Read Online Inferno: Part 1 by Alyssa Winters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alyssa Winters
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we say. People were demanding money or threatening to report the site and have it shut down, so I dealt with that immediate problem but haven’t been able to settle up with the other guys I owe money to. So they sent this message.”
“Okay. So where is all of the money you made from other businesses? Can’t you pay them from that?” I already know there’s going to be some bullshit response that I don’t want to hear.
“My income is being watched. I put some money offshore, but transferring it to people I’m already known to do business with will just set off an alarm for the Feds. It hasn’t exactly gotten taxed yet. And everything I had here was put into a new business—moving goods into the country.”
It seems like forever that I stare at Nathan. He breathes through his mouth, and his face is truly starting to swell. I can’t say I’m surprised by the situation.
Not too long ago, his father kicked him out when Nathan lost over a million investing in a porn site. He came to me and I solved his problems, gave him a job. I can’t take credit for the girls—Nathan can get them wherever he goes. But the rest is on me.
I realize that I haven’t helped him. Not in the long run. We slapped a Band-Aid on a bullet wound and called it fixed, but Nathan is still a target. Every business venture he takes on makes him more vulnerable. But he can’t seem to stop. And he always gets bailed out somehow.
“Dammit!” I yell, punching the wall. “Do you remember what you promised, back when I gave you a job?”
Sam takes that as a sign to exit. That man’s instinct is usually dead on.
“I know, Bryce. And if I had any other choice, I wouldn’t be here, laying this at your feet. But I’m in over my head. This is just a message—I won’t survive the actual punishment if they don’t get their money.” He runs his hand through his hair and I can tell he hit a sore spot.
“How could you be so stupid? How much money do you need? You were raking in good money just from the fights—when will you have enough to be satisfied and stop taking on these schemes?”
He looks like a panicked rat.
If I don’t bail him out, he will have to find the money somehow or probably lose his life.
“I’m sorry,” his voice breaks. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I’ll take care of it.” I resent being brought in this situation, and my voice is low with anger. “But we clean it up, all of it at once, and then you’re done. This is the last time.”
He looks at me and a heavy breath escapes his chest.
“How much?” I ask.
He hangs his head, and mumbles, “Two million.”
“Fuck!” I shout.
I don’t know how to lose that much money with an online site. But Nathan has a knack for screw-ups, that’s what his father warned me of when he heard I had taken in his wayward son.
“And then it’s done, right?” I finally ask.
“Yes,” he meets my eyes, and his face is devoid of any pride or deceit. He is made naked by his circumstances, and I must shield him.
When we leave the bathroom, Sam is waiting with a glass of water and pain pills. Nathan swallows both without question.
“My car?” I ask, and Sam nods. “Nathan, the car is outside, it’ll take you wherever.”
We walk outside together, him clinging to my arm, and I have to pry him off of me like a scared child. My blood is boiling as I walk back into Inferno, and I don’t know whether my old friend fits into this new life I’m building. My success enables me to help others, but Nathan is a destructive force, and if left to his own devices, he could destroy what I’ve built and deprive many of their livelihood. Mila comes to my mind, and I won’t let her suffer because of Nathan. That fact is absolute.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Mila
Alexa picks me up, and it’s my first time in a Mini Cooper. “Your car is so cute,” I smile.
The drive is much better than it would be in a taxi. Although we
“Okay. So where is all of the money you made from other businesses? Can’t you pay them from that?” I already know there’s going to be some bullshit response that I don’t want to hear.
“My income is being watched. I put some money offshore, but transferring it to people I’m already known to do business with will just set off an alarm for the Feds. It hasn’t exactly gotten taxed yet. And everything I had here was put into a new business—moving goods into the country.”
It seems like forever that I stare at Nathan. He breathes through his mouth, and his face is truly starting to swell. I can’t say I’m surprised by the situation.
Not too long ago, his father kicked him out when Nathan lost over a million investing in a porn site. He came to me and I solved his problems, gave him a job. I can’t take credit for the girls—Nathan can get them wherever he goes. But the rest is on me.
I realize that I haven’t helped him. Not in the long run. We slapped a Band-Aid on a bullet wound and called it fixed, but Nathan is still a target. Every business venture he takes on makes him more vulnerable. But he can’t seem to stop. And he always gets bailed out somehow.
“Dammit!” I yell, punching the wall. “Do you remember what you promised, back when I gave you a job?”
Sam takes that as a sign to exit. That man’s instinct is usually dead on.
“I know, Bryce. And if I had any other choice, I wouldn’t be here, laying this at your feet. But I’m in over my head. This is just a message—I won’t survive the actual punishment if they don’t get their money.” He runs his hand through his hair and I can tell he hit a sore spot.
“How could you be so stupid? How much money do you need? You were raking in good money just from the fights—when will you have enough to be satisfied and stop taking on these schemes?”
He looks like a panicked rat.
If I don’t bail him out, he will have to find the money somehow or probably lose his life.
“I’m sorry,” his voice breaks. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I’ll take care of it.” I resent being brought in this situation, and my voice is low with anger. “But we clean it up, all of it at once, and then you’re done. This is the last time.”
He looks at me and a heavy breath escapes his chest.
“How much?” I ask.
He hangs his head, and mumbles, “Two million.”
“Fuck!” I shout.
I don’t know how to lose that much money with an online site. But Nathan has a knack for screw-ups, that’s what his father warned me of when he heard I had taken in his wayward son.
“And then it’s done, right?” I finally ask.
“Yes,” he meets my eyes, and his face is devoid of any pride or deceit. He is made naked by his circumstances, and I must shield him.
When we leave the bathroom, Sam is waiting with a glass of water and pain pills. Nathan swallows both without question.
“My car?” I ask, and Sam nods. “Nathan, the car is outside, it’ll take you wherever.”
We walk outside together, him clinging to my arm, and I have to pry him off of me like a scared child. My blood is boiling as I walk back into Inferno, and I don’t know whether my old friend fits into this new life I’m building. My success enables me to help others, but Nathan is a destructive force, and if left to his own devices, he could destroy what I’ve built and deprive many of their livelihood. Mila comes to my mind, and I won’t let her suffer because of Nathan. That fact is absolute.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Mila
Alexa picks me up, and it’s my first time in a Mini Cooper. “Your car is so cute,” I smile.
The drive is much better than it would be in a taxi. Although we
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