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My jaw drops in shock as I take the paper from his greasy hand. I read the page and then look up at him, shaking my head.
“I thought we had a deal. You said I could pay when I can. I have a massive order I’m shipping today. It will cover last month’s rent.”
“Yeah, about that,” Joe says, shoving a hand through his hair. “Sorry, sweetheart. No more rent layaway program. The owner wants you out.”
“But I’m paying what I can,” I whisper, hoping my guests can’t hear our conversation. “Please, Joe. Christmas is next week. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
He raises his arms in the air. “My hands are tied.”
“What happened to doing this on the down-low? You said you would mark me as paid.”
He shakes his head. “Not anymore. I got in a lot of trouble for letting you and other tenants slide because of the holidays.”
I fold the three-day notice and stuff it into my apron pocket. “There has to be some way.”
He leans against the door frame, invading my senses. The scent of stale cigarettes and motor oil hit me in the face. “Not unless you want to work for it the old fashioned way.”
My nose scrunches in disgust. “No, thank you.”
He rolls his shoulders. “You can stay with me until you get things situated.”
“Absolutely not,” I spit back.
“Then, you better get packing.”
Footsteps pound the floor behind me. Before I can turn around to stop him, Ollie slams the door into the wall and moves past me.
He shoves his palm into Joe’s chest, pushing him backward into the hallway. “Who the fuck do you think you are talking to my sister like that?”
I yank on his arm. “Ollie, please. I don’t want you to get involved.”
“This asshole just propositioned you.” He peels my fingers off his arm and advances on Joe. “Didn’t you, you piece of shit?”
“Fuck you. If your sister paid her rent, I wouldn’t even be here.” He sneers at Ollie. “You make millions of dollars and you let your sister live in a shit hole like this place?”
Another set of footsteps hit the tile behind me. River lifts me into his arms from behind, then sets me down on the floor behind him. He’s in Joe’s face, reaching for his shirt collar that pokes out from the coveralls.
“Don’t you ever disrespect Emma,” River growls.
“Do it,” Joe taunts. “Hit me. I know you want to, hotshot. It will be the biggest payday I’ll ever get.”
I reach for River’s belt and pull him back, but his grip on Joe is strong. His anger seethes through him, shaking my hand.
“River, please.”
His grip loosens at the sound of his name.
“River,” I plead. “He’s not worth it.”
Ollie’s eyes dart to me, then back to Joe. He seems torn between killing my landlord and walking away like he knows he should. Both of them are too famous to get involved. One hit and they would be in a world of trouble with the Flyers. I can’t let them jeopardize their careers over me.
“Ollie, get in my apartment,” I order in a firm tone. Then I tug on River’s belt again, feeling his death grip loosen even more. “Both of you. Now.”
River glances over his shoulder at me, and then he drops his hands from Joe’s collar. With Ollie inside, I release my hold on River. He takes a few steps backward, leaving enough room to slam the door in Joe’s smug face.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was this bad?” Ollie says from behind me.
I’m afraid to turn around and face him. Having River here to witness my shame makes this so much worse. River is inches from me, shirtless, and staring at me with sad eyes. I hate the pitiful look he’s giving me instead of his usual flirtatious stares.
“Don’t pity me,” I tell him. “I made this mess. I’m dealing with it.”
I look at my twin, who gives me an even more concerned look. “You should have told me, Ems.”
I shake my head. “No, I’ve already taken too much money from you. I lost the money Mom and Dad left us.”
Tears sting my eyes, and even though I want to let them flow, I do my best to push down my feelings. I’ve cried enough in the past year. Ollie had to stay with me for three weeks straight after I lost the restaurant. After Brian left me for another woman and a massive pile of debt. It will take me the next twenty years to pay off the bills. Maybe even more at the rate I’m going.
Ollie wraps his strong arms around me, and I rest my head on his chest. I curl into him, needing this hug more than I realized.
“It’s okay,” he says, running his fingers through my hair. “I don’t care about the money. All that matters is you’re okay.”
