Page 15 of Dangerous Games

Well, yeah, things can always be worse, but I want to know why he thinks I would have that much money lying around ready to just hand over? I get I’m not renting a couch from someone anymore, but a studio apartment isn’t exactly screaming I’m rolling in it.

“I’m sorry, Dad, but I don’t have that kind of money,” I tell him. Guilt gnaws at the back of my mind as the money Gio gave me is there, front and center.

Dad’s face falls. The happy front is no longer there; a scared and a little frantic one takes its place. “Come on, Bronwyn,” he pleads. “I’m all out of options. If I don’t pay them something to show I’m still good for it by the end of next week, there’s no telling what they’re going to do.”

“Who is them?” I ask. “Do you owe someone money?”

“Something like that. I made a mistake and borrowed more than I could handle.”

“What did you need to borrow that kind of money for?” I press.

Dad fidgets uncomfortably as he looks around the room, avoiding eye contact with me.

“Dad.”

“I would hate for you to think less of your old man, baby girl.” Dad sighs, sounding resigned. “But I borrowed it to pay back someone else to settle the gambling debt I had.”

My hand covers my eyes as I rub my now throbbing temples at his admission. It’s always something with him, but it’s never been this. “Can you ask for an extension?”

I know Nate will let me pick up all of his closing shifts, so that’s a decent amount of overtime. It’ll take me a while to get the rest of the money while making sure I don’t fall behind on my own bills, but using the money Gio gave me would help. I just don’t know who he’s involved with and if they can wait another two weeks for me to get paid my hush money again.

“I’m on my last extension.”

My heart sinks. “This person you borrowed from…are they bad people?”

Dad’s slow nod is all I need to know.

After seeing what I witnessed the other night, there’s no doubt in my mind that his being murdered is a possibility.

Fuck.

Sometimes I wish I could be as shitty as he’s been to me throughout my entire life, but I don’t have it in me. With my luck, karma would come back to bite me in the ass a million times harder than it ever has him. That’s how it always happens with the good guys.

“When do you need the money by?” I ask reluctantly.

Dad perks up. “By Friday, but there’s no rush. If I tell him I got it, he’ll be cool with it.”

There’s no rush, but that’s a lie, right? Because he would not be fake checking on me right now and acting like he cares if there was no rush.

I guess I could use the thousand I had set aside from my last paycheck for rent. But do I want to push my luck with my landlord, with rent being due? He obviously knows Gio since it’s the same building, but how far that relationship goes, I have no idea.

But not to have my dad’s death on my hands, I’m willing to take that risk.

“I can have it tomorrow.”

“Thank you, baby girl. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can. I promise,” Dad says, looking relieved.

I sigh into the bite of my sandwich. I’ve heard that one before. The money never comes.

“What time tomorrow can I grab it from you?”

I’ll have to swing by the bank on my way home from work.

“Around the same time you came over tonight. I have to work tomorrow.”

Dad lets out a laugh. “Right, of course. My working girl.”

I force a small smile, unable to speak because I’m genuinely at a loss for words.