Page 19 of Mine to Dominate

Her eyes widened. Was the world going crazy? “You have no say in who I talk to.”

“Let me tell you a hypothetical story. Once, there was a sheriff no one wanted in their town. They did everything they could to make him leave, but nothing worked, so one day, there was an accident, and he was unfortunately killed in the line of duty.”

She gasped. “Oh, my God. Are you threatening to kill the sheriff?”

“Well, let’s see. That’s up to you.”

“How?” It felt like she was going to hyperventilate, her heart was racing so fast.

“You stay away from him…”

“I work for him.”

“You know what I mean. You stay away from him, and he’ll be fine.”

“What do I have to do with this? I’m not a threat to you.”

“Well, let me tell you. You’re both making me and my son very unhappy. If I see you both unhappy, it will help cheer me up enough to leave you two alone.”

“You’re fucking crazy.”

The light of fury that lit his eyes scared her to death. This man wasn’t all there. She knew enough to realize that a person couldn’t reason with people like this.

“I’ll just turn you in,” she said.

“That would be a mistake you would regret. This conversation is between you and me, and it will stay that way.”

God, she hated the pompous bastard. “I want you out of my house.”

“Not until I give you a warning. If you don’t do what I say or make the mistake of going to him, he’ll die, and you’ll be responsible.”

She bit her lip to prevent herself from crying out in anger and to keep the words she wanted to say in. She just wanted him out, now.

“Do you understand, dear?”

She nodded.

She flinched and moved out of the way when he stood and walked to the door. He calmly let himself out, and then everything was silent except for the refrigerator, the clock she heard in the kitchen, and her heartbeat. When she heard the car drive away, she raced to the door and locked and bolted it before running through her house, ensuring every door and window was locked up tight.

From there, she went into her bedroom closet, opened her safe, and pulled out three guns. They all used to be her father’s, and Darrell had taught her how to use them. She wasdamn good and could still beat her brother at targets. She’d put one in her bedroom, one in her car, and the other she’d keep in her purse.

After she showered, she lay in bed and knew without a doubt she wouldn’t get a wink of sleep. A few times, she’d look at her nightstand to make sure the gun was still there and ready. Only when the light of the sun could be seen did she relax enough to doze.

Chapter Ten

Kayla walked into the sheriff’s department and tried to smile at everyone that addressed her. This was the last place she wanted to be, but she had no choice.

Carol did a double-take when she saw her face. “What happened to you? Did you sleep at all last night?”

She tried to laugh. “Not really. I had menstrual cramps, and nothing helped.”

“Oh, hell, I get those. They knock you flat. I wish men would live through one day of our periods. It would probably kill them, though.”

Kayla smiled at that while she put her purse away.

“Nothing much happened last night,” Carol said. “And everything this morning has been almost subdued.”

She tried to act interested but couldn’t pull it off. “I’ll take over so you can go home and crash.”

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