Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
“How many times do I need to make it clear to you that I have no interest in doing business with you?” I snarl, knuckles going white on the desk. “Stop contacting me, Adrian.”
“Not so fast,” he says quickly, clearly anticipating me hanging up. “You’re going to want to listen to what I have to say.”
I sincerely doubt that I have any interest in anything this man has to say, but there’s a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that keeps me on the phone.
“You have thirty seconds,” I allow, already regretting my leniency.
“Agree to sell me that property for two million,” Adrian repeats the same lowball offer he’s given me a dozen times.
That property is not for sale, and even if it was, it’s worth far more than the insulting offer Adrian Findlay is giving me.
“As I have said before—” I begin to argue, but he cuts me off.
“You will sell it to me, or you’ll regret it,” he growls, his tone turning far darker and more sinister than I’ve ever heard it before.
Anger whips through me. Is he threatening me?
“I don’t do deals with assholes with no morals,” I snap, hanging up before he can say another word.
8
DELANEY
Ileave the city early on Saturday, heading down to my grandmother’s retirement facility in a small town half an hour away. I’m looking forward to seeing her and my brother, who’s promised me that he’s also on the way down. Happiness fills me like it always does when I get to be with my family. I work so hard to provide for them that it feels like I don’t get to see them nearly as much as I want to.
I’m driving down alone, without Damien, for the first time all week. I feel a little like I’m missing a limb without him by my side. I’ve become so attached to him in such a short space of time.
He had a business meeting he couldn’t miss but promised me that next time, he’d come with me. I want my family to meet him, want to introduce the people I love more than anything in the world to each other. Because there’s no doubt in my mind or my heart that I love Damien. We haven’t said the words to each other yet, but with every touch, every kiss, every time I call him Daddy—I know. I’m his, his to love and keep and care for. And he’s mine in return.
I’m grinning about that the whole drive, the smile still on my lips as I pull up to the Acrewood Retirement Facility. I made sure to pick out the best place I could find for my grandmother, and this place truly is wonderful. She has a great life here, more of a social life than I do, and I know she’s safe and has access to the care she needs. The work I have to do to pay for it is worth it, a hundred times over.
I send off a quick text message to Damien when the car’s parked, butterflies flapping in my stomach when I see the last message he sent telling me to be a good girl for Daddy. I promised him I’d keep in touch, and I intend to hold up to every promise I’ll ever make to him.
I slip my phone into my pocket as I step out of the car, heading towards the entrance.
I don’t get more than two steps away from my car before someone grabs me.
Strong, thick arms wrap around me, a palm slapping over my mouth and cutting my scream off halfway. Fear and adrenaline rush through me all at once, my instincts kicking in as the person tries to drag me away.
I flail, kicking and elbowing and fighting like hell to get out of my attacker’s hold.
“We warned him,” a low, gruff male voice grunts in my ear. My mind spins, confusion swarming me.
Warned who? About what? Why the hell is this man trying to kidnap me?
I can’t ask any of these questions because of the hand slapped over my face. I bare my teeth, biting down hard into the callused flesh. The man swears, his grip loosening for a second. I take advantage of it, redoubling my efforts to get away. For a brief second, hope blooms through me as I manage to take a step away from him.
That hope is crushed a second later when his body wraps around mine again, his grip tighter than before, crushing the air out of me. Panic winds around me just as tightly as his arms, tears stinging my eyes and tracking down my face, wetting the cuffs of his shirt. My feet skid on the concrete as the man yanks me backward.
Suddenly, someone tackles us from the side. I gasp as I stumble, the arms wrapped around me releasing a little as the new person sends a punch into the man’s nose. The crunch of cartilage is loud in my ear. I send my elbow backward into his stomach as the other person lands another hit, and finally, his arms drop. I rush forward, panting heavily and dizzy with adrenaline.