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  A Debt Paid By Joslyn Black All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of

  this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission from the Author.

   2014 All Right Reserved This is a work of pure fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Dedicated to my loving friends who encouraged me to not fear and to just write.

  Thank you

  

  And a special thanks to Book Peddlers Editing for going beyond just simple edits.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15 Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33 Chapter 37

  Epilogue

  Prologue Anya sat at the exquisitely

  decorated, lavish banquet table bored out of her skull. Oh, how she hated these things, but she had to come she had to support her wonderful Daddy, and show everyone what a perfect, happy family they were. What total bullshit! The truth being, she felt sorry for her mother, who had to be loaded with a drink in her hands twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week, or she couldn’t deal with the stress of being the Senator’s perfect wife and mother to his children. If her mother were ever sober, she’d have to face the cold, hard reality of her life, and Anya knew she couldn’t handle that. Now, Anya’s brother was decent if you thought being a conceited money hungry prick was decent. As for her father, there wasn’t enough time to get into his

  depravity. He was a dirty senator; he made deals for anything if the price was right. His fingers were in a lot of pies, and he got kickbacks from major drug dealers and prostitution rings. It was even rumored he had ties to the Italian mafia.

  Anya didn’t know for sure and didn’t want to know. Once she’d turned eighteen, she had moved out of the family mansion as fast as she could. After working a full-time job while going to night school she was a certified paralegal. Wanting nothing to do with her father or brother, Anya did the minimum required to keep up appearances. She only did that because of her mother, since all her mother had left was the image of a happy family. Anya loved her mother and felt sorry for her trapped with Anya’s father. The Senator would never allow her mother to divorce him.

  Her mother had finally gotten her nerve up to leave him once a few years back, but he used rather emotionally painful and unscrupulous tactics to make her mother stay. So, here Anya sat, smiling, shaking hands, and waiting for the hands on the clock to move to the appointed time she could leave.

  As a waiter passed by her, she signaled for another glass of champagne. She had just turned twenty two and didn’t drink much., but Anya didn’t care, and neither did anyone else for that matter; they were all too self-centered to think of anyone else. All of them smiling at each other, glad handing while they think of ways to use each other for their own profit or gain. A pit of serpents was what they all were.

  Calix stood off to the side and kept his eyes on Anya, a beautiful brunette who was sitting alone at the head table.

  Something about her had always called to him. For the last couple of years, he’d felt an un natural pull toward her that he didn’t understand. She had been so young when he first met her, though. A legal adult, yes, but still a teen nonetheless, so he’d kept his distance and would deny his desires. But, she was twenty-two now, no longer a teenager. She was stunning and mature beyond her years with thick, long hair the color of rich chocolate, eyes as blue as the sky, and her skin the color of sweet light caramel. He’d seen her at these functions every couple of months. In fact, he looked for her whenever he was at one. He knew she was the Senator’s daughter, but how a weasel like him had been able to father such a beautiful creature he didn’t know.

  He watched her as she turned down man after man tonight. Anya was a strong, independent tigress of a woman hidden under that beautiful kitten’s fur. He decided that he had waited long enough, and, tonight, he would make her his. He was more than confident she wouldn’t turn down his dinner invitation; he had never once been turned down by any female he showed attention. As lust-filled thoughts of her assaulted his mind with what he would get after their dinner date, he walked over to her adjusting his dinner jacket to hide his growing arousal.

  “Good evening. Calix Anastas. We’ve met before a few years ago, I believe.” He held out his hand to shake hers.

  Anya looked from the hand he offered then to his face. “Great, another pompous peacock trying to strut himself,” she thought disdainfully.

  “Anya Richards,” she answered tonelessly, ignoring his hand and turning her attention back to the crowd in front of her.

  Seeing that she was snubbing him and not going to take his hand, he dropped it to his side. He decided that maybe flattery would get her attention. “Forgive me if I’m out of line, but you must know you are the most beautiful women here tonight.”

  Anya rolled her eyes. Like I haven’t heard that ten times tonight. Putting on her best fake smile, she looked back to him and accepted his compliment with a curt. “Thank you.”

  “Would you like to dance?” “No, thank you, I’m not interested.” She was turning him down. Calix wasn’t about to take a no from her; he’d been waiting too many years to receive a no. Grabbing the chair next to her, he began to pull it out to sit, asking, “Is this seat taken?”

  “No,” Anya said flatly. Waiting until he was completely seated, she stood up. “Excuse me,” she said as she walked away, leaving him to sit alone.

  Calix had never lost his temper over a woman before, but he was walking on the edge with her. All of his needs and

  emotions seemed to be amplified around her. Anya brought out unknown feelings in him every time he looked at her. But, she had snubbed his hand, and he was pissed at her blatant, public refusal of him. It’s one thing to say no but to just openly reject him with people watching—no, he wasn’t going to let that slide.

  Chapter 1 Senator Tomas Richards was happy to have so many people attend his

  campaign fundraiser. If he could keep his and his family’s image in good standing, his re-election was assured. He could just smell the money that would be lining his pockets. Turning around, Richards was surprised to see Calix Anastas walking towards him and the group of gentlemen he was currently talking up.

  What is he doing here? Richards tried to keep composed and not show his nervousness. He knew there was only one reason Calix would approach him directly. Calix walked right up to Richards and patted him on the back.

  “Senator Richards, quite the turn out. I’d go so far as to say the election is in the bag.” He smiled broadly, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Mr. Anastas, thank you for your contribution and for coming and

  supporting
my re-election.” He tried to sound confident, doing his best to hide the fear in his voice. Deep down he knew why Calix was here.

  Calix put his arm around Richards shoulder. “If you would excuse us

  gentleman, I have an urgent matter to discuss with Senator Richards.” Not waiting for a response, he just proceeded to steer Richards toward the back of the room, where they would have some privacy. Dropping his arm from around Richards’s shoulder, he put his hands in his pockets and stood in a relaxed stance, but Richards knew he was anything other than relaxed.

  “What are you doing here? I can’t have people thinking we’re in a close business association. Everyone knows the rumors of your business contacts and associates.”

  “Never mind other people right now. So, Richards, with this turn out, it looks like you might have the money to pay back your loan.” His voice deceivingly calm.

  “Anastas, I told you that I would be able to pay after my re-election, with additional interest, if you could just get them to give me some time.”

  Shaking his head Calix responded, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’ve had almost a year to pay off the loan, and your interest has already doubled. I’m afraid they can’t give you more time. Sends a bad message; that they’re going soft. Can’t have that, can we? With interest and one extension you owe four hundred and fifty grand, due Monday. You know, of course, if you don’t pay, there will be some physical reminders as well as some public ones. You don’t want that, now, do you?”

  Richards took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his sweaty brow. Then, he started unconsciously wringing his hands.

  “There has to be something I can do.” Calix looked over Richards shoulder and saw his daughter Anya rejecting yet another man’s advances as she talked with her mother. He watched as Anya hugged her mother and kissed her on the cheek. She then looked around the room, and their eyes connected for a brief moment until hers shifted toward her father. Sullen faced, she started to walk in their direction. He watched as she came up behind her father and tapped him on the shoulder. Richards turned around to see his

  daughter.

  “Mom insisted I say goodnight before I left.” Her eyes rolled in her otherwise emotionless face.

  “You’ve only been here for oeuvres and pictures there’s still speeches, dinner and more” he responded his voice indigent.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she shifted her weight onto one foot, causing her hips to raise slightly to one side. Gritting her teeth and trying to keep her voice down, Anya snapped, “Look, I came. You got your,” she made quote signs with her fingers, “happy family pictures, and I sat through the opening chit chat. You’re lucky I did even that.”

  Without even one glance in Calix’s direction, she turned and left. He had never been rejected or ignored, but this woman did both, more than once, in less than thirty minutes, and by a woman he strongly desired. By the way she spoke to her father, you could tell that there was no love lost there. But, as Calix had watched her, he saw a raw, elemental heat in her eyes.

  Turning back to Calix, Richards continued, “Please, excuse my daughter, social gatherings are not her forte. Now, Anastas, I’m going to have a hard time coming up with that much money over the weekend.”

  “You had no problem spending that money, though, did you?” he countered harshly.

  Richards was begging, “Please, please, there must be something.” Calix thought for a moment. Anya’s rejection came to mind, and he smiled to himself. “There is something. If we can come to agreeable terms, I’ll wipe your entire debt clean.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand as he spoke.

  Richards’s eyes widened, his mouth slightly dropped, and he stopped fidgeting. Had he heard correctly? His entire debt: he couldn’t believe it. “Really?” His voice raised an octave with hope.

  “Yes, if we can come to terms,” Calix replied calm and nonchalantly. “What? Anything, I’ll agree to anything you want it’s yours,” Richards replied emphatically.

  Calix rubbed his chin while he spoke. “Do you know I’m thirty-nine this year? Younger than you, yes, but it is an advanced age to me. A man in my position needs to start thinking of a legacy to leave behind, someone he can turn over the reins to before too much time passes.”

  Richards was shaking his head side to side, and his eyebrows pinched. “I’m not following. How can I help with giving you a legacy?”

  “I want a wife and a son,” he said flatly. “Oh okay.” Richard’s voice pepped up, thinking that this would be easy. “I know plenty of single women who would fall at your feet…”

  Calix raised his hand to stop Richards from finishing. “I don’t need help finding a woman, and I don’t want just anyone; I want Anya.” He kept a close eye on Richards as he made his stipulation. Richards was such a weasel of a man, he would no doubt provide his daughter before the money.

  Richards actually let out a small gasp and took a step back at Calix's request. Shocked he started to stutter, “Aaaanya, my d-d-daughter? You want her, why?”

  “What does it matter to you why I want her? I just do, so have her or the money Monday morning in my office, or I’m afraid an unfortunate accident may befall you.” Calix paused, remembering Anya’s attitude toward her father. “Or your lovely wife,” he added. With his ultimatum laid down, Calix turned to make his exit, leaving behind a very stressed and scared Richards.

  Richards watched the back of Calix’s head as he left the banquet hall. What would he do now? He had nowhere near the amount he owed, and it would be too difficult for him to siphon cash from his campaign fund without notice. He would need to talk to Anya, but what would she say? She won’t agree to this. She’d tell him he deserved it, but Calix didn’t just threaten him, he had also threatened Tomas’s wife. She might do it for her mother. Now wasn’t the time to think about it; he still had a room full of potential contributors he needed to mingle with. Deciding he needed to calm his heart down first, he went to the open bar and had a scotch neat to calm his nerves.

  Chapter 2 “I don’t believe this shit! You can’t be serious,” screeched Anya as she paced around in her father’s home office.

  “It doesn’t have to be permanent. As soon as you get pregnant, you can start divorce proceedings. I don’t have the money. I need you to do this.” He tried to reason with her.

  Anya stopped pacing and turned to face her father. “You honestly think I’m going to do this? Hell no, I’m not! You’ll just have to deal with a broken leg or arm. I am not going to be used as a human incubator, and there’s no way in hell I’m sleeping with this man.”

  “He didn’t just threaten me. He said some kind of accident might happen to your mother.”

  Anya looked at her father with disgust. “I always knew you were an egotistical ass. How could you do this? You made mother stay with you for your image while flaunting your whores in her face. Killing her emotionally wasn’t enough for you, you had to drag her into this, as well? I want a DNA test, because you are not my father. Hell, you’re not even a man,” she spat her words at him.

  “Enough!” he yelled as he slammed his hands on his desk. “You will do this or…”

  Anya cut him off, “Or what? You’ve got nothing on me; I’m not like you and Dillon with your sordid lives. I have an honest job. I pay my taxes. I don’t take kickbacks or drug money. I don’t involve myself with thugs.”

  “Anya, this is not a man you mess with. It wasn’t an empty threat. Are you going to sit there and tell me you’re going to risk your mother getting hurt?”

  Anya briefly pictured the handsome face of the pompous Calix Anastas then shook the image from her mind.

  “This conversation is over,” Anya stated as she turned and walked out of his office, slamming the door behind her. She was fuming at how her father and Calix dared to make a deal like this. She wasn’t property to be bartered. She passed through the living room on her way to the front door. Her mom was arranging a bouquet of flowers.

  “Those are beauti
ful, Mom. Where did you get them?” Walking up, Anya wrapped an arm around her mom’s waist.

  “They were just delivered while you were in the office with your father. I don’t know who they’re from, though.”

  Anya tilted her head to the side to see her mother’s face. Her mom’s brows were pinched together in confusion. “Didn’t they come with a card?”

  Her mother bent down to pick up the card to show it to Anya. “That’s just it, the card only says Monday.”

  “Monday? What a strange...” And when it clicked, Anya stopped midsentence. That bastard!

  “You were saying, honey?” “Nothing, I was just agreeing with you. I don’t understand it either. Maybe the florist misunderstood what she was supposed to write.”

  Anya released her mom’s waist and just stood back to watch as she arranged the bouquet of flowers. Her mother was innocent in all this, yet she might pay the price for her husband’s selfish and bad decisions. Life just wasn’t fair. Knowing her father as she did, she couldn’t understand how a woman like her mother, who was soft and gentle, could have ever fallen in love with such a man? Then again, he was a different man twenty-five years ago; he hadn’t yet been corrupted by power and greed.

  She hated them, her father and Calix. Anya hated both of them, because they both must have known no matter how much she kicked or fussed she would do anything to keep her mother safe. She hated the fact that in saving her mother she was also saving her rat bastard of a father. Her father came walking towards them as he exited his office, still annoyed by his conversation with Anya.

  “Who sent the flowers, Carol?” Turning around to face her husband, Carol stretched out her arm to hand him the card. “I don’t know. It just says

  Monday.”

  Richards practically ripped the card from her hand. When he was done staring at the card, he looked to Anya. His voice was rough, and his face tight. “Do you see the flowers, Anya? They were for your mother.”

  Carol looked back and forth between them. “Is there something going on that I don’t know about?”

  Clasping her mother’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, Anya put on the best fake smile she had. “No, Mom, I just remembered I was going to bring a friend over for dinner on Monday. He must have sent the flowers as a thank you for the invitation to dinner.”