Page 87 of Degrading Her

“The Feldman Farm, of course,” she lifted her shoulders, “Though Iwillrename it. Hatchcom Focus would be the obvious choice, but that was my husband’s operation, and Lander’s pet project before that. And your sweet family took care of both of them, so…” She relaxed her shoulders. “I’ll have to come up with something that’s completely me.”

“Hatchcom Focus killedourmen,” Sawyer said.

What were they talking about?

“You stole and killed our men, snaked our contracts,andkilled my husband.” She angled her head at me. “I ought to kill her. We wouldn’t beeven,but we would certainly be more balanced.”

“I can’t give you the Feldman Farm,” he said.

“Then I can’t promise that your little girlfriend will live.”

I moved my lips to whisper his name, but I couldn’t make myself say the word. Was she bluffing? Or would she kill me?

She had already drugged me twice. What wouldn’t she do?

Sawyer raised his head. “Take me instead.”

“What?” Erica asked, a hand on her chest.

“Take me in her place,” he repeated. “Tie me up. Let her go. Call her a rideshare. I don’t care. But let Fiona go, and you can kill me instead.”

She rubbed her hands together, shifting her body weight as she lined up with the gun.

“That is interesting,” she said. “But I don’t want you. I want your business.” Sawyer didn’t say anything. He could die for me, but he would never give up his family’s legacy.And that hurt. “That’s it, then?” Erica continued. “You’ll die for her, but you won’t give up the farm?”

“With me under your control, you could negotiate with my brother. You might be able to sway him.”

Erica laughed. “I’m not that stupid, Sawyer. Your brother is just as headstrong as you are. Though—” she tilted her head, “—that could be fun. Using one Feldman to incite another.” She put her hand on the gun, her gaze landing on me. “I want the Feldman Farm, and I’m not going to say it again.”

Sawyer’s blue-gray eyes were empty, like a dusky sky. “Call a rideshare for her. Then we’ll talk.”

“Agree to it, or I kill her now.”

She aimed the gun at me. I held my breath.

“It’s yours,” he said.

A wide smile spread across Erica’s face. She put the gun on the table and typed on her phone.

“Go wait out front,” she said to me. Then she turned to Sawyer. “Hands behind your back.” She pulled handcuffs out from her purse. “I apologize; I’d dose you too, but I’m afraid I’ve run out.”

He stared at me as I tried to push myself up.

“Hands,” Erica demanded. Finally, Sawyer put himself in the correct position while Erica handcuffed his hands behind his back. She twisted over her shoulder toward me. “Do you need help walking or something?”

It was so obvious now. Erica had been putting on an act all along too. Pretending to be my friend so she could get close to Sawyer. So she could kill him.

I steadied myself, standing up straight.

Was this my fault?

Erica faced Sawyer, her back to me. “It’s sad how you’vewatched her from afar all of these years. Like some kind of lone guardian angel.”

All of these years?

“She’s not a part of this,” he warned.

Then it clicked for me. The dice. Taking me home.

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