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Chapter Twenty-four
Helen
Ifollowed Zadie into our suite,my mind a whir of what I needed to grab on my way to work. It was nearing seven. I really needed to be on my bus as soon as I could bust out of here.
I didn’t notice Zadie had stopped moving until I ran into her back. She whimpered and reached behind her to grab my hand. That was when I saw him. My heart stopped beating.
“Hello, Helen.”
Amir had made himself at home in our living room, sitting comfortably in the armchair, his gun on his lap. His dark eyes were predatory, the mirth from the upturn of his mouth not coming close to reaching his gaze.
I got in front of Zadie, blocking her as much as I could from Amir’s attention. “I know I’m late but—”
He waved me off. “I don’t need reasons. You can give those to Reno and see if he’s feeling forgiving. I’m just here to collect.”
A storm lurched the insides of my belly. Swallowing back nausea, I squared my shoulders. “I had it. Someone went into my room and took my money when I was sleeping. I just need tonight to earn it—”
He sat forward, elbows on his knees. “Helen, Helen, Helen, come on. I do not care in the slightest. I don’t want to be here, playing my brother’s errand boy. Give me the cash, and I’ll be on my way.”
“I don’t have it.” I folded my arms over my chest to hide the shaking.
He arched a brow. “You don’t have the cash you owe my brother and you’re giving me attitude?”
“I’m not giving you attitude.” I couldn’t help the rise of my chin.
Amir chuckled darkly. “Baby girl, give me something to work with. I really don’t want to do what I’ll have to do if you don’t pay.” Amusement fell away, leaving the black hole that occupied Amir’s insides. “But I will.”
I swallowed hard. “I need a couple hours. I’m dancing tonight. I’ll make what I owe Reno by the end of the night and bring it straight to you or him...whatever you want me to do.”
It physically hurt me to kowtow to this man, but I was smart enough to know I had no choice. I would kiss ass for Luciana. I’d do anything to protect her sweet.
“Hmmm…” He sat back, rubbing his fingertip along the barrel of his gun. “How do I trust you’ll do what you say?”
“I don't have a choice,” I rasped.
“That’s right, you don’t.” He stretched to peer around me. “If I let you leave this room, I’ll need collateral.”
I held my hands out to show him how empty they were. “I don’t have anything. If I did, I would have given it to Reno.”
He stared at me hard, then let his eyes travel to Zadie. “You’ll come back for her.”
My spine went ramrod straight. “No.”
“Yes. Leave your friend here. I’ll trust you to come back for her.” He grazed his palm over his crotch. “You’llwantto come back for her as soon as possible.”
“No. I can’t—”
Zadie ducked around me to stand beside me. “It’s okay, Helen. I’ll be fine.”
Amir’s eyes flared at the sound of Z’s sweet voice. The interest I read in him made me want to scream. I’d done this to her. I’d pulled her into my filthy, low-life world, and now here we were, down in the dregs together.
“Yeah, Helen, she’ll be fine.” He nodded to the couch. “Come over here, little mama. Have a seat.”
Zadie moved automatically. If Amir had touched her, I might have lost my mind, but he only watched. He also shoved his gun in the back of his pants. It barely loosened the noose around my throat by a millimeter, but at least I could breathe a little.
“If you hurt her—”
“You’ll what? Brain me with your bat?” Amir canted his head, like he was truly interested in my answer.
