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“I’m going to kiss you,” he rasps as he ever so slowly dips his head.

I should turn away from him. He’s still a stranger I barely know, but something about the way he’s looking at me like I’m the last breath of air has my heart pounding in my chest. I tilt my head up, a signal that I want what he’s offering even if I don’t know what I’m doing.

With a deep growl, his soft lips connect with mine and I melt.

His tongue swipes against the seam of my lips and without protest I open for him.

His tongue sweeps inside and he devours my mouth.

I don’t know how long we make out but when he finally pulls back, I become acutely aware of two things: one, I’m still completely naked, and two, there’s something hard poking against my bottom and I’m certain it’s not his keys.

My cheeks flood with heat, and I shift slightly, uncomfortable with my nakedness now that I’m not lost in my meltdown.

Klutch seems to sense my discomfort because he reaches over to the foot of the bed and grabs a blanket and wraps it around my shoulders. I pull it tighter, attempting to cover myself more fully.

“Thanks.”

“Are you ready to tell me the truth now?” he asks, his voice soft but firm.

I nod, knowing I can’t hide it anymore. Not after everything.

“My dad…” I shake my head just thinking about the mess that is my father.

“He gets into these situations. I mean, he’s always doing something stupid.

Convinced it’s his ticket to easy street.

But it never is.” Dropping my gaze to my lap, I think of all the scams he’s pulled over the years.

Betting on the ponies, A GoFundMe scam where he lied to be on the internet, exotic lizard breeding, signing up to participate in medical studies.

Always something crazier than the last stunt he pulled.

“He owes some bad people a lot of money.”

Klutch’s body tenses beneath me. “How much?”

“Ten thousand dollars. Plus interest.”

He whistles low and I lift my head. “That’s a lot of cash.”

“He has a gambling problem and he thought getting involved with Frankie Fish was a good idea! How could he be so stupid?” I ask, my voice getting louder, the shame coloring my voice even though it’s not my fault.

“He’s always done stupid stuff, ya know?

But this time,” I laugh humorlessly. “This time it’s much worse.

Frankie’s guys already beat him up once as a warning.

They said they’d be back in two weeks and he better have the money or else …

” I cover my face with my hands, unable to finish the sentence.

“Or they’ll kill him,” Klutch says that quiet part out loud.

I lower my hands and nod miserably. “That’s why I took the job at The Underground. I thought maybe I could make enough to at least pay off part of it, maybe buy us some time.”

Klutch is quiet for a moment, his brows dipping as he processes the load of shit I just dropped on him. “And you have no idea where your dad is now?”

“No. He hasn’t answered his phone since the day after they beat him up.”

Klutch opens his mouth to respond when a knock sounds at the door. He gently lifts me off his lap, setting me carefully on the edge of his bed. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

I nod, clutching the blanket around me as he leaves the room. As soon as the door closes behind him, I hop up and head back into the bathroom. I grab my bag from the floor and quickly pull out the shorts and tank I brought to sleep in.

After dressing in my pajamas, I brush my teeth and run a brush through my tangled hair. Feeling somewhat better, I head back into Klutch’s bedroom and climb into the middle of his bed. Criss-crossing my legs, I listen as Klutch talks in a low voice with someone in the other room.

A few minutes pass until Klutch comes back into the bedroom.

He’s changed out of his wet clothes and is wearing only a pair of black basketball shorts that hang low on his hips.

My eyes are drawn to his bare chest again, all hard muscles and colorful tattoos.

The man is seriously built, with abs you could grate cheese on and arms thicker than my thighs.

“Feel better?” he asks, his eyes taking in my change of clothes.

“A little,” I admit. “Who was at the door?”

“Titan. Our tech guy. He’s looking into some stuff for me.” Klutch moves closer, and I force myself not to move back. “He’s also trying to locate your dad.”

Hope flares in my chest. “You think he can find him?”

“If anyone can, it’s Titan.” Klutch drops onto the bed and stretches out with his head on the only pillow.

He pats the space beside him. I stare at it for a moment then climb over and lay down next to him.

“We’ll figure this out, Blue. But right now, you need to get some rest. It’s been a long day. ”

I nod, suddenly aware of just how exhausted I am. The emotional release in the shower has left me drained.

“Tomorrow, after we’ve had some sleep, we’ll talk more about Frankie Fish and your dad’s debt,” Klutch promises. “I’ve got some ideas, but they can wait till morning.”

“Okay,” I agree, too tired to argue. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know what I would have done if?—”

“Hey,” he cuts me off, placing his hand on my hip. “You don’t have to thank me. Just try to get some sleep, alright?”

I nod again, a strange warmth spreading through me at his touch. It’s been so long since someone took care of me, since I didn’t have to be the strong one. I’ve been handling everything on my own for so long that I’d forgotten what it feels like to have someone in my corner.

“I will,” I promise, snuggling into his side as the exhaustion of the last few days pulls me under.