The Devil Inside by Mia Amano Read Free Book Online Page B

shaved head and small, mean eyes that dart around like he's restless. "The agreement was one month. We've been plenty generous. And what do you do? Go and get into more fucking debt." Johnny's voice is soft and laced with the promise of violence. My dad looks pale, his eyes sunken. He seems small and weak, a tired echo of the man I remember.  
    "We are not a fucking pension scheme, Gavin. I hate the term loan shark, but that is what we are. Loan, meaning that is not your money. Shark, meaning, if you don't pay what I ask, we will fucking eat you alive."
    Johnny reaches for the gun laid on the table. He plays with it, making a show of taking the safety off and cocking it. "Now, I'm a reasonable man, Gavin." He smirks. "And I know there's more than one way to pay back what's owed. You have a beautiful daughter there. What's she now; fifteen, sixteen? I'm sure we could find work for her. She'll help you pay off the debt in no time."
    "Leave my family out of this." My father raises his head and summons the last bit of his anger. His voice cracks. "I'll do whatever you want, but you leave them alone."
    "Should have thought about all that before you went to Vegas, Gavin." As Johnny speaks, his partner stands and moves behind Gavin. He wears a cruel smile.  
    "So what's it going to be, Gavin? Let your daughter come and work for us, or should we make an example of you?" He pulls a mean looking switchblade from his pocket. "She's upstairs, isn't she? I don't think she'd enjoy hearing you scream."
    I don't wait to hear what dad's going to say next. I step into the kitchen. This has gotten out of hand, and there's no way I'm letting these assholes near my baby sister.  
    "I can get you the rest of the money," I blurt. The two intruders look in my direction.  
    "Who the fuck are you?" Johnny eyes me with obvious interest. I'm getting sick and tired of that sleazy look.  
    "I'm his daughter." I can barely bring myself to look in dad's direction. I'm not doing this for him; I'm doing this for mom and Mina.  
    Johnny's laugh has a ring of disbelief. "Gavin, how does a dipshit like you end up with two beautiful girls like this? You sure you're the father? Though this one looks like she's a scrapper." I know my black eye looks hideous. There wasn't time to put on foundation before I left the house.
    "Adele, what are you doing here?" Gavin's shoulders are slumped. All life has been sapped from him. Dark circles ring baleful eyes that are the exact same shade of brown as my own. There's no question I'm his daughter. "This is none of your business."
    "Of course it's my business," I snap. "I told you I didn't want anything happening to mom or Mina. You were supposed to give them the advance and ask for more time. What happened to that money?"
    Gavin looks down. He doesn't say a word.
    His reaction tells me all I need to know.
    Johnny walks over with slow steps until he's standing beside me. "Everyone knows you don't give money to a guy with a gambling problem," he says, his voice soft. "Especially one who's desperate." He turns to my dad, who won't make eye contact with me. "Now why did you go and spend your daughter's hard earned cash, Gavin? Thought you could win big and make all this go away?"
    I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I should have known better. Disappointment twists my insides. "He didn't give you that money."
    "No." Johnny's so close I can smell stale garlic on his breath. He bends over to whisper in my ear. "You know we'll have to make an example of him if the money isn't paid back. Maybe you could avoid that by working for us, instead of your sister."
    I shudder. I think I know what that "work" means. They'll put me in a porno or in one of their brothels and figure out a way to keep me there. There's no way I'm letting these guys make money off my body.
    I'm trying my best to keep my face blank, but my mind's racing. Where can I get twenty grand in a hurry?  
    I've got nothing valuable to sell, I can't get a loan with