The Boss's Possession

EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® www.evernightpublishing.com Copyright© 2023 Sam Crescent ISBN: 978-0-3695-0791-4 Cover Artist: Jay Aheer Editor: Lisa Petrocelli ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. THE BOSS’S POSSESSION Crave and Claimed, 4 Sam Crescent Copyright © 2023 Prologue It was not easy to intrigue Carson Dexter. Considering he was the most feared man in the state, if not the country, it took a lot to gain his attention. One of his men told him that Mrs. Lauren Kaye wanted to speak to him. This did make him stop working. He watched as the older woman, in her seventies, entered his office. It was strange for her to be here, in his nightclub, where he conducted a great deal of legal business. He saw Lauren had lost a great deal of weight in the last few months and as he sat back, he happened to notice the lack of spring in her step. “Mrs. Kaye,” he said. “Mr. Dexter.” Without invitation, she took a seat in front of him. They had spoken many times over the past few years. Usually, their meetings left him somewhat frustrated. He had to admire the woman’s grit, though. Of course, when he first approached her to buy her fabric store, he’d done so with the intention of tearing it down to build something more profitable for himself. Everything had changed by the fifth meeting, when he’d walked into her shop and met Willow Kaye, the older woman’s granddaughter. He leaned forward, pressing the tips of his fingers together. “You’ve come to me, Mrs. Kaye. I suggest you start talking. I can only assume you’d like to make a deal with me?” Lauren sighed. “You and I both know I don’t need security for the shop. I run a profitable business, and I don’t need your hooligans for protection either.” She was unaware that he had men stationed close to the shop, just in case. Normally, he made people pay for his services, but for Lauren, it was free. Well, mainly for Willow, but he also made sure to keep Lauren protected. “I…” Lauren stopped. “I know who you are and what you do. You’re not a good man, nor are you a kind man, but I know you won’t hurt her. At least, not intentionally.” Carson stared at the woman, curious where this was going. “Life is short, you know that, right? I’m sure all of us older people tell younger people how fleeting it is, and I can promise you, they’re all right. Life is way too short. Before you know where you are, you’ve lost your husband, your daughter, and you’re taking care of your granddaughter the best way you know how. Unfortunately, I have fallen to the same illness that took my husband and child,” Lauren said. He knew all about her history. He’d met Archie, her husband, before. He was a good man, a fair man. Since he met Willow, he’d made it his personal mission to know every single detail about the young woman. Willow Kaye was twenty-one years old, and when she was thirteen, she lost her father to a drunk driver, and three years later, her mother to cancer. At sixteen she was living with her grandmother, and he’d only met her last year. The moment he had seen Willow and witnessed her smile, he knew he had to have her. She belonged to him, and so, little by little, he worked his power. Lauren would be his biggest obstacle. “You’re dying?” Carson asked. “Yes, and I have to say I’m quite surprised you’re not happy about it. I’ll no longer be in the way.” Carson got to his feet, not at all surprised to find that Lauren knew he wished to pursue Willow. “Why have you come to me?” “I’ve seen the way you look at her. I know of the men you’ve got stationed around the street. Even some of the customers that come to us are part of your little team. When I’m gone, Willow will have nothing. She’ll have no one and I know it’s going to break her heart. She has been dealt a bad hand, has known way too much loss.” Lauren bowed her head and he saw her hand clenched into a fist. “But, I know you’ll take care of her. You’ll keep her safe and you will make sure she never knows a moment of sadness again.” “You’re giving me your granddaughter?” he asked. “I’m asking you to love her. I’m asking you to find it in your heart to want more than pain. Willow is a sweet woman, and I know you’re not used to women like her. I’m asking you to take care of her.” “And what do I get in return?” Carson asked. Lauren smiled. “Something I imagine you’ve never experienced before in your life.” He waited, curious as to what this older woman thought she was offering. Lauren stood. “Someone who will eventually love you back. Someone who wants to know that you’re okay. Someone who no matter the danger will run toward you, and never want to see you hurt. I’m giving you the chance to have a family of your own.” Carson wanted to laugh in her face, but he couldn’t. “How long do you have left?” he asked. “Three months.” “I’ll take care of Willow.” **** Three Months Later Willow stepped into the fabric store and flicked on the light. Everything was as it should be. Nothing out of place. She sniffled. Today had been an awful day, just like the day she’d buried her father, her mother, her grandfather, and