Page 25 of Shifter's Secret Baby

“You weren’t kidnapped, Briar. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.”

I laughed mirthlessly. “I must have teleported here then. In my sleep. To this place that I’ve never been before and can’t leave, away from my father.”

“You might be here against your will, but you weren’t brought here by Ash,” Rachel blurted out. Her eyes popped as if she’d said too much.

I scoffed again. “What?”

“Never mind,” she mumbled, sitting back again. “It doesn’t matter now. You just need to keep your head down and think of this like a vacation, not a punishment.”

“No, what do you mean I wasn’t brought here by Ash?”

Rachel groaned loudly, rubbing at the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger.

“I don’t owe any debt!” I told her coldly. “Ash just said I can go home when my debt is paid. That’s a lie right there!”

She made another pained sound and sat forward, extending her hands over the table. But it was far too long for her to reach me, even if I’d wanted to touch her. Which I didn’t.

I withdrew.

“What debt do I owe?”

“Are you sure that’s what he said?” she sighed.

“What?” I demanded, blinking. “That’s what he said!”

Rachel grimaced again. “Briar, some things are better left unknown, don’t you think?”

“Not when I’m locked away somewhere by strangers!” I yelled, fully frustrated now. “What game are you playing with me?!”

“It’s not a game,” Rachel muttered, glancing worriedly toward the doors. “Sit down.”

I hadn’t even realized I’d stood, but I remained in place until she agreed to give me something.

“I’ll tell you what I can,” she said. “But it’s not much, Briar.”

Skeptically, I perched on the edge of my chair, drumming my fingers on the table like they were possessed.

“Well?”

Rachel inhaled deeply and again looked toward the hallway. “Maybe we should go somewhere quieter—”

“There’s no one here!” I roared.

“Okay! Okay,” Rachel relented, holding up a hand. “Look, all I know is that someone borrowed a great deal of money from Ash—”

“Who? How much? Why? What does it have to do with me?” I fired out, not waiting for her to finish her sentence.

She shot me a reproving look. “Do you want me to tell you what I know or not?”

I pursed my lips and nodded, but it was difficult not to keep peppering her with queries.

“The time frame to repay this substantial loan is three weeks,” she continued. “That’s where you come in. You’re the collateral.”

I choked in disbelief. “You can’t use live beings as collateral,” I sputtered. “That’s… that’s despicable.”

“It’s done,” Rachel intoned. “All the time. That and worse.”

I paled, knowing that she wasn’t lying about that. It was simply the world in which we lived, and I supposed I should be grateful that I hadn’t been sold for this purported loan.

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