Page 110 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

Please, God. Please.

The words come out of nowhere. I've never even prayed before, and I don't even know if He'd care to listen.

Help me save him.

But when you're desperate, there's nothing you won't try.

Please.

My heart thuds against my chest as I climb up the snow-covered steps of Bucks. It looks like any old farmhouse on the outside. But as soon as I'm past its doors, it's as if I've stepped into another world, and it's one where I'm completely out of place.

Over a dozen armed men are standing guard, and at the center sits an older man behind a metal table scarred by nicks, scratches, and bullet holes.

Everyone here looks as if they eat death for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...while the most dangerous thing I've ever done in my life - aside from taking someone hostage - is forgetting my gloves when it was time to give my baby a medicated bath.

"Hello, miss. Are you lost?"

His friendly tone is an invitation of trust, but all it does is remind me of howniceMigs also sounded while threatening me over the phone.

I can feel everyone watching me as I move forward. They're obviously not taking any chances, not even with someone like me.

"I'm looking for a gold-plated collar." I was hoping to come across as confident, but the opposite happens when the words come tumbling out in a high-pitched squeak.

Way to go, Liz.

Not.

"We have a number of those in our collections. Perhaps you could be more specific?"

"It hasSunlight—-"

My voice trails off when I see the old man start scribbling on his tablet.

"You can have it back for this amount."

I feel like throwing up when I see what he's written.

$1000

"But since you're potentially a new customer, we're giving you a discount."

He crosses the old figure out and writes a new one.

$999

I clear my throat. "Do you, um, accept credit cards?"

"No."

"Venmo?"

"Cash only."

Oh God.

"I'm sorry, but I only have $120 with me."

He cracks a smile. "Because your honesty is a treat..." The older man touches the screen of his tablet with the tip of his stylus and shows me the adjusted price.

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