Chapter 2

My extensive list of projects for work mocks me as I slowly make my way through them. Working in tech makes it possible for me to work from home half my days, which means I get to “clock in” wearing yoga pants and an oversized hoodie without trouble. I think that’s my favorite part of my job, the freedom. I get unlimited paid vacation, health benefits, and as long as I do my work and go in for meetings, they give me no trouble. I could email them right now, explain that I need a mental health vacation, and it would be approved as long as there were no pressing matters. It makes me so comfortable that the option is there that I don’t feel the need to in the first place. It’s the kind of healthy work environment most people dream of and I’m so happy I found it when I did.

I’m marking off the last item on my list when a brisk knock on the door nearly makes me fall out of my office chair. Immediate anxiety fills me. If it’s Josh again, I’m definitely calling the cops. I’ve never known him to be this persistent, but I hadn’t really known him I suppose. I certainly hadn’t known he’d cheat on me and steal all my money, so why would I expect to know how he’d act in this weird situation.

When the knock comes again, I stand and smooth down my mess of hair. I haven’t brushed it yet. No one was going to see me, so I’d left it until later. I’m not dressed for company at all, but maybe it won’t matter if I don’t have to open the door.

My pulse jumps when the knock comes yet again, a little more agitated. Whoever is on the other side, they’re tired of waiting. I prepare myself to see Josh when I look through the peephole, but I’m relieved to realize quickly it’s not him. Instead, I see two men in suits, both of them shifting in annoyance. They’re both impeccably dressed, the suits clearly tailored for their frames and more expensive than any suit off a rack. Confused, I slip my pocketknife from my side table and clench it in my hand before I crack open the door. I leave the deadbolt chain in place so I can only open it about four inches, but it’s enough to get a good look at the guys.

“Can I help you?” I ask, looking between them, trying to figure out who they are.

“You Kate?” the one on the right asks. His eyes are hidden behind sunglasses despite the overcast sky, but the left one has his eyes uncovered. That one doesn’t say a word, but he looks at me with icy eyes in a way that makes my skin crawl. The urge to slam the door in their face is strong.

“Who’s asking?” I ask, narrowing my eyes on them. I have no idea who they are. Are they here to serve me with court papers? If they are, they won’t get any information out of me. I know how this goes thanks to tv shows. What if they’re bill collectors here to collect on the medical debt from a trip to the ER that did nothing for me five years ago? Admit nothing. Reveal nothing. They won’t catch me fessing up to no bills. But why would the agency send men like these? The tattoos peering over the edge of their suits don’t really make them look like the kind of people that come to collect medical bills.

They look at each other before the right one focuses back on me. “You could say we’re friends of your boyfriend.”

“I have no boyfriend. You have the wrong apartment,” I say, prepared to close the door.

“Your boyfriend, Josh?” he interrupts before I can close it. “Josh Holiday.”

I freeze. “Ex,” I correct. “He hasn’t been my boyfriend in over a year.”

The left one tilts his head. “He says otherwise,” he finally says, as if he had to weigh his words before he spoke them. His voice is deeper than his buddy’s, more gravelly.

“Well, he can fuck right off right along with whatever business you have with him,” I tell them and then I try to close the door, done with the conversation. Josh’s business isn’t my business and I’m not going to get wrapped up in it. I go to push the door shut. . .

Only to find a boot in the doorjamb.

Baring my teeth at the idiot with his foot in my door, I say, “I suggest you move your foot.”

“Or what?” Leftie asks menacingly.

“I’m calling the cops,” I warn, my fingers tight on the pocketknife as I flip it open, preparing for violence just in case. Always gotta be prepared.

The man grins, as if the thought of trouble excites him. “Our business isn’t with Josh, per se. Our business is with you, Kate Marie Meadows.”

Fuck. Fuck! How do they know my name? What the fuck is this?

“I have no business with you. Especially, if it has to do with Josh,” I reiterate. My phone is in my back pocket, but I’d have to put the pocket knife down to reach for it and I don’t want to do that.

Righty leans closer and I flinch back, letting the door open another inch.

“See, Josh owes us a lot of money,” Righty announces. “And we don’t like when we’re owed money.”

My heart stops. “And who is us?” I ask, already knowing this is going to be bad. I can feel it, like last night’s enchiladas gurgling in my stomach.

He raises his brow. “Let’s just say the devil himself rides on black wings.”

The blood drains from my face. Fuck! I’m in real trouble if this is who I think they are. There’s only one group of people that line could apply to here in the city. The Crows are a local gang turned mafia due to some suave motherfucker being great at marketing and exploitation. They’ve climbed in status quickly, about five years, and now there aren’t many places free of their influence. They have people in the government in their pockets, not to mention the cops, so there isn’t much you can do to get away from them if they set their sights on you. I’ve been good at avoiding any place rumored to associate with them, and now because of Josh, they’re at my fucking door! If Josh is tangled up with them, he’s in some real shit.

But that’s still not my business.

“Look, I’ve told you. Josh and I aren’t together. He lied to you. He’s not my boyfriend and he never will be again. I don’t know what kind of shit he’s got tangled up in with you, but it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

Lefty laughs. “On the contrary, Katie girl, it has everything to do with you.”

Righty looks annoyed by the other one but he doesn’t react except to glance over at him briefly in annoyance before returning his attention back to me. “Josh says you can pay off his debts and the big boss is eager for those debts to be paid off. He won’t be happy to hear you won’t pay it and he expects payment in either cash. . . or flesh.”

I flinch and tighten my hand around the knife in my palm in case they plan on bursting in here. I should just tell them to take their pound of flesh out of Josh, but curiosity makes me ask. “How much?” I croak. “How much does that asshole owe you?”

Lefty grins. “A quarter mil.”

My eyes bug. “You let him rack up a quarter million dollars of debt with you? Jesus Christ! How the fuck would I have that? How the fuck would anyone have that?”

Righty shrugs. “Don’t care. That part isn’t our business. Our business is that you pay off the debt within a week.”

“A week?” I squeak, my good morals going out the window. I’m not throwing away my life for a deadbeat asshole who already stole from me. “Look, I don’t have anything to do with Josh. Just kill the fucker and be done with it.”

“That idiot showed the big boss a picture of you,” Lefty says. “Looking all sweet and pretty, that blue streak in your hair tempting and all. Big Boss has decided he wants his money, or he wants you. Your choice.”

My stomach plummets at his words.

Righty nods. “We’ll be back in a week, Kate. See you then.”

Lefty blows me a kiss before they both turn and head back down the staircase, leaving me to stare after them in horror.

A quarter million dollars.

The devil himself rides on black wings.

Holy fuck! I’m in trouble trouble!