A regular at my club racked up a large debt that he couldn't afford, so I sent my men to collect. Instead of delivering the money I was owed, they brought me her. Unable to fulfill her father's debt, I told her he would pay for it with his life. When she begged to trade her father's life for her own, I was intrigued. But she couldn't hide the shiver of fear cloaked beneath the façade of strength and bravery she tried to portray.

Silly girl, you don't know what you've gotten yourself into. I'm going to snuff out your pride and stomp on your courage.

-

My father was a good man with strong values, who put his family above everything else. We weren't perfect, but we were happy. Then, Mom died and took our happiness with her. Dad quickly got caught in a downward spiral that spun our world into chaos. The warm, caring man that I knew from my childhood was replaced with a complete stranger.

It sucked the light from my world. Now, I fear I will pay greatly for his transgressions.