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My heart rate picks up and I face him as well, placing both hands in his. “What is it? What happened?”
He smiles sadly, tugging on one of my braids. “Your mother had a provision in her will. Her lawyer got correspondence with any college you applied to and funds would be released when you got accepted. Baby, your college tuition has been paid for. Since before you even had college dreams.”
The wind whooshes out of me. What? Foryears, I’ve been handing over more than half of my paycheck. Foryearshe’s been telling me he’s out thousands of dollars a month because he’s had the burden of paying my college tuition.
I always thought it was odd that my mother didn’t have something lined up for me in her will. Even at my young age, she always told me she valued education, and I could be whatever I wanted to be. She had a degree in business administration, but she wanted to be a flight attendant. She loved to travel and the new experiences she had.
What I’m kicking myself about is that I should have known there were no loans. I didn’t even fill out the forms on my own. James told me he would take care of it and all I had to do was get my degree. It was one time in my life that I thought he was on my side. That he really cared about me. But it just appears he wanted my money. Damn, he really played the long game here. He counted on me graduating, since he knows how studious I am, so he could keep me financially dependent on him.
Why? Why would he want to keep me around? He hates me.
Looking up at Michael with wet eyes, I ask, “What do I do?”
“You have a lot of options, baby. I can take care of him if you want.”
“Take … care …” My eyes grow wide. “You mean kill him?”
Michael tilts his head to the side and gently pulls his hands from mine. “Does that bother you?”
Does it bother me that he wants to kill James because he’s been taking money from me? A little. Money is replaceable. I’m not sure I want James dead because of it. I want him in prison, not in the grave. “Umm … can you … not bring that up again? I just … can we call the police?”
I hold myself still when Michael slides over to me. I’m not afraid of him because I know he won’t hurt me. He loves me and has been nothing but gentle and good to me. I don’t worry about my safety. Despite how stupid it is, I don’t think I want James dead. He deserves to know that I know, and he deserves to be in prison for stealing from me.
Shaking his head, Michael says, “We can, but he probably won’t go to prison. He’s an attorney, Damon. He could find a legal loophole to say that you gave him that money because you wanted to. You didn’t move out, so he can say you were paying your share of the bills. There are a number of things he can say and reasons why.”
Grumbling, I lean back against the couch, crossing my arms over my chest. “What can I do? Should I even say anything?”
“You can come with me. I can take you away from that shit. All of it. You can leave them, and I can make it so they never find you. Quin is that good.”
“I need to wait for my passport.” We went to the passport office two days ago to fill out paperwork and get my picture taken. I expedited the process, so in seven to twelve weeks, I will have it.
“Damon, I can get it as soon as three weeks. It will be a legit passport, nothing illegal, but I can have Quin work his magic and have it in your hands in exactly twenty-one days. Then you can come with me. I’ll come get you in the middle of the night and spirit you away,” he says, making me giggle. “I can get you out of there. I’d rather you didn’t go back at all, but I can’t stop you, huh?” I shake my head. “I’ll do what I can to help you get ready to come with me.”
When I open my mouth, I think I’m going to say no, we can wait, but I close it and think about it. Three weeks. Three weeks to pretend that I’m okay with what’s going on and to ignore what they put me through as opposed to seven to twelve. Three weeks to make a plan with my casino winnings in case things in Canada go south. Three weeks to build up the strength to stop being afraid and take the leap. Less than a month compared to two to three.
Looking into his gray eyes, I see all his love shining back at me. I think about the conversations I’ve had with Abel and how he keeps saying he can’t wait until I visit. I think about him waving Pogo’s fat paw at me every night when we get off the phone. Three weeks is way better than seven.
Nodding, I say, “Yeah. I want that. Ask Quin. I can … pay. From the money we won.”
Michael scoffs. “You don’t pay for anything. Quin knows a guy and can get things done quickly. No more talk about spending that money on anything but yourself.”
With the back of my hand, I knock myself on the head. “Shoot. I need to deposit that money. James charged that cleaning service to my card and I might miss my car payment. I’ve never missed a car payment. Michael, this could ruin my credit.”
Pulling my hands in his, Michael squeezes. “I’ll take care of it.”
“No, I can do it.”
“Damon.” He doesn’t shout, but he puts some authority in his tone. I fight to suppress a shiver. “I said I’ll take care of it. Let me, please.” He pulls me on his lap and rubs his thumb over my cheek. “I’ve been waiting on you for years. I want to make your life as easy as possible. If it starts with me making sure your car payment clears, I’ll do that. And if it’s me buying you a brand-new car so youwon’thave a payment, I’ll do that instead. If I get you a driver so you don’t have to drive anywhere, I’ll do that. I have enough money for more lifetimes than I can count. I’ll take care of you how I see fit.”
God, I love this man. Not because of what he can do for me, but because he cares enough to want to do it. Who knew I could fall for a man I was afraid of just a few weeks ago? He’s the only one that wanted to take care of me in a long time.
I kiss him passionately, parting my lips so he can give me his tongue. “I don’t need all that,” I say when we separate. “All I need is you. But that car payment might help.”
Michael laughs, then rolls me onto my back. “I can give you everything you want, Damon. Just say the word.”
With a shuddering breath, I murmur, “The word.”
The kiss he gives me curls my toes and almost immediately, my cock grows hard. I wrap my legs around him and pull him down, feeling how hard he is for me. God, I want him again. We had sex for the first time two days ago and I’m a little sore, but I need to feel him inside me again. I can push through the pain.
