Chapter 4 - Fifty Thousand Dollars
Salvatore didn't deny it.
He sat at Hunter's dining table with Marco standing behind him.
"You've grown soft," Salvatore said.
Hunter remained across from him.
"You cut my brakes."
"You were destroying everything your father built."
"By making legitimate investments?"
"By pretending we're businessmen."
"We are businessmen."
Salvatore laughed.
"We're Russos."
Hunter leaned forward.
"And that's supposed to mean something?"
"It means people fear us."
Hunter's eyes moved toward Khloe standing in the doorway.
"They feared my father too."
"They respected him."
"No. They waited for him to die."
Salvatore smiled coldly.
"And they'll wait for you."
Hunter said nothing.
Salvatore looked at Khloe.
"This girl changed you overnight?"
"Leave her out of this."
"She's already in it."
Khloe stepped forward.
"No, I'm not."
Salvatore laughed.
"You dragged the most powerful criminal in New York out of a river. You think you go back underneath your bridge tomorrow?"
"That's exactly what I'm planning."
Hunter looked at her.
"No."
She glared.
"We discussed this."
"I'm revising the plan."
"You can't revise my life."
Salvatore smiled.
"See? Already causing trouble."
Hunter stood.
"Take him downstairs."
Marco escorted Salvatore away.
Khloe immediately turned on Hunter.
"You lied."
"About what?"
"Twenty-four hours."
"You're in danger."
"Because of you."
"I know."
"So give me the fifty thousand and let me leave."
Hunter stared at her.
"You really want the money?"
"You offered it."
He walked to his desk.
Opened a drawer.
Removed a bank envelope.
He tossed it onto the table.
"Fifty thousand."
Khloe picked it up.
"Thank you."
Hunter watched her.
"What will you do?"
"Finish nursing school."
That surprised him.
"You'd go back?"
"I never wanted to leave."
"Then why did you?"
She hesitated.
"My mother got cancer."
Hunter said nothing.
"Insurance stopped covering treatments. I borrowed money. Dropped classes. Worked nights."
"She died?"
Khloe nodded.
"Eleven months ago."
"And the debt?"
"Stayed."
"How much?"
"Not your business."
"How much?"
"One hundred eighty-seven thousand."
Hunter stared.
Khloe lifted the envelope.
"This gets me started."
"No."
Her eyes narrowed.
"No?"
"Keep the fifty."
He picked up his phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a call."
"Hunter."
"Yes?"
"Don't."
He stopped.
"I don't want charity."
"You jumped into the Hudson for a stranger."
"So?"
"That wasn't charity?"
"No."
"What was it?"
"The right thing."
Hunter studied her.
"Maybe this is too."
She shook her head.
"I won't belong to you because you paid my debt."
Hunter's expression sharpened.
"I don't buy people."
"You sure?"
Silence.
That one hit.
Hunter put the phone down.
"Fine."
Khloe relaxed.
"You want to earn it?"
She frowned.
"How?"
"I have a legitimate medical foundation."
"You have a medical foundation?"
"My mother started it."
"What does it do?"
"Pays treatment costs for families who can't afford them."
Khloe stared at him.
Hunter continued.
"It needs someone who understands what those families actually go through."
"You want to hire me?"
"I want you to finish your degree first."
"And then?"
"Interview."
She smiled slightly.
"An interview?"
"I'm not promising you a job."
"After I saved your life?"
"Professional standards."
Khloe laughed.
It was the first time Hunter heard her genuinely laugh.
Then Marco rushed into the room.
"Boss."
Hunter immediately turned.
"What?"
"Salvatore escaped."
Hunter's expression froze.
"How?"
"Inside help."
Marco held out a phone.
"And he sent this."
Hunter read the message.
Then looked at Khloe.
"What?"
She took the phone.
THE GIRL FOR THE EMPIRE. MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.
Khloe looked up.
"That's ridiculous."
Hunter said nothing.
"You aren't going."
Still nothing.
"Hunter."
He took the phone from her.
"He wants a war."
Khloe swallowed.
"And?"
Hunter's eyes became frighteningly calm.
May you like
"I'm going to give him a choice."
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