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“Where is Dean now?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“Six months ago, I used all my savings and had him admitted to a high-end facility rehab to get the help he needs. He’s supposed to get out in three months.” Delilah closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the sofa.
That’s why Vega couldn’t trace him. He was locked away, and the facility most likely didn’t have computers or cameras inside or around it to protect their clients.
Finally, her gaze met mine. The fiery woman that I had grown accustomed to was nowhere to be found. Sitting in front of me now was a woman who looked defeated.
“Do you know anything about Elliot?”
She shrugged. “I know what he looks like, but his last name or which area he’s from? I have no idea.”
“So with Dean locked away in rehab, Elliot sent his boys after you to get his money.” Disgust was evident in my voice.
She nodded.
“Does Dean know they’re after you?”
The sadness in her eyes were unmistakable. “No, and if he knew what I did to help him, he’d never talk to me again.”
I stiffened. I was going to beat Dean’s ass as soon as he stepped out of that rehab. What kind of man left his younger sister in harm's way while he hid from the problems he created? He had to have known that if they couldn’t find him they’d go after her. And why the hell didn’t he reach out to anyone for help? Why didn’t he reach out to me? The thought of it all made me feel sick.
“What did you do to help him?” I asked quietly.
She was crying again, and this time I pulled her into my arms. Her body trembled against mine as she clung to me.
When her sobbing subsided, she spoke. “When I had Dean admitted to rehab, I was working at a fashion magazine, and I loved it. Then about a week after, a guy came into my office stating that Dean owed his boss, Elliot, a lot of money, and since they couldn’t find him, I’d have to pay him off.”
She paused as if she were gathering her thoughts. I didn’t rush her. I let the silence draw out until she spoke again.
“He said my petty little job wasn’t going to pay them back fast enough.
“For a week, he and one of his friends lingered outside the office of the magazine, harassing the other employees and me.They told me they could help me raise the money faster if I came to work for them. If I didn’t, they’d spread lies about Dean all over social media claiming he was deep into drugs and human trafficking, and nobody would ever want me or Dean to work for them again.”
She sniffled. “I resigned from my job...a-and went to work for them.”
The more Delilah told me, the angrier I became. Dean fucked up big time.
“What did you do for them?” My voice was barely audible.
Her voice was strained as she spoke. “They gave me an account to put the money in every week. They told me that they had rich clients.”
She stopped and fiddled with her hands. I placed my hands over hers.
“What did you do for them?” I repeated.
I had to strain my ears to hear her next words.
“Clients who would pay me big money if I…” Delilah’s voice broke.
“If you what?”
She was crying again. “If I gave them hand jobs, plus stripped and danced for them and their VIP Clients.”
FUCK!
Delilah was shaking beneath me again, and I gently rubbed her arms. The thought of another man’s hands on Delilah made me sick to my stomach.
“Did they rape you?” I asked through clenched teeth.