Page 44 of Bears Not Included

“It’s too risky—”

“I can handle it.”

My stomach turns over as I put into action my escape plan, despite them trying to talk me out of it. I’m confident I’m smart enough to pull it off. I will.

But as the day goes on, I’m struck with super confidence and intense fear that stays with me constantly.

Luckily, I have work today, so hopefully my mind will be occupied with other stuff. I stare at myself in the mirror, and I can’t believe I’m looking at the same person I was two days ago. Stay strong, I keep telling myself as I pull the checkered waitress skirt down over my butt and then tighten my ponytail.

I wasn’t going to back out of going to Jimmy’s. And if they think I’m going to put in my notice to leave, they couldn’t be more wrong. I will continue working for Jimmy and Babs if it kills me. I won’t desert them.

Thanks to Veronica, who became my mediator, I was able to get my waitress’ uniforms from home. How she pulled it off, I don’t know.

I’m forced to use a tote bag from the closet. It looks like it costs more than the whole of what Jimmy’s is worth. But the other purses are too fancy, and I need a bag in case Kayla’s contact has my papers ready for me. I need a place to hide them until I decide what to do.

Since I’m not allowed to have my own car or drive, for that matter, I'm guessing I will be driven there by one of their people, but whatever, I don’t care as long as I get to work.

I find my way downstairs and eventually find the front door of this impossibly massive house, only to stop dead in my tracks at the sight of Callen lounging against a car that I know must cost the price of an island. It’s some sort of classic car; I know that much, and suddenly I feel it fits him perfectly. What am I saying, I don’t know him at all. I care even less what car he drives and how it suits his personality.

Still, I’m not sure what’s going on. Veronica told me a driver would be waiting for me outside.

“Hello, pretty girl,” Callen says softly, and my stomach tumbles and my breath catches in my throat. I can’t help but be momentarily stunned by his handsomeness, the way his dark eyes rove over me, and how his perfect lips curl into a grin.

Chapter Twenty-One

Livia

My body heats up. My heart starts that thudding thing it does whenever I’m near one of them. I pull myself together and remind myself who he is—who all three of them are.

My captors. I’m collateral damage with a wedding ring on my finger because, yes, Veronica didn’t only bring up my waitress outfit; she brought up a velvet box with another ring in it and a message that there’s a limitless supply of wedding rings, should I decide to demolish this one too. It’s as shamefully expensive as the previous one. I begrudgingly put it on simply because I didn’t have time for another spanking.

I give Callen a cold look, dispense with pleasantries, and get to the point.

“Veronica said there would be a driver here.”

“That would be me.”

No. No. No.

He opens the door for me. I hate it. I hate it so much that I want to scream, but I get into his car anyway. I have no other choice. Thankfully, my butt doesn’t hurt as much anymore after the belting Deacon gave me, but it’s a constant reminder all the same.

“You’re wearing your wedding ring. Good choice.”

“Well, what did you expect? Either wear this noose or face being punished with a belt and honey butter. Sickos.

“Oh, we said we wouldn’t be as lenient as a spanking and some anal punishment the next time.”

“I can’t think of anything more humiliating or disgusting than what you did to me already,” I say, angry all over again when I remember how quickly I came for them.

“No? The next time, it would be my cock in your tight ass, sweet Livia. Raw. Hard. Deep. Fucking you until you say whatever we want you to say.”

I whip my head away from his profile so quickly that I hear my neck creak, and a stinging shade of red coats my skin when Callen’s chuckle lingers in the air between us.

What is wrong with these men?

How the hell am I going to escape them? But I have a plan. I have to remember that.

I refuse to partake in the small talk that Callen offers as if he didn’t just threaten to put his whole cock in my butt if I was caught not wearing their wedding ring.

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