Page 35 of Living Without

A sob caught in my throat. I held onto my stomach as chills broke out on my skin.

“Nary,” Baxter called. “Come here.”

The man who sat opposite Baxter stood and turned to me. My eyes widened at how good-looking he was. I bit my bottom lip. Even the hottest man could have the devil running through his veins.

The man grunted. His eyes narrowed. “This the bitch the Hawks are going crazy for?”

Tears brimmed and then fell. My heart broke once again knowing there would never be a chance to get Kelsey out. His words just confirmed it.

Doomed.

Clenching my jaw, I flicked my gaze to the side. One of Baxter’s men stood there and laughed after Baxter did. My eyes trailed down to his gun tucked into his jeans at the side.

“Yeah, that’d be her,” Baxter said.

“Don’t give a fuck anyway, boss wants her. He gets her or her family is dead.”

My head came up, eyes to him.Shit.Had he seen my gaze on Baxter’s man’s gun? My shoulders slumped forward. I couldn’t do anything, and it killed me. I couldn’t save Kelsey, myself, or my family.

I was stuck with no choices.

“Get your ass over here, bitch,” the man demanded, then looked to Baxter. “You got the money. I’m taking her now.”

“Not just yet.” Baxter smiled and stood. “You gotta sign some paperwork. All transactions are marked and signed off.”

“Fine,” he bit the words through clenched teeth. His eyes came back to me. “You dumb, bitch? I said get your ass over here, now.”

A new nightmare.

That was what he was.

Slowly, I made my way over and around the couch to be at his side. When he looked down at me, I raised my chin and glared. I thought for a second I saw his lips twitch, but when I glanced there, they dropped in a frown.

“How’d she get the bruised eye, healing lip, and scar?”

“Sorry, man, had to teach her a lesson, but the scar ain’t from any of us. It was from my cousin, stupid bitch obviously didn’t heed his warning so he shot her,” Baxter explained. His hand came out, and Stan placed some papers in them.

“Right.” My owner’s man laughed. “Fuckin’ stupid women never learnin’.”

“Damn right.” Baxter grinned and then looked back down at the papers in his hands. “This ain’t the right fuckin’ contract, dickhead. Go get it,” he barked at Stan, who shuffled out of the room.

A hand gripped my jaw. I gasped as my owner’s man turned my head to face his. “Pretty little thing, might have to ask boss if I can keep you.” He leaned in and sniffed. “Fuck, you smell delicious.” In further until his nose hit my neck. My heart beat near out of my chest at his next whispered words, “Name’s Gypsy. Here with your family, Nary. Stoke, Saxon. Be good.”

My family.

Goosebumps spread across my skin.

Stoke.Oh, God, my dad was out there.

Saxon.I caught the whimper by biting my lips between my teeth and closed my eyes tightly to stop the tears. A happy shiver raked over my body as Gypsy pulled back.

“Yeah, gonna ask for a taste of you.” His eyes went to Baxter where he clipped, “Let’s get this show on the road. I have her, and boss said nothing about signin’ some shit.”

“Don’t start being a dick ’cause you have a hard-on for her. Just wait a few seconds more.” His eyes snapped to one of his men. “Where in the fuck is Stan?”

“I’ll go find him.”

Baxter rolled his eyes. “Yeah, do that, idiot.” He ran a hand over his head. “So, what’s your boss got planned for her?”

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