Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 648

"What do you think you're doing?" I shouted.

The men turned to look at me, their eyes scanning me from head to toe. One of them, his gaze practically dripping with greed. "Well, well. Since when does Lindale get girls this pretty?" Another one chimed in, "What's it to you, sweetheart? You looking to rent a place? Or are you friends with the lady in here?"

"Seems to me I was the one asking the questions," I said, my tone icy.

The man pounding on the door swaggered over, his expression oozing sleaze and menace. "We're just here looking for pretty girls. And look at that we found one."

As he spoke, he reached out a finger toward my chin.

I dodged his touch. He let out an amused "Huh."

He said, "Oh, feisty. I like that. Feisty girls are more fun."

He signaled his companions with a quick look. "Looks like this trip wasn't wasted after all," he said smugly.

Before I could react, they started closing in. I stepped back, dodging hands as they reached for me. The situation was spiraling fast when a voice broke through the chaos. "Stop! Let her go!"

Demi.

I whipped around just in time to see her charging toward us. She swung a stick without hesitation, landing a solid hit on one man's arm.

snarled. "We've been looking for you, and here you are, walking straight into

attention shifted to

no way I was letting them hurt Demi. Spotting a loose brick on the ground, I grabbed it and hurled it at one of the

shoulder, and he stumbled back with a yelp

didn't move, didn't flinch. Ever since Hayden was gone, it was like something had ignited inside me a stubborn, unrelenting fire that refused

I drove my leg into his gut. The kick landed hard, knocking the air out of him. He

managed to grab Demi. One of them was reaching for her hair when I shouted, "If you want your money, don't

Both men froze, their heads snapping toward

pulled Demi behind me. Fixing them with an icy glare,

They repeated, thrown

you're here for money, you'd better have

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Chapter 648

+25 BONUS

men exchanged wary glances before one of them hurried over to the guy I'd kicked, rifling through his pocket. After a moment, he

signed by Demi. The amount:

said nothing, her silence speaking volumes-it was

principal," one of the men sneered. "With

off and squeezing people

scanned the date on the IOU. Six months. In six months, the interest had ballooned to