Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 41621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
The collection company is called Dominion Debt Recovery.
A subsidiary of Patron Holdings.
My ex is trying to buy the forest out from under Rutger.
A fist pounds on the door, and I jump, dropping the loose pages back onto the table. They scatter across its surface. “Lindsay?” I call hopefully. I don’t think any of the other people at camp would come up here.
The fist pounds again.
Knock, knock, knock.
I stand and open the door.
“Hey Tess, baby,” says Don Patron. He looks so short now that I’ve gotten used to looking up at Rutger.
My heart plummets to splash down in my stomach with a horrible acid burn. The dress that made me feel so confident in front of artists now feels way too revealing. Don is looking over my cleavage like he can touch it with his eyeballs, and I’m so revolted that I can’t help covering up with my hands.
“How—how did you find me?”
“My guys were here earlier,” Don says, snapping his tongue in his cheek, his devil eyes lapping me up and down. “They recognized you from the little house party you abandoned. I wasn’t planning on handling this business deal personally, but once I learned you were involved, I jumped in my car right away. Luckily I was just down the mountain in town, talking with some…officials I know. You wouldn’t believe how much I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“What do you want?”
“We’ve got unfinished business, baby,” Don says. My gut curdles. “You and me. Me and Rutger. It seems like Rutger’s got a hold of all the pretty things I want right now. This forest…you…”
“Well, you can’t have me. We’re done. I thought that was pretty clear.”
Even though he’s still leaning against the doorway, pretending to be casual, something dangerous uncoils in his body. He goes rigid. “Baby,” he says like it’s a curse word, “you don’t get to decide when we’re done.”
I try to close the door.
He puts his foot in the way. “Trying to run again?”
“You keep virgin blood like fucking trophies,” I hiss, shoving him back with the heels of my hands. “You’re gross.”
“I’m a conquerer, baby.” He looks smug.
“Funny word for creep.” I glare at him straight in the eye. “You should know I’m not your type anymore. So you can fuck all the way off.”
His face darkens. He licks his lips as he looks over me.
“Well, well, well. You’ve gotten popped. That doesn’t mean you’re not my type.”
“If your type is ‘girls I can control,’ then I’m not that, either!”
“Listen up, bitch.” Don is done acting flirty and charming. He pushes the door open the rest of the way, backing me into the cabin. I should scream, but I’m frozen. He’s not a man to be underestimated. He is gross but he’s also dangerous. “I’ve got so many lawyers, I could take down the whole state if I wanted. Hear me? I’m gonna get this land, one way or another.”
“You can’t do that!” My confidence is flagging. “It’s… It’s all he has left of his grandparents. It would kill him to lose it.”
“Oh, cry me a fucking river. Who gives a shit about that dumb ape? This is business. But… You know what? You could convince me otherwise. Come with me and I’ll drop everything. Leave the forest alone. I don’t like losing, Tess. You took what was mine. I had you right where I wanted you, and you slipped away and gave that virgin blood of yours to someone else. Now, you can fix it. You come with me, leave him, and I’ll drop all this land business..”
“Come with you?” Hot tears pluck at my eyes.
“If you don’t, then I’m gonna take everything. Let’s see how much he still wants you when he realizes you could have saved him, and you didn’t.”
Don can ruin us. I know he can do it.
That swaggering, slimy confidence of a businessman has opened a lot of doors for him.
Wouldn’t Rutger rather have his land than me?
It’s the least I could do.
“This offer expires in one minute,” Don says, looking at a watch that costs more than I’ve ever made in my whole life. “Come with me or destroy Rutger. Your choice, bitch.”
“Stop. I’ll do it.” I’m so choked up, I can barely get the words out. My hands are shaking when I pick up Frida to kiss the top of her head. She purrs and bumps her head against my lips, unaware that this needs to be goodbye. “Stay here, sweetie. You’ll be safe with Rutger. He’ll take care of you better than I ever could.”
Don sneers. “That thing’s still alive, huh? Now move it.” He grabs me by the wrist and jerks me toward the door. I set Frida on the sofa and make sure the cabin door closes securely so that she doesn’t get out.
His car is waiting for me.