Chapter 9 - The Debt
Marcus was dragged out of the house in zip-ties, screaming for mercy that he would never get.
The mansion was heavily secured, and a cleaning crew was dispatched to deal with the water and the marbles.
I was sitting in the kitchen, icing a bruised knee, when Adrian walked in.
He sat down at the table across from me.
He didn't look like a mob boss right now.
He looked exhausted.
"My sons told me what happened," Adrian said quietly.
"You risked your life to warn them instead of just running out the back door."
"I don't abandon kids," I replied, wincing as I adjusted the ice pack.
Adrian reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thick, white envelope.
He slid it across the kitchen table until it rested in front of me.
"I ran a background check on you after our argument this morning," Adrian admitted, showing no shame for invading my privacy.
"I found the hospital records."
"I found Maya's file."
I stared at the envelope, my breath catching in my throat.
"What is this?" I whispered.
"That is a cashier's check for three hundred thousand dollars," Adrian stated smoothly.
"It covers the surgery, the recovery, and private nurses for six months."
Tears instantly spilled over my eyelashes.
My hands shook violently as I touched the envelope, terrified it would disappear.
"I can't pay you back," I sobbed, the relief crushing my chest.
"I can't work off this kind of debt."
Adrian leaned forward, his dark eyes intense and entirely sincere.
"You don't owe me a single cent, Nia."
"You saved my sons."
"You fought for them when their own security team betrayed them."
"This is not a salary, and this is not a loan."
"This is a thank you from a father who doesn't know how else to show gratitude."
Before I could say anything else, the kitchen door swung open.
All four boys stood there in their pajamas.
"Are you leaving us?" Luke asked, his lower lip trembling dangerously.
"Because you got the money?" Evan added, trying to sound tough, but failing.
I looked at the check that would save my sister's life.
Then I looked at the four boys who had somehow saved mine.
I smiled, wiping my tears away.
May you like
"No," I said firmly.
"I'm not going anywhere."
