Page 125 of Live for Me

Goosebumps scattered across my skin. “W-what?”

Frustrated I wasn’t on the same page as him, he stalked back over to me, his arms wide. “I’m just trying to take care of my wife, but look at what being nice gets me,” he barked, pointing back to the painting. “My wife should not be fucking painting pictures of her ex.”

My wife.

My wife.

My wife.

Sweet fucking Monet. This man was insane.

Bat shit crazy.

His dark eyes snapped over to mine, fury taking over now. “I don’t think I should be nice to you anymore, my love. I think I’ve given you too much freedom…too much grace.” I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth and my back against the tree, pulling my knees up. He bent over slightly, getting in my space, his soulless eyes pinning me in place. “I should’ve killed that cowboy when I had the chance.”

I jerked.

“Hell, I still had those military contractors on my fucking payroll back then, and either one of them could’ve easily taken the shot when Beau was down on one knee, trying to take you from me.”

I stopped breathing.

No.

No.

It couldn’t be.

It couldn’t—

A soft chuckle left him then, and he reached out to touch the cheek he’d just backhanded. “I hated hitting you that night, Abbie. I hated doing it just now too, but you have to learn to listen. It’s the only way this is going to work.”

Ricky wasn’t just my stalker.

Ricky was the man who drove me away from Hallow Ranch.

Ricky was the one who made me break Beau’s heart.

His eyes scanned my face for a moment before he sighed in disappointment. “You know, I thought something happened to you two weeks ago. I was scared shitless, my love. I came over—like I usually do—to spend some time with you while you showered, and your house was empty. Then, you didn’t show upat work the next day…” He trailed off, pulling his hand away to rise to his full height. “None of it made sense until I found the bounty hunter at your house, and now, I’m thinking I should’ve killed him too.”

Ash.

He was talking about Ash.

“Then, Hallow Ranch had been calling my fucking office for days, which pissed me off. All I cared about was finding you; I couldn’t give a shit about this damn ranch. You were my main priority, but then, Chase Bowen started getting on my ass about it.” He paused, looking at me. “Do you know how fucking annoying that man is? And the way he treats your mother is criminal.”

My mother?

All of a sudden, a wave of dizziness slammed into me, and my eyelids felt heavy.

Ricky made a satisfied sound. “Glad to finally know those drugs are finally kicking in.”

“What the hell do you know about my mother?” I pushed out, my words slightly slurred.

Fuck. Fucking fuck. He drugged me.

And I didn’t know with what.

He shot me a look. “Abbie, who do you think has been the one taking care of her, providing her with what she needs all these years?”

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