Chapter 9: Did I say you could leave?

"Screw your sister!" He had barely spat the words out when Tanner's boot slammed into his chest and sat him down hard on the floor. Maxton Showyer blinked, stunned. He'd brought his brother-in-law here to back him up-so why the hell was he the one getting kicked? Tanner didn't dare cross Shane Yale. He gathered his men, ready to pull out. They had taken only two steps when a cool voice sounded behind them. "Stop. Did I say you could leave?" "This…" Tanner hesitated, then froze. He couldn't afford to offend Shane-Omar Zorn stood behind this man. He turned, forcing a smile uglier than a sob. "M-Mr. Yale, I swear I didn't know it was you." "Since you're already here," Shane said evenly, "shouldn't you give me an explanation for today?" Seeing there was no dodging it, Tanner braced himself. "Tell me what you want." Shane pointed at Maxton. "You heard him. He wanted one of my legs." "I understand." Tanner clenched his jaw, snatched a baseball bat from a nearby punk, and strode over. Seeing the murderous look in his eye, Maxton panicked. "Brother-in-law, what are you doing? I'm your wife's big brother…" Tanner had already steeled himself. He had almost lost his life earlier. At that point, big brother-in-law or blood brother-it made no difference. He raised the bat and brought it down. Crack! Maxton's left leg snapped in two. He clutched the shattered limb and screamed like a stuck pig. Tanner didn't spare him a look. He turned back. "Mr. Yale, is that enough?" Shane waved him off. "Drag him out of here. I don't want to see you again." The words were barely out when Tanner barked orders. His men hauled Maxton into a van like a dead dog. In the blink of an eye, the lot of them were gone. Once they were out of sight, Mia Looske finally let out a long breath. She and Shane threw a few things together, ready to leave. Just then, an electric scooter rolled up. A woman around forty hopped off-Rhea Looske, Mia's second sister. There were four siblings in the Looske family, the two eldest were daughters, and below them were two younger brothers. Seeing her sister, Mia stood to greet her. "Rhea, you're here." "Big Sis, did the lease expire and they kicked you out?" Rhea took in the shabby rental, eyes reddening. She pulled out a stack of cash and held it out. "I know you've been short on money. I don't have much either. I got an advance of a thousand dollars on my pay. Take it, just in case." Mia pushed the money back, shaking her head. "No, you've got it wrong, Rhea. We're moving…" "Come on, don't stand on ceremony with me. Cassandra's still in the hospital. You'll need money for everything." Rhea was kind by nature and closest with her eldest sister, though her own life wasn't easy. She had brought a thousand when Cassandra Yale was hospitalized before, and today she had advanced another thousand to bring over. "Rhea, Cassandra has recovered and been discharged. We really don't need more money." Mia pushed the cash back again and turned to Shane. "Give your second aunt the thousand we borrowed last time." Rhea's eyes widened, joy breaking through. "Really? Cassandra's better?" "Of course," Shane said. "Our family's fine now." He reached behind him and grabbed the canvas bag. He had planned to deposit it after they checked out of the place, but this worked even better. Rhea unzipped the bag and froze at the sight of cash stuffed to the brim. She had come to bring money-she never imagined her sister's family would suddenly have this much. "Um… Shane, I'll just take a thousand." "Take it all." Shane shoved the canvas bag into her arms. She had only lent them two thousand altogether, but that had been her entire savings. You saw who truly cared when things got hard-no repayment would be too much. "No, no. I'm only taking the two thousand…" Rhea wasn't greedy. She only wanted what she had loaned. Mia and Shane insisted. In the push and pull, the bag slipped, and bundles of cash slid out, pattering across the floor. All three dropped to gather the bills. A shiny new Passat pulled up beside them. The door swung open and a middle-aged man in a loud floral shirt stepped out, eyes glued to the money. "Quite a haul. Splitting the loot, are we?" Mia looked up. "Hai? What are you doing here?" It was her brother, Thatcher Looske. The siblings had grown distant, years without contact. She hadn't expected him to show up today. "If I didn't come," Thatcher sneered, "how else would I catch you divvying up the goods?" "I said back then you'd taken plenty of treasures from Mom. You denied it, and Second Sis even covered for you. Now I've caught you red-handed. What do you have to say?" "Stop talking nonsense!" Rhea shot him a hard glare. "Cassandra was in the hospital. I lent them two thousand. Big Sis is paying me back!" "Tsk, tsk. Borrow two grand and pay back twenty? Real generous." Thatcher curled his lip. "Do I look like an idiot to you? You think I'll buy that?" Rhea's disgust showed plain. "Believe it or don't. You're not welcome here. Get out." "Fine. I won't argue about whether it's stolen. I'm here to collect a debt." He fished an IOU from his pocket. "You owe me. Time to pay up." "You even have the gall to ask for that?" Rhea shot to her feet, livid. "You took all of Mom's inheritance and didn't support her. She could barely get a meal at your place. Big Sis did her duty-took Mom in, cared for her till the end. When there wasn't enough for the burial, she borrowed a thousand from you. Making her write an IOU then was already disgusting. And now you actually came to collect? Don't you have any shame?" "Filial, my ass. She puts on the saint act because she knew Mom had valuables. It's all for money. Otherwise where did all this cash come from?" Thatcher's face twisted with scorn. "Enough crap. Debts are debts. Pay what you owe." "Bullshit…" Rhea snapped. "Enough. Do you two have to make a scene?" Mia cut them off, then looked at Thatcher, disappointment weighing down her voice. He had been unfilial to their mother and unkind to his sisters. He hadn't changed at all. "It's only a thousand, isn't it? Fine. Take it." She grabbed a bundle of cash and threw it over. Thatcher weighed the money, a cold smile on his lips. "What, you think I'm a beggar?" "The IOU says a thousand," Mia said, face set. "How much do you want?" "The IOU is a thousand, sure," Thatcher drawled. "But it's been years. Second Sis lent you two grand for a month and you paid her twenty. For my thousand, you should at least give me two hundred."