The Desperate Binds series continues with

––––––––

His Dark Hunger

––––––––

Try this tempting teaser...

––––––––

Kyle

Years before Amy

––––––––

A SPEN WAY LOOKED EXACTLY how Kyle had envisioned it in his head. A slice of suburban heaven filled with large semi-detached houses with separate garages and white picket fenced gardens. Peering out of the window, he took in the picture of middle-class solace. The residents there were likely on lower-middle and middle incomes. They’d chosen the area because of the nearby decent schools and local parks.

He was sure they could stretch to the small rent-increase he was there to implement, but he’d do his best to sell it to them in the only way he knew how—with a warm smile and a firm handshake. They’d be reasonable people who sought the security of another twelve-month tenancy while they considered buying. He’d feign sympathy while he listened to their predictable woes, and then they’d sign the new contracts.

Unless they wanted to move, they’d have no other option. He owned ten of the twelve properties in the cul-de-sac now, so he set the price of the rent.

“This is fine, thanks.” He gestured to the driver, Stevens.

The guy was young, but so far, he seemed reliable. He’d upgrade the car Stevens drove just as soon as he finalized the rent increases.

“You have around an hour before I’ll need picking up.” It might take longer, but Stevens could wait. “I’ll call you if I need anything else.”

“Very good, sir.” Stevens brought the car to a halt outside the first house. “See you then.”

Climbing out of the car, Kyle’s gaze ran along the row of conventional houses. He didn’t have to waste an hour of his life explaining his reasoning for the increases. He could have just sent a letter to each tenant detailing the new terms, but Kyle preferred a more personal touch. That was just the kind of guy he was. He’d rather look people in the faces when he had something to tell them, size then up and see who they really were.

There was no trepidation in him as he unfastened the first gate and strode toward the front door. This was going to be a breeze.

***

R AISING HIS FIST TO the green door, Kyle knocked three times. He sensed the weight of other resident’s stares behind him and bit back on his smile. This property housed the penultimate resident he needed to speak with, and everyone else, who was pretending to not be looking, knew precisely what he was there to say. No doubt they were nosily wondering how the exchange would go.

So far, things had been relatively straight-forward. No one had been exactly ecstatic at his proposal, but it seemed no one wanted to move enough to take the other choice and refuse to sign the contracts. Eight residents had scrawled their names on the line with little fuss. Whoever answered the green door would be number nine.

“Yes?” The weary-looking man cast a glance over Kyle. “Can I help you?”

Putting down the briefcase harboring the signed contracts, Kyle thrust his hand in the men’s direction. “Good morning. I’m Mr. Kyle. Your new landlord.”

“Oh.” The resident’s expression morphed from something akin to disdain to concern. “Hello.”

“Mind if I come in?” Kyle gestured behind him. “I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.” The man gripped the door frame. “You’ll have to excuse the mess. My wife’s a work and I only just got off shift.”

“No problem.” Kyle wasn’t there to judge them. He only wanted their name signed on the dotted line. “This shouldn’t take long.”

“Fine.” He withdrew, allowing Kyle to collect his case and pass, though his body language conveyed how little he wanted the interaction.

If he’d just concluded a nightshift, Kyle could understand his reticence, though. The guy probably just needed sleep. Hopefully, that urge would accelerate his acquiescence in the conversation.

“Go left into the lounge.” The exhausted-looking guy motioned to the room he meant as he closed the door. “What’s this about?”

Kyle entered the cozy space, briefly noting the array of family photographs. “Did you receive my letter, Mr...?”

He had a list of each tenant’s name inside his briefcase, but previous residents had introduced themselves before he’d needed to refer to it.

“Kendal.” The man’s jaw clenched as he wandered into the lounge and perched on the end of the sofa.

“Mr. Kendal.” Kyle offered his well-practiced smile as he placed his case on the other end of the couch and opened the lid. “I sent a letter ahead of today’s visit, but wanted to follow up personally. I also have a revised tenancy contract for you to look over.”

Taking the appropriate wad of papers, he pushed it toward Kendal.

“Thanks.” Kendal snatched the paperwork from him without so much as glancing at the front page. “So long as it doesn’t include an increase in the rent. We’re struggling to pay as it is.”

“Ah.” Kyle’s lips twitched. Here was the first real resistance to his plan. “It does in fact include an increase, I’m afraid.”

He wasn’t ‘afraid’ at all, but he sensed empathy was what was required where Kendal was concerned.

“What?” Kendal stared despairingly at the revised contract. “By how much? I’m not joking Mr. Kyle. My wife and I are working full-time, but we don’t have any spare money for rent increases.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Glancing around the room, he might actually have meant it.

Kendal was clearly a family man, and based on the faces of the boys in the array of pictures scattered around the room, his kids were still relatively young. Kyle was a business-man, but he wasn’t an ogre. He didn’t love the idea of making a family homeless, or the dent it might make in his thriving reputation.

That’s when the idea came to him. Perhaps Kendal could repay him in other , non-financial ways.

“I’m not here to cause unwarranted disruption to the people you love.” Tugging down his lapels, he sat down on the well-worn couch. “Maybe you can repay the deficit in other ways.”

“What ways?” Kendall eyed him with understandable suspicion.

“Well, what are you good at, Mr. Kendal?”

“I’m an accountant.” Kendal’s brows knitted as though he’d admitted a sin. “Nothing fancy.”

“Accountants work with numbers.” Kyle’s lips stretched wider as the plan formed in his mind. “And numbers are important to me.”

Kendal’s brow rose. “You want me to run your numbers?”

“Perhaps.” Kyle could use a loyal person to manipulate his tax affairs. To date, he’d only been able to afford mediocre professionals to handle his tax affairs, so, if he could find inventive ways to manage that problem, it was possible Kendal could prove to be an asset.

“But, like I said, Mr. Kyle.” Kendal blew out a breath as he placed the paperwork on the seat between them. “I already work full-time.”

“You have some evenings, I assume.” He met Kendal’s worried gaze. “And weekends?”

“Y-yes.” Kendal sounded hesitant. “But that’s family time.”

“You’d be keeping a roof over your family’s heads.” Kyle reminded him. “A lovely one too.” He motioned around the room. “You’ve lived here for a long time, I think?”

“Around eight years.” Kendal nodded.

“You’ve made a home here.” It wasn’t the type of home Kyle aspired for, but still, it had a sense of relaxation and security about it. He was damn sure Kendal would rather stick than twist.

“Yes.” Kendal sighed. “ How much additional work would you need from me?”

“We can negotiate that.” Kyle had a good feeling about his hunch. Kendal would prove to be useful. “Do we have a deal, Mr. Kendal?”

“I guess so.” Kendal shrugged, clearly out of adequate choices.

“Fabulous.” Kyle reached inside his jacket pocket and handed Kendal his favorite fountain pen. “If you could sign on page seven please.”

He watched as, frowning, Kendal flicked through the pages and did just that, a sense of satisfaction rising in him. If he couldn’t acquire more money from his new property portfolio, then he’d ensure he got the benefit of Kendal’s time and skillset instead and now Kendal had signed the contract, there was no way he could back out.

“Please. Write your number on the top of the copy,” Kyle prompted. That way I can get in touch with you about my numbers.”

“Right.” Fatigue resonated from Kendal’s voice as he scribbled the digits on the first page.

“Thank you.” Kyle gestured for Kendal to hand back the papers and pen as, closing his case, he rose to his feet. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”