If there are other ways to demonstrate my loyalty to the Lippert family – and keep the benefits of my life here – shouldn’t I explore them? My mind surprises me, then, by turning to Ivan. He had told me himself that he was throwing his hat into the ring. And, well. He noticed me in ways that Danie
Jerome drives casually down the country roads close to the stables, singing along with the old country music from the 50s and 60s that’s playing on the radio. I smile, watching and listening to him. Who knew that a guy trying to work his way up in a mafia family could sing so well.And knew so much
“Ah, come on,” he says, wrinkling his nose at me. “Let someone else exercise your horse today. Hang out with me instead.”“Seriously?” I say, tilting my head as I look at him. “You think that if you block the path towards the thing that I actually want to do, I’ll just cave and go out with you?” He
That afternoon, I have a lot more fun than I’ve had in a long time. Perhaps made even more fun by the knowledge that when I get home, Kent is going to kill me. So, I’d better live it up while I can.“Another!” I call to the bartender, raising my hand to get his attention. Ivan laughs at me, pullin
“No,” I say, narrowing my eyes, my smile dropping a little bit. I’m serious now, not playing anymore. “But I thought…I thought you were just trying to date me for…for who I am. For the connections you would make, if you took me away from Daniel.”Ivan doesn’t flinch at that. Just holds my eye contac
Kent doesn’t wait for me to climb the steps up to the house. Instead, he goes in ahead of me, leaving me to follow dutifully behind.I feel my stomach turn over for the second time today, though this time for totally different reasons. I would feel better, frankly – understand it more – if Kent were
“Have I not been kind to you, Fay?” Kent scolds. “Have I not given you your horse, given you your sister back? You have everything you need to live a happy life, if you’d just stay within the lines I draw for you.”His voice raises in the final words of his sentence, and I clench my teeth as I hear
I pound my hands against Kent at first, desperate to get away, but he holds me steadily against him with that arm wrapped around my waist, with that steady hand wrapped in the hair at the base of my neck. I am locked in place as he moves his mouth against mine, his movements slow, controlled, taking