Page 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

JULIET

I tip my head back and look up at the stairwell leading to my fourth-floor apartment.What I wouldn’t give for a long, hot bubble bath followed by an hour-long massage.

No part of my plan has gone as I intended. The cleaning was a disaster. The guy was a new client and assumed my job would conclude with a happy ending. It didn’t matter that the website, as well as our staff who booked the appointment, reiterated that wouldn’t be the case. He cornered me in the bathroom, and for the first time, I had to use my panic button. Isaac got me out in record time, and I’m fairly certain the client walked away with a broken nose.

Needless to say, even though I still got paid, I didn’t make an additional tip. Which I really needed.

Then the Legends hockey game got canceled due to a threat at the arena, so all the regulars I was counting on to come watch the hockey game didn’t show up. Instead of filling beers and pretending to be interested in the hockey glory days they love to reminisce about, I spent evening scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees.

My blisters have blisters, and with all the stress of the last week, my body has turned against me, deciding that swollen joints covered in tiny little hives were just what I needed to complete the day from absolute hell.

Oh, the joys of having an autoimmune disease.

Of course, it never chooses the opportune moment to show its ugly face and couldn’t possibly pick body parts to attack that I have no use for. But no. My hands look like they belong to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and my knees are the size of grapefruits, sending bolts of lightning through my legs with every step.

Somehow, I muster the strength to limp my way up the stairs.

I’m on the third-floor landing when the stairwell echoes with the sound of someone banging on a door.

“Etta, open up.”

My heart sinks.

I thought I’d have at least one more day to get the money together before they showed up. Even after my fifteen-hour day, I’m still three hundred short of what I owe for this payment.

Freaking Ford.

Ultimately, I know it wasn’t his fault, but if it hadn’t been his apartment, I wouldn’t have missed out on what was supposed to be my most lucrative cleaning of the month. I wouldn’t be in this situation.

It takes every ounce of willpower to force myself to climb the last set of stairs to my apartment. Running isn’t an option. They’d find me. Saul has had no issues keeping tabs on my whereabouts.

Rounding the corner, I let out a sigh of relief when I see it’s Earl standing at my door.

“I’m here.” I huff, my hands screaming at me as I pull my keys from my cross-body bag and an envelope bulging with every dollar I’ve earned in the last month. So much for stocking my fridge.

“You’re late.” Earl glowers, the scar across his cheek adding an extra oomph of menace to his gaze.

He’s not a huge guy. Maybe five-eleven, but he’s got a few inches and at least a hundred pounds on me. Not to mention he’s got that rough look to him that screams he’s followed through on more than a few of his threats.

I take a step forward, spine straight, so not to let on how scared I am. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

Earl’s jaw ticks. “I told you last week I’d be here tonight.”

“Is there any way you could come back tomorrow?”

“Fuck, Etta, please tell me you have it.” There’s a hint of concern laced in his frustration, but I don’t mistake it for him actually caring. He might be the nicest of the three goons that frequently come to collect, but he’s not above issuing threats or following through.

“Most of it.” I smile, though it’s less sweet and more pathetic if the way Earl shakes his head is any indication. “A cleaning fell through. I just need a few more days.”

“Saul already gave you an extension,” he growls, and a little bit of spit trails down his chin.

I shove my hand out, offering him what I have. “Tell him this is what I have, and after tomorrow, I’ll have the rest.”

His fingers wrap around the envelope, and he steps back, fingering through the cash.

It gives me the opportunity to slipby him andget my key in the doorknob. I just need to get inside. I’ll be safe there. I’ve barely got the lock flipped when I realize my mistake.

Earl steps forward, his hot breath fanning my neck.

“You know what’s going to happen if I show up empty handed.”

A shiver wracks my body, my blood running cold.

I do.

Bile rises in my throat. Even if I’m fast enough to open the door and slide inside, there’s no way I’ll get it closed before Earl can stop me.Not that any of them have ever gotten physical with me. But the threat has been issued. A promise that there are plenty of ways I can pay back the debt that don’t involve cash.

My body.

My family.

Neither of which are an option.

My lips twist into a sneer and I look over my shoulder, making sure he sees the whites of my eyes. “Tell Saul if he goes after my family, he’ll never see a penny.”

Earl chuckles as if my threat is nothing more than a schoolyard promise. “That’s not what I heard. I heard your father’s restaurant is booming. They’re expanding to a second location, and some fancy magazine critic is featuring them next month.”

I spin around, my heart cracking in my chest. It’s the most I’ve heard about my family in the last year. I had to force myself to stop looking at their social media because it was too much to watch them mourn me, then slowly move on like I was just a blip in their history.

“They won’t help save me.”

Earl lifts his hand and pushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear in what I’m sure he thinks is an endearing way. It only makes my stomach heave as he twists his mouth into an ominous smile. “They will when they don’t have a choice.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what the hell he means, but before the words can tumble free, I notice out of the corner of my eye a figure stepping onto the landing with us.

“Or maybe the boss will just take you instead. Lucky for me and the fellas, we get the leftovers.” Earl wraps his hand tightly around my bicep and leans in, whispering against my ear, “You have two days to get the money, or you won’t like the consequences.”

Two days.

I can do that.

If only to keep my family safe.

“What the fuck is going on here?” A voice echoes through the stairwell.

My heart revs against my ribcage. I know that voice.

What the hell is he doing here?

My head whips to where the stairs meet the landing. Ford looks like someone else. Someone different. Gone is his boy next door facade, replaced with a promise of destruction. His eyes are black, pupils completely blown out, brows drawn down. There’s an edge to him I didn’t think possible. He’s supposed to be the carefree brother. The peacekeeper. But that’s not the man in front of me.

Ford’s gaze zeros in on Earl’s hand, still tightly wrapped around my arm.

“We’re fine. Nothing to worry about,” I say, forcing a smile as I try to step back and create space between Earl and me.

But Earl meets my step with one of his own. And Ford doesn’t believe me. Not with the way he crosses the space with murder in his eyes.

“Let her go.” Voice low and menacing, Ford stops just short of us. Any closer and he’d be touching his chest to Earl’s shoulder.

Earl eyes him up and down, but doesn’t move. “You heard the lady. It’s nothing.”

A menacing growl rumbles from deep in Ford’s chest. “I said let her go.”

My head swivels as they continue their show of strength, but I’m not fully paying attention. I just pray neither of them notice or catch my hand wrapping around the key in the doorknob. All I need is for them to keep each other distracted so I can slip inside and end this pissing contest.

Of course, that’s not what happens.

I really should learn to stop wishing for things.

Earl huffs sarcastically. “This is none of your business, pretty boy.”

“Everything about her is my business.”

My hand freezes, and I whip a hard-pressed glare at my would be savior—if I wanted to be saved, that is.

More importantly, what did he just say?

“Is that so?” Earl’s tone rises along with a brow. He turns his harsh gaze in my direction and gives me a sardonic once over. “You got a boyfriend we don’t know about, Etta?”

“He’s no one.” The words tumble out quickly and even I hear the lie in my instant reaction.

Earl slowly tips his head and looks Ford up and down the same way you’d look over a prized stallion. I can see his wheels turning. His eyes linger on the expensive watch latched around Ford’s wrist and again on the shoes that probably cost more than my rent. “Doesn’t seem like no one to me.”

Damn it.

Lifting my hand, I snap my fingers in front of his face, and once he returns his focus to me, I reiterate. “He’s not important.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Ford’s shoulders deflate. I shouldn’t have even looked for his reaction, but I needed to make sure he heard me too.

I don’t need him to save me.

Of course, he either doesn’t care or has a death wish—maybe both—because he takes another step forward and places a hand on Earl’s shoulder. “Etta may believe that. But I’m not going anywhere.”

After that, everything happens in slow motion.

Ford yanks Earl away from me, but given that the enforcer still has a hand around my bicep, I jerk forward with him.Earl saves himself and lets me fall face-first onto the concrete floor. Pain shoots through my cheek as I struggle to right myself. When I do, it’s just in time to see Ford’s fist connect with Earl’s jaw.

Fear spikes in my belly. Reason is telling me to get the hell out of there and into my apartment where it’s safe, but I can’t just leave Ford. I might not want him to fight my battles, but now that he is, I’m not about to leave him. Not that I can stop this. They are two grown ass men, and I’m half their size.

Earl stumbles, catching his balance just in time to avoid Ford’s second swing, and returns one of his own, striking the center of Ford’s stomach.

He doubles over and wheezes. Earl gives him just enough time to look up before clocking him in the mouth.

Ford’s knees hits the ground next to me, and I pray he stays there. Don’t get up. Don’t make this worse than it already is.

He doesn’t get the message. When he lifts his head, his eyes connect with mine. There’s still fire and rage in his midnight gaze.

Clearly the only one with common sense, I turn to Earl and plead, “Just go. Please. I’ll have your money when you come back.”

The enforcer shakes out his shoulders and wipes a dribble of blood from his lip. “Get your boy toy in check.” He practically purrs as he turns for the stairs. Looking over his shoulder, he winks. “I’ll see you in three days.”

On his feet, Ford opens his mouth to no doubt tell him he won’t, but I reach out and place a hand on his calf. He looks down, and I shake my head.

When we both look up again, Earl is gone.

Nostrils flaring, Ford offers me the hand he isn’t cradling against his chest and helps me up.

He’s angry.

Yeah, well, so am I.

Too bad there’s no way he’s going to allow me to explain this away as nothing to worry about.

My knees scream when I put my full weight on them. All I want to do is fall into bed and sleep until I forget about this whole ordeal.

Ford’s gaze is heavy as he watches me. I know he’s waiting for an explanation, but I have nothing that will satisfy him and keep him ignorant about just how deep of a hole I’m in.

By the time I unlock my apartment door and swing it open, he loses his patience.

“You’re really not going to tell me what the hell that was all about?”

I pause in the doorway and look back. “If I say no, will you leave it be?”

His jaw ticks with finality. “Not a chance in hell.”

I didn’t think so.

“Julie—” He sighs. “Etta. Let me help you.”

I’m not sure I can do that, but keeping him out is no longer an option.Lifting my hand, I gesture into my apartment. “Inside.”