door, the smell of stale ciga

n, was sobbing on the worn-out sofa. Her brother, Sean, sat slu

grabbed Mia's arm, her nails digging into her f

The one in charge was a middle-aged man with a cheap suit, a predatory smile, and yell

ed, his eyes fixed on the fl

om her messy hair down to her scuffed shoes. It w

low gravelly rumble. "Due today. If I don't get it, yo

ndred t

room spin. It was an astronomical sum, a f

lly. "Mia, you work at that fancy preschool! You know r

sed, possibly drugged, and her job was the last thing on her mind

red hard at her brother. "You w

, refusing to

ound. "Don't bother with that now, lit

The stench of cheap cig

oily and suggestive, "there is another way to set

everything. A wave of nausea and terror washed over h

second, Mia saw the thought forming in her m

eading hope on his bruised face

ainful blow than any threat Sykes could make. They were willi

usiness card in her pocket was a sudden, sharp

eeded

out of her voice. She looked directly at Mr

she said, her voice surprisingly st

hrew his head back and laughed.

le sighs of relief, looking a

s gambling, just like her brother, but with a much higher stake.

full of crude pride, would love

wor

ce. "I like that." He patted Sean's cheek, a little too har

sive look at Mia, Sy

ut Mia knew the clock was tickin