Chapter One
HARVEY
Isaw them coming to the door, and I knew.
I just knew that I was in the shit, and nobody was going to be able to help me.
I owed them money. A lot of it. You don’t owe the Bennetts money, and get away with not being able to pay it back.
I guess, when I borrowed it, I’d stupidly believed that I’d somehow find the money before this happened.
Samuel turned the sign on the door, showing anyone outside that my bookstore was suddenly closed, and he turned the lock. My stomach rolled, as I heard that ominous click. His brother, Seb, was watching me, clearly enjoying my panic. He grinned widely.
“Hello, Harv… long time no talk. Probably because you’ve been dodging our calls, bruv.” He smirked as Samuel joined him, on the other side of my counter. It was nothing. It wouldn’t save me. Nothing would.
“Seb, Samuel… look, I’m so sorry. I’m having a few cashflow problems right now. Books aren’t the big business they used to be.” I tried a smile, trying to appear as trustworthy, and willing to pay, as I really wished I could be.
Three months ago, the bank were trying to take this place away from me. A moment of weakness, some bad advice, and a whiskey or three, had sent me to their doorstep. They’d saved my business. But now… now… I owed these guys twenty-five grand, and they wanted it back.
“Harv… we’re not being assholes here. You promised you’d have paid us back within two months, mate. We gave you an extra month. A whole month. That’s because we’re nice guys. Now, you’re just taking the piss.”
Samuel was shaking his head, playing along with his brother.
“Yeah, it’s not nice, bruv. We did you a favour. We saved your business. This is how you repay our kindness?”
Fuck. I’m in so much shit. They’re playing with me. They know I don’t have their damn money. The question is… what are they going to do to me? Dead guys can’t pay, right?
“Honest, guys. I’m trying. I have… Maybe three grand of it.” I started rifling through papers on the counter, as if they would tell me a damn thing.
“Three grand. Wow… why didn’t you say, Harv. That’s so close to twenty-five fucking grand. I don’t even know why we’re hassling him, Seb, he’s good for it.” Samuel shrugged at his brother as he spoke.
Seb snorted. “Yeah… how many books do you even need to sell for that?” He picked up one of the books on the counter.
“‘In love with a demon’? Who writes this shit? It’s only a quid, bruv. How are you going to make back our money like this?” The book flew at my face, narrowly missing my eye.
“Fuck. Come on, please. You know I’m going to find your money.
I didn’t borrow from you, just so I could try screwing you over.
I know better than that. I just need a little more time.
Please.” I was begging. I knew it. They knew it.
Hell, anyone walking past the store would know it.
Why the hell did I think that I could make enough money, in a few months, to pay them back? I’m a fucking idiot.
“I’ll get a loan,” I promised, holding my hands up.
“From who, bruv? You came to us, because nobody will loan you a fucking penny. We only loaned to you, because you put the store up as collateral. So I guess we own a bookstore now. Sammy, any idea how to run a bookstore? Apparently we start by stocking soft porn books… or are they hardcore, Harv? Do they actually fuck the demons? Big demon cocks, ramming into dainty little human girls? Is that what you like to read? You sick fuck.”
They made their way to the end of the counter, striding slowly, and arrogantly. They had nothing to fear. They were the fucking Bennett brothers, and I’d fucked up, like never before. I should have let the bank take my business, declared bankruptcy, and walked away.
And why didn’t I? Her. That’s why. And what good had it done me? She still came here to buy her fucking books, but that was it. I just watch her, and want her, and jerk off in bed at nights, thinking of her. I don’t speak to her. I’m a fucking pussy.
They’d reached my side of the counter. Seb grabbed my throat, and started dragging me to the back of the store, where nobody could see. They were going to kill me. Fuck. I prayed for someone, anyone, to save me.