Page 5 of Debt to the Mafia King
Now I wasn’t sure money was all I wanted. The hand around her slender throat loosened and then slipped from her altogether. Sighing, I pointed to the chair that I had just vacated.
“Sit.”
For a second, confusion clouded her eyes, and then she glanced at the door, almost like she was about to try to run again. I raised an eyebrow, and she scurried in the opposite direction.
Clever girl doing as she was told. I liked that. “Good girl.” I didn’t move until she had taken the seat.
“That’s better. Now, let’s have a conversation like two old friends.” Nodding my head, I smiled at her. It was meant to put her at ease, but she paled even more.
“We aren’t old friends, though, so either tell me what you want or get our—”
“We might not be old friends, Leah.” Purposely, I used the name her friends used. “But we have an old friend in common.” Taking one of the seats opposite her, I steepled my hands under my chin and stared at her. I knew the second she realized the truth because her already pale face turned white.
“Alek.” She shook her head.
“Your boyfriend.” She didn’t seem surprised at all. It was almost like she knew exactly the kind of man she had been involved with. It made me wonder what else she knew. Or what else she might be involved in. I quickly scanned the room.
“No.” Her voice was sharp, and my eyes snapped back to her.
One side of my mouth quirked upwards in a lopsided grin. “Lover then?” The smile stayed on my face, but my voice was flat.
I just didn’t understand how a girl like her could ever be involved with a lowlife like Alek. But then again, the things women did had always confused me. It was one of the reasons why I didn’t have anything but casual relationships.
“Neither.” Clasped in her lap, her hands curled into fists. “Our relationship was over before he died, I’m sorry Mr.— ”
“Viktor. You can call me Viktor. Now we are friends, Leah. And I am well aware that his relationship with you was over, but—” I took a deep breath. “A debt is a debt, and you are his next of kin.”
She paled even more. “Debt?”
“Yes.” Stroking my hand over my chin, I studied her. She seemed genuinely surprised, but something in her eyes told me she wasn’t that surprised.
“It’s quite a large amount of money he owes me,” I said quietly.
“He owes you, not me. I told Alek the last time I wouldn’t bail him out again.” She muttered.
My eyebrows pinched together. So she had paid his debts before. Women, I would never understand them. She was beautiful and sweet and clearly intelligent, and yet she gave herself to a man who brought nothing but debts and heartache to her door.
“But he’s dead now. And even if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t be paying anyone off. He and his gambling debts have caused me—”
I cut her off. “It’s not gambling debts, and I am aware of his passing.”
“So you can’t expect me to pay. How much does he owe?” She was half out of her seat when I spoke. “Around a hundred thousand dollars, more if I calculate interest, but as this is not technically your debt, I am willing to waive—”
“Waive?” She sat heavily and dropped her face into her hands. “A hundred thousand dollars?” Her eyes were dull when she peeked out between her fingers at me. More grey than their usual pale blue. “Did you really just say a hundred thousand—” she trailed off
“Yes.”
She sobbed. The sound of it ripped from her throat. Crying was to be expected, but she had to know that it wouldn’t do any good. I’d spent my entire adult life with people crying and begging me for mercy, and not once had it worked. Why did Leah think she was going to be any different?
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
Sighing, I looked around the room. It was clear she didn’t. She wouldn’t be living like this if she did. I doubted she even had a hundred dollars in her account.
“I am aware.”
Slowly, she lifted her head, and her pale eyes blazed to life. There were still tears in those eyes, but there was anger there as well. Fire the same color as her hair.
“Then why are you here? You know I can’t pay.” She spat. “I shouldn’t even be asked.” Standing she pointed to the door. “Get out.”
