Deeper [The Underground 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) Read Free Page A

take care of her. She climbed out of the car and walked around to the passenger-side door and opened it. The handle between her fingers felt icy, and although fall was in full swing around her, she knew the coldness had nothing to do with the metal or the weather. Her life was cold and distant, and she knew the frigidness was coming from within her soul. Angry at herself and everything around her, she tore the door open and stared at her father.
    “Dad, wake up. Now.” There was not even a movement to indicate he heard her. “ Dad !” No doubt the neighbors had heard her, but at the moment she didn’t give a shit. A headache was starting to form behind her eyes and she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was go home, climb under her sheets, and dream of a life that didn’t suck so much ass.
    Her father mumbled something and turned his face toward her. He peeled his eyelids back, blinked a few times, and smiled. “Hey, baby girl.” The slurred words were far too familiar to her.
    “Come on, Dad.” Getting him out of the car was tricky, but by this point in her life she was a pro at it. When she finally got him in the house and into his bed she breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe she wouldn’t go straight to bed when she got home. Maybe she would take a scalding-hot bath, light a few candles, and imagine a world where everyone wasn’t against her.
     
    * * * *
     
    Three thousand ninety-six dollars and fifty-two cents. That was the amount Stella had scrounged up from her checking and saving accounts, and the little bit of money her father had saved, thanks to her. It didn’t even make a dent in the amount she owed and she felt herself falling deeper and deeper into the pit of despair. She had no family she could turn to in her time of need. The small handful of friends she did have, the ones that hadn’t left her high and dry when they found out what a hot mess her life was, didn’t have that kind of money either.
    Her father was all she had, and he was the one that had gotten them in this mess to begin with.
    Three days had already passed since her impromptu meeting with Tate Wessen. She had picked up extra hours at both of her jobs, but even if she worked every day, all day, it would take her months, if not an entire year to make that kind of money. Being a waitress had its perks, on busy nights, but there weren’t enough tips in the world to have her earning enough. The thought of fleeing had crossed her mind more than once, but she had quickly banished those ideas. For one thing, she had no doubt Tate and his henchmen would be able to find her. For the second thing, the money she had managed to scrounge up would only last so long and then she’d be at square one.
    The only other option, and one that didn’t appeal to her, no matter how logical it seemed, was talking to Tate and seeing if they could work something out. The very thought of groveling, begging him to show mercy on her and her father, to give her more time to save their home mortified her, but she was out of options.
    She took the money she had acquired, hoping beyond hope that maybe she could give it to him in a show of good faith and he would grant her request. Stella couldn’t help but feel like she was living in some gangster movie, having to ask the head boss for leniency, to not break her father’s legs for the money he owed. If she was being honest that scenario probably wasn’t too far off from reality. It wasn’t a secret that Tate Wessen used brutal force to get what he wanted, and she didn’t doubt he would exact that power on her or her father. The very thought of going over to see him was sounding worse and worse every minute she pondered it.
    She stopped in front of the mirror by her front door and stared at herself. Maybe she could seduce him? Ha! Get real, girl.
    Her auburn hair was a wild mess of curls, and no matter how much product she used, there was no taming it. Leaning in, she ran her fingers under her eyes, seeing the