Dana didn't like the look of the man at the door speaking to her husband, Eric.
"Tony, I was just on my way to see you," Eric said, nervously.
"Have you got the money?" Tony asked, pushing his way inside.
Turning to Dana with an uneasy look, Eric said, "Put Amy to bed, honey. I'll take care of this."
As Dana hurried her 5 year old daughter out of the room, she heard her husband tell Tony, "I need another day. I can get it. I just need another day."
Dana knew about Eric's gambling problem. She had always told herself that he was too smart to get himself in over his head. He had lost a lot of money on several occasions, but he had sworn to her that he would never bet more than he could cover.
Trembling, Dana tucked Amy into her bed. From the living room, she heard shouting followed by a loud crashing noise. She knew Eric meant for her to stay in the back of the house, but she had other plans. For years she had been stashing away money afraid that this day might come. There was more than five thousand dollars in a savings account Eric knew nothing about.
Tossing her shoulder length, black hair out of her eyes, she pulled herself to her full five foot, two inch height and walked defiantly into the room. She wasn't prepared for what she saw. Eric was lying on the floor at Tony's feet. He had been beaten severely and was bleeding profusely from the mouth.
"Oh my God!" Dana cried, rushing to her husband's side. "I have money in the bank. I can get it from the ATM. There was no need to hurt him. How much does he owe you?"
With Tony's help, she lifted Eric into a dining room chair. His nose was broken. As Dana checked to see if he had lost any teeth, Tony took a roll of duct tape from his jacket and quickly wrapped several loops around Eric's waist and arms and the high back of the chair.
"What are you doing?" Dana yelled. "I told you I have money. How much does he owe you?"
"Fifty thousand dollars, sugar," Tony said, wrapping the tape several more times around Eric's head, covering his bloodied mouth.
Dana was shocked. Her large brown eyes opened wide in surprise. How could've Eric been so stupid? They didn't have that kind of money.
"We'll get it for you," Dana pleaded. "Please don't hurt him any more. We'll get it somehow."
Tony laughed. He grabbed Dana by the arm and pulled her close.
"I'm sure you will, sugar. Hubby has hatched a little embezzlement scheme. But that means no money until tomorrow. And that means, fifty grand plus interest."
Dana tried to pull free, but Tony held her tightly. His evil grin made her skin crawl.
"How much interest?" she asked, still trying to wrench free.
"Well it's like this, sugar... Hubby may not have known it, but he put your ass up as collateral," Tony smiled and winked, forcing his hand between her legs and feeling her up through the front of her dress. "I'll be collecting the interest from you."
He threw her on the sofa and began taking his jacket off.
"Don't you dare touch me," Dana hollered, scrambling to her feet.
"Get your undies off," Tony laughed slapping her to the floor.
Dana rubbed her stinging face. Tears spilled from her eyes as she climbed onto her knees.
"You get up again, sugar, and you're going right back down, only with a few less teeth," Tony warned. Get your undies off. Unless you'd rather I collected from your little girl."
His words terrified her. She didn't know if he was bluffing, but she didn't dare test him. With tears pouring from her eyes, she reached under her skirt and slowly lowered her panties. Sitting back, she pulled them over her feet and off. She saw that Eric was crying too, as he tried to apologize with his eyes.
Watching Tony as he removed his shirt, Dana asked softly, "May I get up now?"
Tony nodded. As he continued to strip, Dana stood up, and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I can get you more money if that's what you want," she sniffled. "Can't we talk about this?"