Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why do you think? I was turned over, Ava. I have nothing left.”
She looks at me, her eyes sad and full of concern. Which is exactly why I wanted her away from this mess. “How much?” she asks. Fuck. “Five thousand? Ten thousand?” Jesus fucking Christ. “Tell me.”
“Just a few,” Dan blurts.
He’s fucking hoping. She wants specifics. “Jesse?” she questions.
“I’m sorry, Dan,” I breathe, pushing my fingertips into my temples. He may not believe it, but I truly am. Not for him. Only for Ava. “I’m not lying to her. Two hundred, baby.”
Her head recoils, her body jerks, and she starts to wobble before my eyes. I’m out of my chair like a bullet. “Damn it, Ava,” I hiss, steadying her. “Are you okay? Are you dizzy?” She looks dizzy. “Do you want to sit down?”
“Two hundred thousand?” she gasps. “What sort of bank lends two hundred thousand?” Color rises in her face, and despite knowing it’s rage, I’m glad to see it. Color draining might mean passing out. “I’m fine,” she barks, her cheeks flaming red, her hands fighting me off.
“Don’t push me away, Ava,” I warn, guiding her to a chair and getting her arse on it. She might not look like she’s going to faint, but she’s not heard the whole tale yet. “Don’t be getting your knickers in a twist, lady,” I snap, throwing Dan a dark look. “It’s not healthy.”
“My blood pressure is fine. Two hundred thousand? No bank in their right mind would lend that sort of money for a surf school.”
“No, you’re right,” Dan’s mutters. “A loan shark would, though.”
“Oh my God.” She covers her face with her hands. “What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking, Ava.”
“Is that the only reason you came home?” she asks, a certain edge of hurt in her words. Her older brother, her hero, her friend. He’s let her down.
So it’s a damn good job I’m in her life. And Dan’s for that matter, or he’d be dead.
“They’re looking for me. You don’t get away with non-payment with these types.”
“You said you were doing well,” she says in disbelief. “Just stay here. Don’t go back.”
I knew she’d say that.
Dan’s face softens. It’s a new look on him, and only for his sister. “Ava, if I don’t go back, they will come here. I’ve already been warned, and I believe it. I’m not putting Mum, Dad or you at risk a—”
I cough on nothing. Is he for real? He’s already put them at risk, just by coming home. Dan looks at me, awkward. Yes, be ashamed. “These people are dangerous, Ava.”
I work my hand into Ava’s back, trying to loosen the tightness. It works, and she looks up at me. I fucking hate the despair and disappointment I see. “You can’t just deposit that kind of money into a bank account,” she says quietly, as if she doesn’t want her brother to hear her concern for me. “Isn’t it laundering? I don’t want you involved, Jesse.”
“Do you honestly think I’d do anything to put you and my babies at risk? I’m transferring enough money into Dan’s account to get him back to Australia.” And a little extra to keep him there. “I have the details of an offshore account where I’ll transfer the two hundred.” I’m not breaking this down for her. I’m not telling her I’m giving him more than he owes to keep him away from us. “They won’t know where the money has come from, baby. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”
“Really?” she asks, uncertain.
“Really. There are ways. Trust me.”
“Okay.” She accepts my kiss, relaxing for the first time since she stormed my office. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me.”
“Have you thanked my husband?” she asks Dan, hostile.
“Of course. I never asked, Ava.” How many times is he going to say that? Like it might save him from disgrace if he believes his family thinks he didn’t ask me to get him out of the shit. “Your husband’s been doing some digging.” And then he throws me under the bus?
“Has he?” Ava asks, looking at me. “Have you?”
“I know a man in the shit, Ava,” I say, insulted. If he fires one more bullet, I’m out. He can go it alone.
“Oh.” She looks knackered all of a sudden. I’m with her. “Can we go home?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve neglected you.” I glare at Dan as I get Ava up, making sure he knows I hold him responsible.
“I’m fine, just tired.” She goes to her brother and gives him a hug he doesn’t deserve. “When are you leaving?”
“Tonight. They’ll be on their way over if I’m not back by Thursday,” he says, rising from his chair. “So I guess this is goodbye for a while.”
“You weren’t going to tell me you were leaving?”
“I would have called you, kiddo.” Dan looks at me, his expression impassive. “I’m not your favorite man anymore.”