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“What does he want? Can’t you give it to him?”

“No, I can’t fucking give it to him! It’s my pay-day, I just need to work out how to cash in. I just have to hide for a bit. I need cash.”

“I-I don’t have any money.”

She gasped as he grabbed her upper arms in a powerful grip.

“Fuck, Abby! I’m desperate.”

“And I’m sick of bailing you out of trouble all the time!” she exploded, surprising herself as much as him. That was probably the only reason she managed to break his hold on her.

“I have to go. These are not men you fuck around with!”

“Then why did you get messed up with them? I’m already paying off Mr. Markovich for you.”

Max snorted. “Markovich has got nothing on these fucking guys. He looks like a goddamn teddy bear in comparison. “

Why did she stay here? Why didn’t she sell the house and disappear to somewhere he couldn’t find her? A sense of rightness came over her. It was the only thing to do. She’d sell and disappear. Couldn’t be that hard, right?

It made her feel slightly ill to leave him in a mess. But he brought this on himself. And at some stage she had to decide just where the limit was. How far she was willing to go for him?

Was she willing to die for him? Because she was very much scared that’s where this was going to end up, with her being murdered because of his choices. His actions.

Well, fuck him.

Okay, so they were brave words. And she wasn’t really sure she had the courage to back them up. But just as she was trying to decide how to get rid of him, because there was no way she was staying in this house with him, she heard a vehicle pull up outside. Max darted to the side of the window and pulled back the screen curtain slightly

“Who the fuck is that? Shit. It’s one of those uptight holier-than-thou prick heads from Sanctuary Ranch.”

“How do you know?” she asked. Was it Kent?

“It’s written on the side of his truck, of course.” His voice clearly told her she was an idiot.

Patience. Just get rid of him. Then she could figure out a way to get out of here. How long would it take to sell her house?

Or maybe she should just move and leave it behind? Take her paycheck and go.

It wouldn’t be enough to get her far. Probably not enough to buy one of those fake identities. How did someone go about finding a person who made a fake identity? She guessed Max would know.

A knock at the door had her startling. Her brother turned to her. “No one can know I’m here. Got it?”

“What if he wants to come in? Maybe you should leave.”

He shook his head. “Need a place to stay for a bit.”

Oh God, he was staying? She had to wrap her arms around her, jumping as another knock hit the door, this one a bit more impatient.

“Get rid of him, Abby. Or else.”

9

She walked to the door and took a steadying breath. She glanced over her shoulder once to where Max stood. He scowled at her threateningly.

With a shaking hand, she opened the door.

Surprise filled her as she saw it wasn’t Kent standing there. Followed promptly by disappointment. She squelched that. She didn’t want it to be Kent. He was a jerk. He’d kissed her, then told her it had been a mistake.

So, she should be relieved to see Macca standing there. And that’s what she tried to convince herself anyway.