though home ownership was corporate terrorism. No doubt the teen Marxist thought it was.

“Dad!” He turned, yelling the name at the top of his lungs. “There’s someone here for you.”

Kyle met his brown eyes as the teen glanced back, repressing the urge to laugh. Had he ever been so young and misguided? If so, he couldn’t remember.

“Who is it, Seth?” Kendal senior’s voice echoed along the small hallway. “I’m busy.”

“I don’t know!” Seth balked as his father came into view. “He says he owns the place.”

Kendal’s face blanched as his gaze darted to where Kyle stood.

“Graham.” Kyle pushed past the kid and stepped inside. “We need to talk.”

“We don’t have an appointment, Mr. Kyle.” Kendal gripped the end of the stairwell banister as if his life depended on it.

“Come now.” Kyle grinned. “We both know it would be better if we talked informally.”

Kendal’s son glanced between the two of them as he reached for his jacket. “Whatever this is about, I don’t want to be involved.” He slung the coat over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “I’ll be back later.”

The slamming door echoed around the enclosed space, rattling the photograph frame on the wall. Kyle’s attention darted toward it, eyeing the picture trapped inside. It appeared to be of a happy couple smiling on their wedding day. The man in the suit, who didn’t look much older than the brash boy who’d only just stalked out of the door, looked like Kendal, so he assumed the woman wearing white was his wife.

“Children, eh?” Kyle smirked. “Aren’t they charming?”

“You have no idea.” Kendal blew out a breath. “Look, if this is about your taxes, I did what I could, Mr. Kyle, but there’s a limit. Everyone has to pay something, you know.”

“It’s not.” Kyle’s tone was short. “I appreciate what you did with my taxes, but I agree, you’ve reached the limit of your value there.”

Kendal scowled. “That’s not exactly what I said, but—”

“This is about what happens next,” Kyle interrupted him. “And since you haven’t increased your monthly payments to me in the months since you helped, I’m assuming you still can’t afford to?”

“No.” Kendal glanced at the floor. “Is there another increase?”

“Yes.” Kyle would have preferred not to have to do this in the hall, but no one had invited him to sit down. “This is the third since I’ve bought the house.”

“The third?” Kendal’s eyes were as large as saucers.

“Hmmm.” Kyle took a step toward him. “I hope you agree I’ve been more than patient with you, Graham. You’ve been paying less while all your neighbors cough up the real value of the rent around here.”

“Yes,” Kendal started, “but—”

“And I’ve been kind,” Kyle added. “Aside from that one encounter about taxes, I don’t think I’ve called on you at all.”

“No, you haven’t.” Kendal’s fingers grasped the wood so hard that they started to turn white. “You’ve been patient and kind. Thank you.”

“But even my patience has a limit.” Kyle folded his arms across his chest. “So, if you want to stay in your home, I have to ask, what else can you offer me in return?”

“Offer you?” Kendal’s brows knitted. “I told you, I don’t have the money, Mr. Kyle.”

“Other assets, then?” Based on what he could see of the place, Kyle realized it was a long shot. “Shares or bonds, maybe?”

Kendal shook his head. “No.”

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