Page 10 of Hook

I could lie. Tell him that I've never seen them before in my life but I just don't have the energy to do it. I don't have the mental capacity to create and detail a lie right now.

"It's my ex-boyfriends friends. They all answer to him like a bunch of dogs." I scoff and narrow my eyes at Hook daring him to say something about my description of them.

"They sure seem like they were ready to do whatever necessary to find you. Why would your ex send them here for you?"

"I don't know why he'd send them here in particular. I'm sure they've been on the lookout for the car, it's the only thing linking me to my old life." I have to think hard about that. I thought I did everything I could to make sure no one would be able to trace me here but it doesn't seem like Lance and his friends had much trouble.

"Why did you need to leave your old life and don't bullshit me either. I don't have the patience to sit here trying to pull every ounce of information out of you. Either you tell me everything, or you can take your chances out on the street by yourself."

"After everything I've been through, you think being threatened with being on my own is really going to scare me?" I chuckle and shake my head.

"You're serious? You think you know the first thing about being on your own on these streets? I promise you, you don't. I can tell just from looking at you that you've lived a sheltered life. Sure you've fallen on hard times recently but you don't know what a hard life is."

"You don't know anything about me." I snarl at him.

"I know enough. Who is this bastard searching for you and tell me the truth."

"Lance. His name is Lance and he was my ex boyfriend before he went away for assault."

"Was it on you? Did he beat you?"

"He didn't go to jail because of me." I answer right away. Maybe it was too quick because Hook narrows his eyes at me.

“Stop avoiding the question. Did he assault you?” Hook's voice is harsh and demanding, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

I know lying to him is not an option. I can feel my heart racing as I try to find the right words. But deep down, I know that no matter what I say, there's a good chance Hook won't let me stay here for much longer.

“The charge wasn't specifically for assaulting me, but he has done it in the past.” My voice cracks as I speak, and I can feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I hate talking about what Lance did to me. It makes me feel weak and vulnerable.

But staying here, wrapped in the warmth and safety, is worth the pain of reliving those memories. People always ask why I didn't just leave him, but they don't understand how complicated and dangerous leaving an abusive relationship can be. By the time you realize it's a no-win situation, you're already trapped with nowhere else to turn.

“I’m surprised he made it out of the clink in one piece.”

I jerk my eyes up to Hook, who's clenching his jaw over and over again. “What do you mean by that?”

“Most women beaters usually get a taste of their own medicine inside. He must have some real pull if he's straight out of jail and looking for you.” Hook gives a small shrug before he steps away from the chair and sits in the other one opposite me. “Look, I can't give you back your car, but you can stay here for the night. I'm not going to send you out on the street alone when I know those bastards are out there looking for you.”

“Why can't you give me the car?” I ask, hoping that it's a problem I can fix. I really need my car if I'm going to get further away from Lance.

“I've already put it in the system, and my supervisor is going to be expecting payment for release. You don't look like you'vegot two hundred and fifty dollars to spare right now.” He tilts his head, and my heart drops. He's absolutely right. I don't have enough to eat, let alone two hundred and fifty dollars just to get my car out of the tow yard.

“You know I can't afford that,” I whisper.

“Yeah, that's what I just said.” Hook leans back in his seat and crosses his legs, he smirks, his lips curving into a sly smile as he leans back in his seat. His long legs, clad in tight-fitting jeans, cross effortlessly at the ankles. The muscles in his thighs strain against the fabric, revealing the strength and power beneath.

“If you know that, then you must be telling me about what I owe for a different reason.”

Everyone wants something. I've yet to run across anyone who would willingly help me out just because it's the right thing to do. Why is that any different for this man? Hook doesn't know me. So far, I've done nothing but bring grief into his life. So why is he letting me stay in his office? Unless he wants something else.

“No.” I shake my head and stand up. I move so quickly that the chair I'm in skitters backward and almost falls over.

“No, what? What's wrong with you now?”

“I know what this is. You're going to let me stay here, and then when I wake up, or sometime in the middle of the night, you're going to tell me that I owe you. I don't want to be in anyone's debt. I'll find a way to pay off my car, but I'm not going to do it this way.”

Hook stands once more, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me. My gaze begins at his chiseled face, taking in every rugged feature, before trailing down to his broad chest. Thethought hits me - would it truly be so terrible to offer my body in exchange for a place to stay? Especially if it meant being with someone like him?

I shake the thought out of my head. That's absolutely crazy.