Page 46 of Bossed By the Orc

If I was at a different point in my life, I’d hold onto this gorgeous, grumpy male with both hands. But I needed to focus on getting my family out of debt before moving back. I couldn’t live without the people I loved. My parents and Becca were the priority in my life and I needed to remember that.

No matter how toe curling the orgasms are.

“Tell me the issue,” he growled, his brow dipping low. “Now.”

There he is.

He’d been trying to act like he wasn’t the bossiest, pushiest male I’d ever met, but he couldn’t hold it in for long. I shook my head, tilting my chin so he would know I meant business. “No.”

I watched him grind his jaw, his tusks gleaming at me. I held back the urge to fan myself. This male could churn my butter without even trying.

“I can help you. If you’d just stop being so stubborn—” he started and I felt my jaw drop.

“I’m stubborn? Oh, Dristan, you have to be kidding. Have you ever met yourself?” I scoffed.

He shrugged, as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. “I’m not stubborn, I’m right,” he grumbled, crossing those massive arms over his chest.

I held back the eye-roll by sheer force of will, taking a step away from him. “It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I’m telling you we need to go back to being boss and employee,” I told him, the distance feeling wrong somehow between us. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to go any further.”

His glower told me he didn’t agree, but I was sure I was right. He parted his lips to speak, but my phone let out a jarring ring.

Startled, I pulled it from my pocket, looking down at the display.

Mom.

“Excuse me,” I murmured, hurrying to my bedroom and closing the door behind me. “Hi, Mom.”

“Pen,” she whispered and something in the tone of her voice had me on high alert. “There are people here and they’re saying we have to leave.” Her words were hushed and the worry in her tone was obvious. “I tried to explain to them that you were paying the bank, but they said the bank wasn’t involved anymore.”

“What?” I paced, feeling impotent and too far away to help. “No, Mom, I spoke to the bank. They said we’d have more time. I made the payment and everything.”

“That’s what I told them, sweetheart.” The sniffle in her voice broke my heart. “Your father’s with them now, but they’re being so aggressive.”

“Are they inside the house?” My heart was in my throat and fear was a living thing burning in my chest.

“No, they’re on the porch. Your father refused to let them in. But they’re getting so pushy,” she sniffled again. “I didn’t know what to do. So I called you.”

“Call Sheriff Burke, Mom,” I told her, grabbing the empty suitcase from the closet. “I’ll be there by tomorrow. If I get on the train now, it won’t take me long to get there.”

“Oh, sweetheart, no. We’ll call the police and they’ll deal with it. You don’t have to come down,” she insisted, trying to sound strong.

“Mom, you need me—”

“No! They’re probably confused and thinking that we haven’t paid the bank. I just needed to hear your voice.” Her mother’s sniffles were done and indignation was filling her voice instead. “They have no business here anymore. I’m calling the Sheriff. You don’t worry, sweetheart.”

“Mom—” I tried again, but the terror that had filled my chest was easing as her fear was transforming into anger.

“I’m calling the police as soon as I hang up. They’ll get this sorted and I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay,” I whispered, sitting on the edge of my bed, my fingers and toes tingling with the need to do something. Anything.

“They’ve been sending us a bunch of letters, too,” she huffed and my brow furrowed.

“Mom, that’s harassment!” I insisted, the anger coming back in waves.

“Yes, exactly. That’s the word. I’ll say that to Sheriff Burke. It’s about time that damn male earns his keep.” She tsked, before her voice softened. “I’m glad I spoke to you, sweetheart. I feel better now. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said softly, but I heard the tell-tale sound of the beep when she ended the call. I stared down at my phone, torn. I should go home. The calls to the bank couldn’t be working if the developer was still threatening my parents.

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