a

omething I'd suspected long ago–that Jaxson had underworld connections. Scratch that. He was apparently the bo

alked to Jaxson moments ago, and he'd been so kind, pr

like property, and having Jaxson be the

oing my best to ignore Jaxon-which was har

e silent treatment fo

the window to hide the tears of

wasn't a man in my life

exy voice made me quiver, and his warm breath reaching the back of my neck made me shiver. I hat

ed to my dad's stupid offer? Now that he owned me,

ke I was something to be owned. It didn't matt

ut wonder what it would

hough. Definite

elp but scoff, even as I got out, slamming the door behind me as

owed Ivan and the boy

don't need any h

k a breath, trying not to lose it. No, that wa

wasn't about to make it worse for mys

hat, I made my way into the house and tried to shut the door behin

I'd been sure for a long time that I'd leave when I finally had enough money

n the fireplace mantle, and it reminded me

air and put me on his shoulders to see the world, who'd sneak candy to me after dinner when Mom

nvelopes full of money, or what was left of the money, dully wondering how my

is that I knew it was pocket change compared to what Jaxon made a

ut the window and making a break for it, starting a new life som

a momen

underworld or something. I might've been upset, but I wasn't stupid, even though

pairs of shoes, the photo from the fireplace, and the few items I had that Dad hadn't stolen or pawned off–yet:

came a deep, familia

g against the doorframe, just watching me, mak

ou're asking. I said it wouldn't take long," I said, then paused

n too good, offering his help, his sympathy. While I ha

, afraid, and disgusted I was, this felt like a particularly twis

know what he

ou don't agree?" he asked, shrugging casually as if he hadn't just bough

d no one," I spat ba

tion," he said, shifting

gritted out, my grip tightening

u," he insisted, meetin

"Great. You've protected me then. Congratulations. N

g off the wall and prowling toward me; unconsciously, I took a step back. "Do you

t as Jaxon slammed a hand next to my head, caging me in and maki

u now, so that doesn't m

o believe the words coming out

ght've cared about me, but there was no way I was strong enough to stop him from doing anything he wanted.

dn't do that, he meant. "I'm try

mean?" I countered, shifting

Like a f*ck

a. You just didn't realize it. A cage your

and making me shiver at the hot touch. He slid his hand up, gho

ecious thin

, despite how I should feel, it wasn't easy to stop wanting someone you had wanted for years, not when Jaxon did stuf

that felt like something more, like he actually wa

ed, but no, he wasn'

ur faces nearly touched, and I could feel his hot breath

abbed my duffle bag, slinging it over h

time tonight." Jaxon spun around, leaving me there to catch my b

t have to with the

he had to be the top boss, and very well connected. The whole town was probably in Jaxon's back pocket;

find me-if I could even get out of his hous

. Just-d

ow. Even worse, now I was horny and p*s

aken it anywhere and neither did he. That's ho

uch respect for my

my room, silently sliding into the car, once more refusing to even look, let