Steven woke up to the sound of Bud pleading from outside. "I'll have the money for you," Bud was saying. "I promise."

"You promised that last time," a man's voice said. It sounded strangely familiar to Steven, but he couldn't quite place it. "This time, we're going to have to make sure you get the message."
Steven sighed and got up, grabbing his wallet off of his nightstand. So much for his hard-earned money going to something that mattered, like beer and pot. He was going to kill Bud for ever stepping into a damn casino. "Hey!" he shouted as he walked down the hall to the living room."Wait a second."

Bud's arms were pinned behind his back by a strong burly guy. Another was in front of him, holding a knife. A shorter man dressed in a suit was watching, an arrogant smirk on his mouth.

Steven opened his wallet and tossed the two hundred dollars in cash at the man's feet. "We'll get you the rest. Now get lost."

"Steven, this has nothing to do with you," Bud shouted at him. "Go back to bed."

Steven glared at his father. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

The businessman frowned. "Hold on. Steven Hyde?"

He scowled. "Yeah. What of it? Just take the money and get out of here."

The man looked thoughtfully at him. "My daughter, Jackie, likes you."

Shock ran through him at what he said. Not that Jackie liked him. She had made that painfully clear by practically stalking him. But Bud owed money to Jackie's dad? What were the fucking odds?

Mr. Burkhart smirked. "Perhaps an arrangement can be made after all," he said. He looked Steven up and down in a way that made his skin crawl.

"Look, I don't know what you're thinking, but the answer's no," Steven snapped.

"Your father owes thirty grand to me," Burkhart said. "And I know that I'm not the only one he owes money to."

Steven looked at Bud, surprised. He knew his dad was in trouble and had a bad gambling addiction that replaced his drinking addiction. But he didn't know how bad it was.

"Your father isn't going to be able to take care of you for much longer," Mr. Burkhart said.

"Big surprise," Steven said. "Do you have a damn point yet, or can I go back to bed?"

"Instead of going down with him, why don't you move in with my family? My daughter likes you, after all. If you do everything she tells you to do, then you can stay in my mansion, which is certainly better accommodations than you are used to. Or deserve." He looked around the apartment with disdain.

Hyde crossed his arms. "What are you saying? You'll forgive my dad's debts if I come and be Jackie's slave?" He couldn't think of a more hellish idea.

"Yes, if you want to be so crass about it." He motioned to his henchmen. The one holding Bud jerked one of Bud's hands up. "If you refuse, then my associates here cut off your dad's thumb."

"Wait," Hyde said. "Fine, I'll go." He glared at his father who looked helplessly back. There was some guilt and shame in his eyes, as there should be. He had failed twice as a father because of his own stupidity and addiction. He looked down at his sweatpants and undershirt. "Can I at least grab a jacket before I join the booming and vibrant industry of human trafficking?"
Mr. Burkhart sighed. "You have five minutes. And watch your mouth. Especially around my daughter."

Hyde rolled his eyes as he went to his room. He should tell Mr. Burkhart all about how his precious daughter almost got arrested for possession a few months ago. Maybe then he wouldn't care what Hyde said around her.

He grimaced and got out his green duffel bag before throwing all his clothes into it. He didn't need five minutes to pack when he owned so few clothes. He grabbed his jacket and put on his sunglasses before going back out. The thugs had released Bud and were flanking Mr. Burkhart while he waited.

This was so sick and twisted. Only a few hours ago, everything was normal and boring in Point Place. And now he was enslaved by the girl that had been crushing on him for months. How the fuck did that happen?