Page 24 of Tease Me (Dark Odyssey 1)

I stand up knowing what I have to do.

It must be verging on eleven.

It’s late but awareness of the time as in night and day is for people who aren’t desperate. My awareness of time is a countdown on what I can get done with the time I have left.

“What are you doing?” Dad asks.

“Don’t worry Dad. I’ll get the money.”

“You shouldn’t have to. Don’t ask Chloe, it’s not fair.”

“I’m not asking her.” He was right it wasn’t fair, not when Chloe had given me the means to get myself out of this shit. She said she would work at The Dark Odyssey and she wouldn’t say no to Nick. Who was I to?

Tonight was the second night I could have been working and I’d been a foolish woman trying to hold on to her dignity.

“There’s a job, I’m going to try and get it. I can ask for an advance if I get it. It means I can sort everything out.”

A hundred grand… I can’t tell him that part. Dad’s not stupid. He’s fully clued up and a quick study. He’ll know straight away what sort of work I’ll be doing if I say more than that.

“A job?” He narrows his eyes.

“Yeah. It’s not at a law firm but the pay is good. I’m going to go sort that out,” I nod.

“What kind of job is it Mia?” He keeps his gaze on me. Although there is bruising around his eye I can see the wealth of worry.

“It’s helping out some people who own a shipping company.” That was what I’d read nights ago about the Giordano family. They’re into the exporting and importing business. It’s their primary source of income and seems like a family run business. I guess it’s one of the things they do.

Dad doesn’t look entirely convinced but he nods. “Mia, at the first sign of trouble you take Beth and leave. You hear me?”

I sniffle and ball my fists to keep in the emotion. “You’re seriously asking me to let you die?”

“Yes, because just as I can’t turn my back on Carter, I can’t allow you to suffer for our mistakes. Not you and not Beth.”

I can’t listen to any more of this. Time is going. Wasting.

I don’t answer, I just walk out and leave. I jump in my car and head straight back to the club.

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