Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Why not? “Maker’s,” I replied.
He took the bottle down and poured two fingers before scooting it over to me. “She’s safe,” he said with a sigh. “That’s good to hear.”
Yeah, it was, but him caring about her wasn’t sitting well in my chest. In fact, it was causing a restless stir with my inner beast.
“She’s gonna show up here. Wanting to work to pay off the money she owes you. She isn’t going to work here again. You understand?” I told him, picking up the glass and taking a drink.
He let out a small, nervous laugh. “I see. You know how hard she is to tell no?”
I put the glass down harder than necessary, and Bash tensed up again. “But you will tell her no.”
He cleared his throat, then nodded. “Yeah, I’ll tell her no.”
“That’s good,” I replied, standing up. “No need to make this messy.” I watched him as I picked up the glass and drank down the rest, then put my empty glass in front of him. “Thanks for the drink. Place looks good. I’m sure your dad is proud.”
He nodded again and tried to smile. “Yeah, thanks.”
“All right then. I hope this is the last time I need to walk in here. You take care.” I grinned at him but made sure my threat sank in before I turned and headed back out the door.
Now, my little siren could drive her sexy, stubborn ass over here, and I could just sit back and watch.
• Nine •
“You don’t like the color?”
Briar
He’d taken my car. I paced back and forth on the front porch as I berated myself for being so stupid.
I had said I was going to go get my job at Highwater back, and I’d let him distract me with sex.
He had been charming and entertaining over dinner. Dovie laughed and enjoyed the conversation. She’d been teaching him some sign language, and he was catching on slowly, but his trying meant a lot to both of us. It was so hard to remember what I was frustrated with him about when he did things like that.
I knew Nailyah showing up and taking Dovie for a sleepover had been instigated by him. They barely made it out of the driveway when he started unbuttoning my shorts. We’d had sex in several places, the stairs included, before I passed out in bed.
He was controlling me with sex and sweet actions. Unfortunately, I was helpless against it.
I should have known he’d take my car. Why hadn’t I considered it?
Letting out a furious growl, I walked over to the railing and gripped it tightly as I looked out over the front yard. It was freaking beautiful. Lush, green, and just straight-out-of-a-movie stunning. I loved it. But right now, I was pissed the hell off. He had planned this.
“Stupid, stupid,” I spit out.
I was so stupid. He made me stupid. My ass also hurt like a bitch too. As hot as that had been yesterday, it wasn’t pleasant at the moment and only making me angrier. I acted like some crazy hussy and stuck my ass right on up there for him to whip with his belt. Now, sitting down was uncomfortable. I deserved it. Maybe next time, I’d think about this when he wanted to start taking a belt to me.
I sighed, closing my eyes. I was a lost cause. I already knew I’d bend over and allow it again. Was it because I was broken inside? Something had to be wrong with me for me to enjoy that. It wasn’t normal. But then, when had I ever been normal?
The sound of a car had me snapping my eyes open, and I straightened as a shiny red Mercedes G-Wagon drove toward the house. Who was that? I glanced back at the house, unsure if I should wait and see or go get my gun. When it came to a stop, I squinted, trying to see who was inside, but the tinted windows and the glare from the sun made it impossible. Stepping back to the door, I decided I needed my gun and phone. I didn’t know this person, and just because that was an expensive vehicle did not mean they were … family.
Turning, I opened the front door to hurry inside.
“Briar!” Storm’s voice stopped me, and I spun back around as he was stepping out of the driver’s door.
Placing my hand on my hip, I glared at him. “Where is my car?” I demanded angrily. “I should have known you’d take it!” Then, I looked at the G-Wagon. “And whose is that?”
It was really freaking pretty, but it did not look like something Storm would drive. Maybe if it was black or silver, but not red. He had better not be driving some other woman’s car.
He sauntered toward me as he placed his cowboy hat, which had been in his hand, back on his head. I didn’t care how damn sexy he was. He had left me in bed and taken my car! Just because I fucked him like my life depended on it didn’t mean I’d agreed not to pay Bash back.