Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,2

for the meal, and the rescue, don’t get me wrong. But I’m still homeless and my chances of getting any work this time of year are non-existent. I was going to treat myself to a cheap room in a motel downtown for Christmas, but those guys stole the money I’d saved lugging packages.”

“With us you get the whole package. We don’t just save and dump.” Cass reached in his pocket and pulled out a roll of bills, waving it in Paul’s direction. “Is this yours? I took it from those two in the alley.”

“No, not all mine.” Paul leaned back in his chair, holding his hands up as if to protect himself. “Twenty bucks and some change. That’s all I had. It’s not right to take other people’s money for nothing.”

“Give Paul twenty-five dollars, babe.” Wesley reached under the table away from prying eyes and clicked his fingers. He pulled up a black briefcase.

Cass peeled the money off the roll, handed it to Paul, and left the rest on the table.

“Okay,” Wesley said as Paul clutched his money to his chest. “This is a trust test, and I really, really hope you trust me and Cass.”

“You’re like angels,” Paul whispered. “You saved me and fed me, gave me new clothes. You’re like angels without the wings.”

“We’re working on the wing thing.” Wesley chuckled. He tapped the briefcase. “Now, here’s the thing. You just said, it’s not right to take other people’s money for nothing, and I applaud that. Your honesty is a rare and lovely trait to have. The contents inside this case are for you, just for you. They’re things that will be useful in you forging a new life for yourself, arranged by some of our friends. The ones you don’t see.”

He winked at Paul who was staring at him now with wide eyes. “What’s in the case?” Wesley watched as Paul looked between the shiny case and the crumpled bills in his hand. “I can’t even afford the briefcase itself. With the money I have, I could get a room for a night and have a hot shower. But you say you’re offering me a chance at a life, in that case?”

Wesley nodded. “It’s not a magical case, or like a genie lamp or anything like that. The things inside this case are all solid, real, and meant for you, if you want to take a chance on me and Cass, and can believe we’re not just ripping you off, but this is where free will comes in. You have to want what we’re offering.”

“Free will? Are you trying to take my soul?” Paul looked ready to bolt, and Cass didn’t help, banging the table and laughing the way he did.

“No, Paul, we don’t deal in innocent souls,” Wes said quickly, kicking his mate under the table when he wouldn’t stop laughing. “I was trying to appease your pride, instead of just giving this to you, because I was sure you wouldn’t take it, or worse you’d give it to someone else. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. You can have the case and all the contents, for five dollars. That way, you’ve bought it and it’s all yours.”

“The case itself is worth more than that.” But Wesley could see Paul was already separating the twenty from the ones Cass gave him. “It doesn’t feel right.”

“Would you feel better about it if I told you it was a gift for Christmas?”

Paul thought for a moment and then shook his head. “No, because I didn’t get you anything, so that wouldn’t be fair.” He hesitated a moment, and then handed over the five dollars. “I’m not silly and you guys have already done more for me than anyone else in my whole life has. I’m trusting you and I’ll buy the case, thank you.”

“And all its contents.” Wesley handed him the case. “The apartment arranged for you is in the next town over, within walking distance of the university. The keys are in the case, along with the papers you need confirming your enrollment. The bank cards are for a local bank in the same town, and there’s enough money in there to pay your expenses for the next five years. Birth certificate, driver’s license, social security number. Everything you need to start a fresh new life for yourself. Oh, and a bus ticket to get to the town, leaving in thirty minutes. The apartment is already stocked with the basics, so you don’t have to worry about