Her dad drew in a choppy breath. He looked so tired. “I’m so sorry, Princess.”

Not tired. Dejected.

She pressed her hand over his. “Talk to me, Dad. Let me help.”

The air shuddered out of him. “It started last year. I had a real estate deal go bad.”

Okay. That didn’t sound so terrible. Her dad unfortunately had deals not work out before.

“Then another business deal fell through. I…” He shook his head. “I lost a lot of money.”

“I understand. It happens.”

Weary, worried eyes met hers. “A lot of money, Harlow. I was going to lose the house.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. Her mother loved that house in Presidio Heights. Harlow and Scarlett had grown up in the large, light-filled home.

“But then I met an investor. I made some new deals.”

“Dad?” She didn’t like the tone of his voice.

“He’s not a great guy. The deal wasn’t what I’d hoped. I kept trying to find a way out.” Desperation soaked his voice. “I just needed one good deal, then I could clear all the debts.”

She closed her eyes. “But it wasn’t good.”

“No.” A quiet whisper.

“Dad…”

“I’m in debt to a very bad man, Harlow.”

Her stomach dropped away. “Okay, we just need to find a solution.” She set her shoulders back. This was what she did. “We can—”

“He’s going to kill me if I don’t pay him back.”

Harlow felt the world lurch and she grabbed the edge of the table for support. “What?”

“I told you, he’s…not a good man.”

She swallowed. “He’s a criminal.”

Her father’s blue-green eyes met hers. They roiled with emotion. “He’s never been charged with anything.”

“Dad,” she breathed. “How could you get involved with someone like that?”

“I was desperate.” His face turned miserable. “I messed up, Princess.”

He was perspiring. Anger swelled inside her. She couldn’t believe he’d done this. Risked everything.

But this was her father. The man who’d hugged her when she’d needed it, taught her to drive, and while he wasn’t perfect, she knew he loved her.

She grabbed his hand again. “What can we do?”

He squeezed her fingers. “Harlow…” He swallowed. “I need some money.”

“I have some savings. We can pay this man off.”

Her dad ran a hand through his hair. “I owe him more than you’d have.”

Harlow wasn’t drinking anything, but she still choked. “What? How much?”

“I’m not saying. But a down payment will buy me some time.”

Visions of her own place to renovate evaporated. “I have fifty thousand saved.” Saved from years of hard work.

Her dad squeezed her hand. “Thanks, baby girl, I can always count on you. Can you transfer it today?”

She nodded dully. A mix of anger and sadness welled inside her. “Does mom know?”