Page 33 of Living Without

Meeting Kelsey’s eyes, I watched her nod. It sucked. Everything sucked. I got to my feet, my body trembling and weak, and made my way to the door. The bright light had me narrowing my eyes. I rubbed at them and blinked a few times. Without looking back, I followed Stan down the hall, opposite to the bathrooms. The place was huge. I didn’t know what lay behind most doors, and I really didn’t care. When we reached the end of the hall, Stan opened the door, which led to another freaking hallway. We walked down it, my feet dragging on the floor. I had no energy, even though I’d just eaten something. Having nothing for four days had taken its toll. My body felt disgusting and grimy. I was actually grateful to be having a shower later, but I wished I had the guts to ask if Kelsey could also have one. Our bodies were caked in grime, our hair a tangled mess, and I smelt. With every breath I took, I cringed.

At the end of the hallway, Stan stopped at the door and knocked. Baxter called from the other side to enter. Stan opened the door, stepped in and to the side, and I slowly entered. It was an office. There were file cabinets, cupboards, and two chairs that sat in front of Baxter’s desk. I looked to him as he sat behind his desk, and he gestured for me to sit. I did.

Baxter leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk, then moved them to the stack of folders where he tapped his fingers on the top. “Had a lot of interest on you. Finally narrowed it down to one man.”

My stomach churned. The precious food I’d eaten threatened its way up.

Licking my dry, cracked lips, I asked, “Who?”

“Doesn’t matter who. You just need to know he’ll be here tomorrow to collect.” He shifted in his seat, leaning back. “You also need to know if you cause any shit, well, the man who’s taking you knows who your family is. You don’t do as you’re told, he’ll kill the lot of them.” He smiled. “I also want to add, you fuck this deal up at any time, even after you’re gone, I’ll make sure Kelsey pays for your stuff-ups.” He winked. “I’m sure you know what I mean by that.” He stood and came around, kneeling in front of me. “You gonna be a good girl?”

Closing my eyes, I jumped and opened them again with tears brimming when his hands landed on my thighs. “I’ll do as I’m told,” I said.

He hummed under his breath. “Good.” He stood once again, only to lean over me. His hands spread my legs where he cupped my mound. “Would have loved a have had a go at your pussy. Would have fucked it good and proper, but they want you in working order for when the guy’s man comes to get you.” He straightened. “You do well making yourself pretty, shower, eat some more, and tomorrow you’ll get another shower where you need to make yourself all pretty, and I promise I’ll be gentle… well, gentler on Kelsey later.”

God.

“I’ll do all that if you leave her be for the night?”

He threw his head back and laughed. Shaking it, he brought it down to look at me. “Can’t do that, sweetheart. You’ve made me all hard.” He went to pass, only to grip my hair and rip my head back, startling a cry from me. “You don’t make demands here. You do as you’re told, bitch.” His hold left me. Slowly, I pulled my head forward. “Get her out of here to shower and then more food. I want Kelsey in my room in the next ten.”

“Right, boss.”

Shaken, I stood and turned. What I wanted to do was to run through the still open door Baxter had just left through, find a window, and get the hell out of there. I didn’t want an owner to come. I didn’t want a new, fresh hell to be brought down on me, but most of all, I didn’t want to leave Kelsey.

How was I going to get us out of the mess?

I only saw one option.

Death.

Chapter Twelve

SAXON

The following day

When I woke, I had fuckin’ drool coming from my mouth onto the pillow. Rolling to my back, I wiped it away and glared to the ceiling. They’d drugged me. Fuckin’ drugged me. Suffice to say, I hadn’t slept in a god-arse long time, even when they thought I had, I didn’t, and their druggin’ me told me they goddamn knew it. “Fuckin’ cunts.”

“Least you’re alive and stronger now. We can make a safe play to get our girl back knowin’ you won’t crash on your feet from exhaustion.”

I knifed up to see Stoke sitting on the end of the bed. Groaning, I rubbed a hand over my face. “What you doin’ in here?”

“Came to make sure you ain’t gonna give us shit about it. My woman was worried about you. Fuck, we all were. You been like a zombie gettin’ around on your feet. You needed sleep, Vicious, and now you have, get your arse up and to church. We’re goin’ over shit before the run.”

Goddamn, it was good to know I had people at my back. Even if they pissed me the fuck off. “Can I take a piss first?” I asked.

Stoke snorted and made his way to my door. “Yeah, while you’re in there have a shower. If you don’t, I’ll send in Mrs Cliff to help you.”

“Bastard,” I shouted to the closed door, with him on the other side chuckling. I’d asked Stoke the other day how he could still smile with his brothers, laugh even. He replied, “Because of my woman. She gives me courage, strength, and a reason to want to smile and laugh. She keeps me sane when I feel things crashing down.”

It was then I understood.

Nary, my angel, was the same even when she didn’t know it.

Every time things felt like they were crashing down, I’d ride until I found Nary. All I needed was a glance at her smiling face, her warm eyes, and fuckin’ beautiful body, and it’d calm me. She’d calm me. Hell, even when we were sparring back and forth, I enjoyed each moment because I got to hear her voice, see her eyes flare with annoyance, and sometimes hurt. Then I’d hate myself for hurting her.

Fuck. I had a lot to make up for.

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