Page 50 of Debt of My Soul

Under my lashes, I peer up at Darrin. He slides forward out of his chair, leaning both of his forearms on his thighs.

“So this is the woman Adam has been pursuing.”

I flinch at the man’s words. They’re smooth and quiet, and instinctively, I compare it to the rough voices I’ve experienced from this group so far. He rubs his forehead between his eyes with his middle finger, head tilted to regard me.

“Please,” I say. “Let me go.”

I’m not sure why I plead with him. It’s probably futile.

A laugh sounds behind me and Blitz, who has since finished with his girl, steps over to me. “Never going to happen.” He reaches down to grab my chin and yanks my face to the side so I’m looking at him. Instead, I gaze past, eyes landing on Liam. I narrow my focus on him, irritated this is Adam’s brother and blood. Disgusting.

I must take him by surprise because for the first time, he meets my glare and I catch the slight rounding of his eyes before they flick to where Blitz has his hand on my chin.

Then his fingers slide farther down reaching through my shirt.

“Hands off, Blitz,” Darrin says, still watching me. I squirm under his study. “Fleur, is it? Funny, he never mentioned you while he’s been at my establishments the past few weeks.”

Darrin’s eyes drill into me, and I focus past them on the curves of the chair and the dips in the cracked leather.

I’m confused, but I press my lips together fighting the urge to ask. Adam doesn’t come here, does he?

“How’s his new truck looking these days?”

An immediate brisk cold sensation crawls up my arms and settles behind my neck. New truck?

Anger snaps any of my resolve and I blurt out, “What does a new truck have to do with burning down my home and kidnapping me?” I muscle as much disdain to mask the terror coursing through my veins. When Darrin quirks a brow, a small thrill runs through me, similar to when I pulled those first rubber bands long ago.

I sit back on my heels, slumping farther to the floor. “Is Adam okay?” I ask. Because as the words from Chris’s unread letter invade my mind, so does the image of Adam lying face down on the grass in front of my burning farmhouse. I want to make sure he’s okay.

“That depends. He’s had the privilege of people paying his debts for too long. Buying a new truck with his gambling money instead of paying his debts other people”—his eyes flick to Liam—“are paying for won’t fly with me.Youare collateral.”

I try to look around me, the thrumming music picking up speed with my rapid heartbeat. Collateral? The word rolls around silently on my tongue. I’m nothing. No one.

“It seems everyone has a price to pay for Adam. Including you.”

Chapter 21

Liam

4.5 Years Ago

“Want to go grab some donuts?” Ford asks.

I snort. “Could you be any more stereotypical?”

He shrugs. “We haven’t graduated yet. Heard you’re top of the class when it comes to criminal profiling. Who would’ve thought? All those muscles and you’re a wonk.” He chuckles, throwing a punch into my bicep before flinching away.

I laugh. “I’d tear you apart in hand to hand any day.”

Ford rolls his eyes, the bright green piercing in the sun. We had early morning training, and by early, I mean 3:00 a.m.—practically the middle of the night. We move toward the parking lot, intent on coffee and sustenance. Fuel for our worn-down bodies.

“Meet you there?” Ford asks.

“Sounds good.”

I climb in my car and Ford powers up his bike. The bitter chill of south Mississippi isn’t really a chill at all. Compared to Ruin, located so far north it could pass as a Tennessee town, the gulfis much more enjoyable. Although the humidity and heat never bothered me like it does my family.

Guess that’s why I’m here.

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