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Yeah.
I really screwed up.
21
Nastasia
My stomach ached with dread, and sometime during the argument, when Vik turned to me and spoke over the yelling, I don’t think I’d ever felt worse.
“You should go.”
My eyes slid from one person to another, and when my gaze landed on Yuri’s reddened face, I quickly came to realize this was not something Vik wanted me here for. Apparently, I’d done enough. So, with a contrite nod, I got my purse and walked out of the house just as the yelling recommenced.
I should have driven away.
Instead, I sat in my car and waited.
Unsure how long I remained in the dark, I regained focus when I saw him walking slowly toward me, his hands in his pockets, his eyes downcast, looking every bit a broken man. So, when he sat on my hood with his back to me, I took it as an invitation and slid out of my car to join him, taking the spot beside him.
Of all the things I was expecting him to say, none of them began with, “We’re broke.”
Bafflement sat heavy in my head, but I said nothing.
Vik’s stance widened. “I moved home to help out, but the debt just keeps growing. Sold my car to pay bills. Pawned all of my jewelry except for this.” He pulled his hand out of his pocket, and I saw the thick platinum ring I bought him for his thirtieth birthday reflecting light off of his middle finger.
It was engraved. The inscription said Forever and always.
I remained quiet, because he was finally opening up to me, and for as long as he felt chatty, I would allow him to speak unchallenged.
“Our investments are toast. They’re costing us more than they’re paying out. My mom is working from home. My dad has zero work experience, and the cops know who he is pretty damn well. Understandably, no one wants to hire him. Anika is falling apart, and I’m pretty sure Ksenia is up to something shady.” He blew out a breath. “My parents haven’t paid their property taxes for around nine years.” My head snapped to him, and he nodded, looking damn near defeated. “Oh yeah.”
My breathing got heavy, and I asked around the thickness in my throat, “How bad?”
It took him a while to answer.
He licked his full lips. “It’s bad, baby.” He lapsed into a short silence. “I’ve got ’til the end of next month to cough up ninety-six grand, and that’s just so we don’t lose the house.” My eyes closed in shock as he went on, “There was no money coming in, and my pops thought he could fix it. Took out one legit loan—and three others, not so legit. My account was cushioning, a mattress to fall back on in case I couldn’t get the cash any other way. I thought I might be able to swing it, but now I’m not so sure. So, on top of that almost hundred grand, I’ve been working my ass off to make sure no one comes around to break my father’s legs because he was foolish enough to borrow from some really bad people.” He pushed off the car and paced. “I’ve managed to talk to a couple, and they’re willing to give us some time because of who we were and what we did as Chaos, but I can’t hold ’em off forever.”
No. He couldn’t.
I knew how these things worked. My own brother was a loan shark. And if payment wasn’t met… well, payment would be taken in one way or another.
“How much?” I asked softly.
Vik laughed, taking a hand and brushing it over his mouth before he revealed the staggering amount. “Two hundred and ninety-three thousand dollars.”
Oh my God.
My mouth rounded in time with my eyes. I blinked, and Vik let out a rough, “Yeah.”
I thought to help, but apparently, all I managed to do was say the wrong thing at the wrong time.
“I could give you—” The moment I began to speak and Vik’s eyes sliced over to me, cold and furious, I stopped talking. So, I added carefully, “I have money. I can help.” Unfortunately, Vik was already shaking his head, and I stood, reaching out and taking hold of his arm with a desperate, “Let me help.”
He made a sound of pure irritation. “This. This is why I didn’t tell you, Nas. Fuck.” My face fell, and when he noticed, he rolled his eyes. “Jesus. You’re already looking at me different.”
“No, I’m not,” I swore, but I was. Not intentionally, of course. But this changed things.
Beaten. That was the one word that came to mind when he looked at me then.
“You are a woman who is used to a particular lifestyle.” My brow pulled down in offense, and he noticed. “Not because you’re pretentious, but because you were born into that life. And after your dad died, Sash made sure you continued to live that life. And I…” He paused and kicked away a pebble. “I can’t give you that.” His tone was flat, trodden on. And my heart broke. Even more when he said, “And, God, it wrecks me.”
