Free Bare Your Soul by Rochelle Paige

Brecken muttered.
    “How the fuck can it be worse?”
    Brecken heaved a deep sigh. “He owes the Chechens.”
    “How much?” I growled.
    “One of the contacts I reached out to while I was doing a little digging around about her clued me into the situation. He didn’t have a lot of details, though. I haven’t been able to get an exact figure for you yet, but from what I’ve heard it’s in the low to mid six figures.”
    I thought about the status of my current investments, doing some quick calculations. “Reach out to them. Tell them his debt will be paid.”
    “Are you sure you want to do this, Morgan? We aren’t talking about chump change here, and there’s always the possibility that her dad will pull something like this again.”
    “You know what the Chechens are capable of, Brecken,” I hissed. “There isn’t a chance in hell I’m going to let Angelica’s father get her mixed up with a gang who’s involved in human trafficking and prostitution.”
    I heard a feminine gasp from behind me. Turning around, I found Angelica in the bathroom doorway, wearing a green silk robe I’d purchased for her, with a towel wrapped around her hair. I’d been so focused on my conversation with Brecken, I hadn’t heard the door open. I moved towards her, taking in how pale her face was and the tears filling her gorgeous green eyes. Her fucking father had managed to royally screw up a night which should have been special for her.

Chapter 13
Angelica
    “F ind out the exact amount owed and set up a meeting,” he growled into the phone after getting me settled back onto the mattress of his king-sized bed. I watched as he frowned at whatever the other person was telling him. “Of course you can come with me. I’m not a dumbass.”
    He chuckled lowly, and his eyes lifted to mine, although they held no sign of humor. “Yeah, I’ll admit it. Being with Angelica has changed me, but it’s for the better. Doesn’t mean I’ve lost all my brain cells.”
    I was flattered by the idea of making this incredible man even better. But it didn’t deter me from my focus on what I’d heard when I’d opened the bathroom door. I waited, semi-patiently, for him to end his call before asking him about the phrase which drew my attention in the first place.
    “My father?” I couldn’t possibly have heard him correctly. “Why would you be talking to someone about him when he hasn’t been a part of my life for years?”
    “That was an old friend of mine, Brecken. He’s ex-military, just moved to Chicago to open his own security business.”
    “And he was calling you about my dad why exactly?”
    Morgan rubbed his face with his hands and sat down on the edge of the bed next to me, his hand gripping my thigh. “I had him do a background check on you.”
    “You ran a background check on me?” I wasn’t exactly sure how to feel about that. I wouldn’t judge a woman for running an Internet check on a guy before dating him to make sure he was safe. As wealthy as he was, Morgan had a lot to lose. It would be hypocritical of me to judge him more harshly, but it still stung to know his trust only came because it was verified.
    “Yes, I did,” he confirmed, his hold on my leg tightening as though he thought I would try to get away from him. “I didn’t know a thing about you back then. Nothing except that I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Maybe I shouldn’t have done it, but I’m not going to apologize when my decision to run the check on you is the reason why Brecken learned about the trouble your father has pulled you into.”
    “Trouble?” I repeated, my head spinning at this turn of events. “What kind of trouble?”
    “The type of problem that you have no business being a part of.”
    I moved, getting up onto my knees on the mattress next to him so I could look him straight in the eyes. “Neither do you, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping you from jumping right in