You looked over at the woman.
"Shes up boss."
Candace saw her leg was chained to the corner of the bed. You sat in the corner, eyes on her. Candace felt exposed. Your piercing black eyes seem to bore into her soul.
"Well, Candace Parker, welcome to your new home until your husband pays."
"Pay?"
"He owes our boss a lot of money. We hate to take you but it was either you or the girl and well, we don't like kids."
Candace realized he meant her daughter.
"No! Leave her alone!"
"We will."
"Hopefully your husband pays quickly. Anyway, Miss Anastasia will watch over you."
Candace looked at you and nodded. You sighed before standing.
"She's free to roam the house until further notice. No outside."
"Who the hell is outside?"
"Funny. Boss orders."
You nodded before walking over to her, unlocking the shackle.
"Guess I'll show you where everything is."
Candace followed you.
🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏
You watched as Candace cooked. She was a very quiet prisoner and you appreciate that.
"Ah...miss Anastasia?"
"Anastasia is fine."
"Do you know..."
"Your husband hasn't made contact. In fact, he isn't at the house."
"Where's my daughter?" She asked, worried.
"One of your teammates took her in."
Candace let out a breath.
"What does that mean for me?"
"Well, it goes two ways: we kill you or we let you go."
"Kill?"
"Rarely happens cause we usually get our money back. Your husband...you need a new one."
Candace nodded in agreement.
"I hear that."
You smiled, the first smile Candace ever saw from you. She felt her heart flutter.
🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏
Candace heard the roll and tried to make herself smaller. She hates thunderstorms.
Another roar of thunder made her jump. She got out of bed and walked to your bedroom. You were snoring softly.
"Anastasia?"
You didn't respond. She walked over and pulled the blanket up, laying down next to you. The A/C came on, cooling the room slightly.
Candace jumped as you hugged her, arms around her waist. You felt comforting and warm. She relaxed as she fell asleep.
🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏
You flipped the pancake and looked up as Candace entered the kitchen.
"How did you sleep?"
"Okay. I don't like thunderstorms."
"I love them. There's something peaceful about that chaos."
Candace shook her head as she sat down. You put the plate before her.
"We found your husband."
"Is he going to pay?"
