Page 8 of Razor's Property

“Since your stubborn ass won’t quit, I’m going to have to keep you here. Once you don’t show up for a couple days, they’ll fire your ass.”

“You can’t do that! I need that money, Sean!” If I don’t pay the bank by Friday, they’ll start the foreclosure process.

“You want to earn money dancing? You dance for me.”

I throw my head back in exasperation. Not sure why everything has to be so hard. I was finally getting things in order, getting my life back on track, and now he’s shown up and is trying to screw it all up for me again.

“Sorry, but you can’t afford me. I make two grand a night at the club.”

“I’ll pay you four.”

The hell? How the hell does he have… No. I know exactly how he has that kind of money. Running around with a bunch of criminals, doing Lord knows what.

“Sorry, I don’t want your blood money.”

“And I don’t want you stripping for those men. So, too fucking bad.”

I wonder why it bothers him so much. It shouldn’t. He left over eight years ago and never came back or thought about me twice, so why the fuck does he suddenly give a shit about anything concerning me now?

“Like I said, you don’t have a say anymore. Now, I’m ready to go home.” I go to move to the door, but he steps in front of me, blocking my path. His dark eyes pinning me in place.

“And like I said, you’re not going anywhere.”

“You can’t just keep me here. That’s kidnapping.”

“Call it whatever the fuck you want. I can and I will.” He turns and heads into the kitchen, giving me his back as though his word is final. He pulls down a glass and pours himself a whiskey. I walk over and snag it off the counter, tossing it back. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand as the burn almost chokes me. I breathe through my nose, trying not to look like a silly girl who can’t handle her booze.

His brow cocks and a smirk forms at the corners of his lips, angering every part of me. “You want another, toots?”

I shake my head, handing him back his glass and then turn and storm out his front door. I start marching down his drive, trying not to flinch as every rock digs into the bottom of my bare soles. We’re a good thirty minutes from my house and twenty to the club. But I remember a little fishing supply shack a few milesdown the mountain. I’ll have to go there and call Kat. See if she can come get me.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Old Sal’s,” I throw over my shoulder.

“He passed away a few years back. Closest store is fifteen miles away.”

His heavy footsteps are getting closer.

“Then I’ll just have to bum a ride.”

I’m suddenly caught around the waist. Stopped by his huge arm. “Don’t be stupid, Kens. You’ll get yourself kidnapped. Now, I’m taking you back inside.”

That’s rich. I already am kidnapped.

He lifts me from the ground and marches back into his cabin. If it weren’t for the truth of his words, I would put up another fight. But I know what would happen to a girl like me. Someone would offer me a ride and then dump my body somewhere in the woods once they had their fill. Which means I’m stranded until the asshole decides to take me back. Or until he falls asleep, and I get ahold of his phone.

“I’m not dancing for you,” I state as soon as he puts me back on my feet.

“It’s time for bed, babe.”

He suddenly sounds exhausted. I feel it too. The stress seeping into my bones. My mind dog-tired from my overwrought emotions. It’s been a long night. And the sun is about to rise.

“I’m taking the bedroom.”

I turn and stalk down the hallway back to the master, crawling right into the big bed, which looks exactly as I remember. A blue and brown plaid comforter with a big fur blanket at the base. But… it doesn’t smell like mothballs or detergent. As soon as I climb in, I’m engulfed by the smell of Sean, sending me right back to when I was a little girl. I’d burymy nose in Sean’s chest to breathe him in. His smell always brought me comfort. It was the smell of home, and it made me feel safe… loved.

But in truth, he didn’t love me. Or he wouldn’t have hurt me.

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