Текст книги "Fear me"

Автор книги: B. B. Reid

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

Chapter Six

Later that day, I walked into fifth period with Keiran trailing behind. He had been standing outside the door, talking to Quentin as I walked up. When I entered the classroom he wordlessly followed me in.

I discreetly looked around for Willow as I sat in our seats from yesterday. I had to talk to her and see if she was okay.  She wasn’t in volleyball, French, or lunch and she hasn’t answered my texts. I don’t even know if she ever made it to school. I sat down in my seat from yesterday and texted Willow again.

Could Keiran have done something to her? “Monroe, come sit here.”

“I’m fine right here.” The silence that followed was more intimidating than if he had yelled and screamed and I knew now was not the time or place to piss him off. He wouldn’t care about the other people in the room. It would just be another opportunity to humiliate me.

I sighed and gathered my books to move and sat next to him. Keenan and Sheldon walked in a moment later with ruffled clothing and secretive grins on their faces as they made their way to the back but sat in the row in front of us.

"Mr. Masters and Ms. Chambers it would behoove you to make it on time to class next time. Tardiness will not be tolerated."

"Sure thing, Mr. Lawson but I don't think people say ‘behoove’ anymore," Keenan joked. The class erupted into laughter causing Mr. Lawson to turn red.

“Keenan, quit it,” Sheldon scolded.

“Yes, dear.”

I watched the couple as they settled in. Keenan was tickling and poking her, making her giggle. He always found reasons to touch her and I’ve noticed the way he looked at her. He seemed to really adore her despite his unfaithfulness, which I didn't understand. Sheldon was beautiful and I felt sorry for her.

“Hi, I’m Sheldon. Lake Monroe, right?” Sheldon smiled at me as she sat down with her bag. Her eyes were bright amber and her hair was a light shade of blonde. I always thought she looked exotic and admired the athletic build she got from cheerleading.

“Uh…yeah. Hi.” I replied but didn't return her smile. I was still wary of Sheldon—she was, after all, popular, gorgeous, and had an amazing rack. Shit, now I sound like Keenan. I often caught Keenan motor boating them for everyone to see.

She seemed nice enough but didn’t seem all that smart when it came to men. Keenan was a slut and made no secret about it, yet she stayed with him. I didn't understand that type of commitment although I never had a boyfriend thanks to Keiran.

“Senior year. You excited?” she asked. You have no idea. I nodded my head politely but said nothing else. I couldn’t see why she was talking to me much less sitting next to me. “So you and Keiran, huh? You two an item?” she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Keiran had been talking to Quentin but I knew he heard her question when his conversation with Quentin stopped and his attention shifted to me. I couldn’t rebuff him and I couldn’t tell her the truth either. His smirk told me he was enjoying the power he had over me.

I was saved from responding by Willow entering the classroom. When she spotted where I was sitting she sent me a questioning glance. I forced a smile but sucked in a breath when she walked over to me.

“Happy Birthday, Lake,” she said cheerfully as she leaned downed to kiss my cheek. Just as I was about to respond Keiran seized my chin in a hard grip and turned my face up to him.

“If you want to be cool then you can’t talk to her anymore. We talked about this. You have to drop your deadweight.”

My world came crashing down at the double meaning in his words. Silence passed between us as I stared at him with hate in my eyes.

“Lake?” Willow’s voice trembled and I knew she heard him. She was meant to.

I wanted to turn and reassure her. I couldn’t let him do this. I couldn’t let him take away the only two people that I had to love. Did giving up one really mean saving the other? Despite my doubts I knew I couldn’t risk it. He’d won. He knew the moment I submitted because he finally let go of my face.

My gaze dropped down to my notebook in front of me but I didn’t see it. I didn’t see anything. All I could feel was the weight of my best friend’s stare and the hurt I just caused her. She wordlessly walked to our normal seats and sat down. Only then did I allow my gaze to rise and it immediately landed on her slumped shoulders. Whoever said choosing between right and wrong was easy is a damn liar.

* * *

Drop your deadweight. I played the words over in my head repeatedly as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror. I didn’t like who I saw looking back at me.

I was mortified.

I hurt Willow.

I never hurt Willow and Willow never hurt me. Once class was over she practically ran out the room and I couldn’t stop her.

I finished cleaning up and tossed away the many tissues I used to cry my pain into. I never thought when I woke up this morning that any of this would happen. He said he would take her away from me but I didn’t believe him. There was a lot I didn’t want to believe. Like the fact that Keiran was going to use sex and control to destroy me and I had to let him.

I knew Keiran would consume me if I let him have me. I wouldn't be able to survive what he was planning without experience.

I finally left the bathroom to find Keiran leaning against the wall across from the bathroom door; one foot perched on the wall with his hands in his pockets. I stared at him and he stared back. When he crooked his finger, motioning for me to come to him, I gave into temptation.  He stood up straight and fisted his hand in my shirt bringing my chest flush with his.

“Whatever bullshit you’re telling yourself to escape what’s going to happen between us, drop it. I’ve already told you how it’s going to be. You want it just as bad as I do and I…will…have…you. End of discussion.”

It was safe to say that I was in deep shit.

* * *

I tried once again to reach Willow in the hour I'd been home. I figured there was no way he would know I talked to her but when I didn’t get an answer after the fifth or sixth time, I grew frustrated. I had allowed Keiran to tear us apart without lifting so much as a finger.

“Screw it,” I grabbed my keys and headed downstairs ignoring Keiran’s warning not to leave. He dropped me off after school and immediately left. Aunt Carissa was gone now for her tour and the house felt incredibly empty without her.

I stepped outside and locked up but an eerie feeling had me looking around nervously. I instinctively searched for a particular black muscle car but when I didn’t spot it anywhere I shook off the feeling and hopped into my car. Willow lived just around the corner in the neighboring cul-de-sac.

I was at her house a couple of minutes later and noticed her car outside. Her parents’ car was gone so I knew she was home alone. Buddy probably wasn't home as usual. He was a freshman but has already moved up in ranks at Bainbridge and earned the title as one of the hottest—even senior girls chased him. We’ve grown close over the years and he was like the little brother I would never get. I swallowed down the unwanted feeling of bitterness and rung the doorbell.

A few minutes passed but no one answered. Refusing to let my only friendship die I tried the doorknob. The door surprisingly opened so I entered, checking the living room and kitchen before moving upstairs.

“Willow?” I called out when I reached the landing. I could hear low sounds coming from her room as I moved forward. When she didn't answer I feared there was something wrong so I pushed the door open. “Willow?”

I walked in and instantly wished I hadn’t.

I could barely make out Willow on the bed covered by a large male body. Her legs were wrapped around his hips. Her head was thrown back and her eyes closed tight. She was gripping the muscular buttocks of the guy who had her pinned to the bed as her breasts rocked in rhythm with the headboard banging against the wall. Her passionate cries mixed with his lustful groans as he pounded her, forcefully. It was a wonder I couldn't make it out clearly before. Suddenly his head turned toward the door and he immediately spotted me as I stood frozen watching them.

Dash Chambers. Keiran’s best friend. His name tasted bitter on my tongue.

He continued his furious pace—never missing a beat as he watched me watch him with a smirk. Willow had yet to notice me as he continued to pleasure her so I stepped back quickly and quietly shut the door. I ran down the stairs and out the door. I couldn’t believe that I caught them like that.

So it was true…she was sleeping with the enemy.

* * *

“Hey, Charlie,” I greeted when I walked through the front doors.

“Thanks again, for covering the shift. I know it’s your birthday.”

“No, problem. Sorry I couldn’t get here faster. “

“Please tell me it was finally because of a guy?”

“Not quite…”

“Well honey, that’s not a no! Congratulations!” Charlie began jumping up and down, clapping and drawing unwanted attention.

“Can we please not do this again?”

“Forgive me for being worried about your love life when you aren’t. At this rate all I see in your future are tabby cats and bowel problems. Can you imagine what that could do to a person?”

I listened to Charlie’s rants while he followed me behind the service desk and into the employee den. I had to threaten him with bodily harm when he tried to follow me into the bathroom stall. He finally went away, muttering about clueless teenagers and I quickly changed into my uniform shirt.

I picked up this job at the gym last year after Keiran had been gone for about two months. I remember feeling as if I had lost a vital piece of my life and so I picked up a few hobbies at first but couldn’t stick to them. A few weeks later, on my way to the local burger joint, I saw an ad in the window of the local gym and applied. Charlie had taken one look at me and began bemoaning my lack of a love life. He guessed that I either didn’t appreciate men or was hung up on someone who didn’t notice me. If he only knew. I tried to explain that I was only sixteen and had the rest of my life to make a love connection, but that nearly brought him to tears.

“You poor thing. It’s worse than I thought. You’re hired. I have to help you. This is my one true purpose in life.”

And I’ve worked here ever since. It was a nice distraction and gave me a chance to save some money for college. I didn’t have a clue where I wanted to go then but as long as it was far away from him I would survive.

I clipped the headset they made us wear on my jeans, clocked in and headed out to make my rounds. There was nothing like spending a few hours inhaling the aroma of sweat and watching lonely housewives lust over the half-naked, sweaty men. The gym definitely had its perks.

Charlie was back on the floor, pretending to oversee things while discreetly checking out the men as they worked out. He was a full fledge homosexual and proud of it. He also had the biggest heart and was a decent mentor in all things men though he called himself a failure because of my single status.

Later into my shift, I was deep into the membership accounts, sifting through accounts that were overdue and marking them for later when I smelled lemons. A satisfied smile covered my face as I looked up at the woman responsible. Mrs. Fletcher frequented the gym even at the age of sixty-eight, though she mostly walked on the treadmill and stair master. She sometimes brought me lemon cookies.

“Good afternoon, dear. I brought you some treats.” She set the paper bag on the counter and I immediately snatched them up.

“How are you Mrs. Fletcher?” I asked while stuffing a chewy goodness into my mouth and wishing for a cold glass of milk.

“Slow down before you choke. There are more in the bag,” she scolded.

“Oh, I know. I just want to eat enough before Charlie gets a whiff of them. He almost ate my whole stash last time.”

“Where is Charles? I need him to come set up the death trap for me.”

“Well hello,” a deep, silky smooth voice greeted.

We both turned to the attractive, middle-aged man that just walked in. He was also a frequent gym-goer, though I’ve never seen him actually work out. Maybe he’s here to check out the men too. I briefly wondered if Charlie would be into older men. He’d just turned thirty and this man looked to be about mid to late forties.

“Oh, hi Mr. Martin. What brings you in today?”

“To exercise might be the correct answer,” he countered with a small smile.

I smiled apologetically and took in his usual, well-kept appearance and dark wavy hair. He was tall with a muscular frame that wasn’t bulky and was always polite and charming. I always wondered if he was married but never asked. If he wasn’t gay then I could consider introducing him to my aunt. But if he wasn’t a Star Trek fan then you can forget it.

He turned to smile indulgently to Mrs. Fletcher, who was staring up at him. “Hello, Mrs. Fletcher. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Her tone brightened further at the attention so I studied the two to gauge their familiarity. I wasn’t aware they knew each other.

“Always nice to see you.”

“You’re too kind.” She blushed and reluctantly left when Charlie, who just got done setting the treadmill, waved her over.

His attention was now directed on me and I felt the pressure of his gaze. “How are you, little lady? What’s new?”

“Fine, thank you. Nothing much,” I lightly replied, attempting casualness.

He continued to stare as if waiting for something. I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the familiar need to hide. For the past year he has come to the gym and did much of the same. He asks questions about me and about school. One time he even asked if I was dating anyone. I remember the panic I felt when I thought he was hitting on me and it must have shown because he apologized and left the gym abruptly.

He finally handed me his membership card to swipe after a few moments. “You know, we have a promotion going on if you refer a friend to the gym, you get half off next month’s membership fees. You can even use a wife or child–”

I paused at the anger that flickered in his eyes at the mention of a wife and child. I couldn’t describe it, but it wasn’t warm and fuzzy like people who have families usually get.

“I won’t be bringing anyone,” he replied in a brusque tone. It was a far cry from the charisma he usually displayed.

“I’m sorry if I offended you, I –”

“Nonsense.” His smile was forced and didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It is me who should be sorry. My wife died some years ago. I haven’t quite gotten over her death.”

I immediately felt like an ass, not only for bringing up bad memories but the thoughts I was having about him. “Then please accept my apologies Mr. Martin.” I offered a smile and handed back his card.

“I can tell you are a very special girl, Lake. Such a shame,” he stated and then walked away. My smile immediately dropped as I watched him disappear into the locker rooms.

* * *

Thirty minutes in to my shift, I was cleaning the front windows and bobbing along to the music when I felt the breeze from the outside summer air as someone walked in.

“Welcome back. We are currently running a special promotion. If you refer a friend, you get half off next month’s fees.”

“Excellent. I’m sure Keiran would be very interested to know a certain someone works here.” I heard the gruff voice of the snake who made my skin scrawl.

I quickly turned in the opposite direction to escape when his hand clamped around my upper arm. “Not so fast, mouse,” he taunted while pulling me back towards the reception desk. He freed my arm and grinned down at me. “I’d like to apply for a membership.”

Trevor handed over his I.D. with a smug look and I reluctantly accepted it, keying in his info for the application. I could fill his eyes on me as I did so. Once I finished I handed his card back and kept a wary eye on him as he tucked it back into his pocket.

“So?” he asked with a raised brow.

“So, what?”

“Does he know you work here?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Just protecting my interests.”

“You mean your ass? Because if he finds out –”

“He won’t, and you are going to keep your mouth shut,” he warned. “What do you care anyway? He already hates you.”

“Because it’s a lot more personal now and he actually has a reason to hate me. He’s already threatened me because of you,” I whispered harshly. He slashed his hand in the air impatiently.

“I don’t care. Keep your mouth closed or I’ll threaten you too.”

He stalked away, heading for the weights and I couldn’t help hoping a weight could fall and just smash his brain in. It wouldn't wake me up from this nightmare but it would definitely make me laugh. Now who’s the sadistic one? I wouldn’t tempt fate in such a way because I wouldn’t be able to live with it on my conscious. It made me once again remember the fateful day everything turned to shit.

* * *

16 months ago

 

“Keiran Masters took over the team! He’s officially the team captain now.”

“I heard Trevor is pissed. What do you think he will do?”

“What can he do? Keiran is too bad ass for Trevor to take on.”

“Well, I’m glad Keiran is the captain. He’s a little scary but so much hotter and maybe we will actually make it to the Championship this year.”

I listened to the giggling girls gathered around the lockers next to me. I couldn’t help but listen considering the subject. I needed to stay alert if a quick get-a-way was needed. I sighed, when I realized this was just another Keiran Masters pep rally. Their unending rambling as they praised his good looks and popularity was making me nauseous so I tuned them out and finished storing my books in my locker. When I was done, I debated if I should risk lunch today. After Keiran had some girls toss a pot of chicken fat over my head for shits and giggles I avoided the cafeteria even if it meant I had to starve.

“Oh gosh, he’s coming this way,” a member of the fan club giggled.  My heart started pounding fast as I quickly closed my locker to get out dodge.

“Hi Trevor,” another one giggled. 

I relaxed a little and released the breath I was holding when they greeted Trevor. My relief was short lived though when Trevor bypassed the trio without responding and headed toward me with purpose. He’d never done anything to me but he was still popular and a jock, while I was too far down the food chain to think this was going to be a friendly social call. 

I was apprehensive but surprisingly he didn't scare me. Only one person scared me and thankfully he wasn't in the vicinity, so I stood my ground waiting for what was to come. He stopped and scanned my face thoroughly. He probably doesn't even know my name, I thought and almost rolled my eyes.

“Lake, right?”  Wait, did I say that out loud?

I continued staring without a response. Maybe I should tell him he had the wrong person since he didn't look sure of who I was. He looked over at the trio of girls who were still standing close by glaring at me when I remained silent.

“Lake Monroe?” he tried again.

“That's her,” one of the girls offered. He continued to ignore her but grabbed onto my elbow and pulled me down the hall behind him.

“Look, I need to talk to you in private. I have a proposition for you,” he said while dragging me into the library. We passed by tables and computers and then into the bookcases until we reached an alcove. I finally found my voice once he stopped and I was sure I wouldn’t trip and plant my face in the floor.

“Listen, I don’t care what he says, I don’t perform sexual acts for money so if that's what your proposition is about you’re wasting your time. I’m sure there are plenty of girls willing to do it for free so please let me go,” I huffed out furiously.

I constantly received money and lewd notes in my locker asking for sexual favors after Keiran spread rumors last year that he saw me giving Peter Simpson oral for money in the hallway after school and then offered to do him for twenty bucks.

“I’m not after that.”

“Oh, yeah? Then what are you after?”

“We have a mutual enemy and I know how to get rid of him.”

Chapter Seven

“Yes, Aunt Carissa, everything is fine. How is Canada?” Whatever she said, I never got to hear as I walked through the door after work. The phone was ripped out of my hands and as I was being tossed on the couch, I watched it hit the wall but thankfully it didn’t seem to break. What the –?

“You seem to be hard of hearing.”

I looked up at Keiran standing over me, expecting to find him angry but instead he was standing and talking as calmly as if he was discussing the weather. Truth be told, that scared be even more.

“I had –”

“Shut up. Why did you go to see Willow?” So he had been watching me.

I lifted my chin and looked him square in the eye. “Because she’s my best friend and thanks to you she’s my only friend but she is mine and you don’t get to take that away.”

Aside from my aunt, Willow was the most important person in my life and the only one I loved. I used to love my parents or what I could remember of them, but as long as the truth of their disappearance evaded me, I would continue to have mixed feelings. Parents abandon their kids all the time.

When he stalked toward me, I scrambled to get away but he was quicker and dragged me, kicking and screaming, to him at the other end of the couch. He sat down, pulled me into his lap, and then wrapped my legs around his waist. His arm banded around my waist and I flinched when he fisted my hair in his hand and yanked my head back. His nostrils flared and I shivered from looking into icy eyes. It's like I could feel everything he felt.

"Is that what you think you are to her? Her friend? She won't even tell you about Dash. What else does she keep from you, huh? You're not her friend...she doesn't even trust you." A sound of regret and hurt ripped from my throat.

Willow didn't trust me?

I didn't want to believe it but why else wouldn't Willow talk to me about Dash? Nothing else made sense because we’d always shared everything...or at least I thought we did.

“That’s not true.” I shook my head in denial but the bad seed he’d just planted in my head had already taken root.

“Isn’t it? I can see the doubt in your eyes. Did you know that he took her virginity this summer?” he said with an evil grin. “I do. I know when he did it. How he did it. And how many times he’s done it. And do you know why I know?” I shook my head as best as I could with his heavy hand controlling it. “Because I told him to do it.”

What? No, no, no.  This can’t be happening. Not even Keiran could be that cruel, could he? He finally released his hold on my hair and used his hand to trace the erratic pulse beating at my throat.

“Why?” My voice was little more than a croak as I searched his eyes for a sign that he was lying or joking. He held my gaze as he brought his face closer. His lips touched my neck and begin trailing bites down my skin.

“Because it would hurt you,” he said between bites and I sucked in a breath. “He’s going to use her and make her fall for him…and then he’s going to break her heart.”

The hell he is. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because there is nothing you can do to stop what’s already done. He’s just waiting for my go ahead to complete the final act. Of course…that doesn’t need to happen…but it all depends on you.”

I swallowed down the bile that had risen up. “You don’t need to do this. You can have me –”

“And I will.”

“So why haven’t you?” I snapped.

He cocked his head at me curiously and bared his teeth. “Is that a challenge?” he growled, pressing up into me. I gasped at the contact from the hard-on he did nothing to conceal. “Make no mistake, there is nothing more I would rather do right now than bend you over this chair and introduce you to my cock the right way, but business first and then we fuck.” I didn’t know what pissed me off more: what he said or the way my body reacted to it. “I see the look in your eyes, Monroe. You can keep up the good girl act but we both know what I will find if I touched your pussy right now.”

“The only thing I feel towards you right now is contempt…” I leaned forward until my nose was touching his. “…make no mistake about that.”

I was flat on my back before I could blink and then my jeans were being ripped off my hips. Panic took over as I grabbed onto Keiran’s wrists but he effortlessly broke out of my grip and turned the tables by pinning my wrists against the cushions with one of his. A second later, he shoved his other hand down my panties, delivering an unexpected swat to my pussy before his fingers slowly slipped inside of me. He immediately withdrew them and used his now dripping fingers to strum the little bundle of nerves until I was gasping for air. Only then did he plunge his fingers inside me once more, causing my body to bow off the couch. His grip tightened to keep me from escaping the pleasure he was forcing on me and after only a few teasing strokes of his fingers a violent tremble shook my body.

“How can it only be contempt you feel for me when all I feel is you coming on my hand? I barely touched you…”

“No.” I shook my head against his claim. He watched me quietly until the shaking subsided. Whatever just happened left me feeling weak. When he shoved away from me to sit upright, I quickly pulled my jeans back over my hips, feeling embarrassment flood my senses. I couldn’t meet his eyes but I knew he was watching me from the other end of couch.

“Now…back to business.” His blank face and callous attitude over my first sexual experience had me choking back my ever-present tears. It was a common occurrence around him. He rolled his eyes and he pulled out his phone. “As I said when you came in—you seem to have a hard time hearing me.” He began dialing on his phone and then a video feed of an older man with long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail appeared on his screen. “You got her?”

“In my sight as we speak.”

“Good. Someone needs to see.” He crooked his finger and patted his lap with a satisfied look on his face. I reluctantly slid over but when I refused to sit in his lap he hauled me over. I wrestled with him until he placed a restraining hand around my neck and whispered low, “Move again and I’ll spank your ass.”

“You got a feisty piece there, don’t you?” the guy commented lustfully. A black look crossed over Keiran’s face as he turned back to the camera. The guy suddenly looked nervous and cleared his throat while apologizing.

The screen suddenly switched and I was looking at the glossy background of a bar. I could see the name of a well-known, five-star hotel chain plastered on the wall and then something or rather someone, caught my attention.

My aunt. Sitting at the bar with her agent.

I knew immediately what Keiran was showing me—what he was telling me. Without saying anything, Keiran ended the call and the video feed of my aunt disappeared.

“One phone call and she disappears. There are a lot of places a person can disappear. I should know. I did.”

“What do you think I’m going to do?” I cried with anger and emotion filling my voice. I was yelling by the time I spoke the last word. Fear for my aunt overshadowed my need for self-preservation.

“I don’t know. You surprise me at every turn and I have to say, I did not think you had it in you to fight me. Planting those drugs in my locker? Brilliant. The execution was sloppy as hell though, but not to worry…I’ll show you how to get back at someone properly. So here’s what you’re going to do.”

* * *

I walked into school with my head low, watching the tile floor and my feet as they quickly carried me to English. My phone rung for the umpteenth time since I left my house this morning and I closed my eyes to quell the pain. Don’t answer it, Lake. Just ignore it. You can do this.

I quickly stored my extra books in my locker and hurried for English. I couldn’t be late. Being late meant something else would be taken away from me and though I didn’t think there wasn’t anything left, I couldn’t risk it. He would know exactly where to strike. He always did.

I made it to the classroom with less than a minute to spare and was careful not to make eye contact with my tormentor. He was sitting in his normal seat and I headed for the one assigned to me. The one he told me to sit in. I kept my head down, staring at the table and ignoring the silence. The class was completely empty and school wouldn’t start for another half hour.

“Take your hair down,” he ordered from a few rows behind me. I slowly unwound my hair from its bun on top of my head and let my hair tumble down my back.

“What happened this morning?”

I tried to hold back the tears that immediately threatened to spill over. “I told her.”

“What did you tell her?”

“To stay away from me.”

“And?”

“Not to contact me.”

“And has she?”

“Please, she doesn’t understand–”

“Has…she…called…you?” I nodded my head, unable to speak. I kept seeing the hurt and confused look on her face this morning when I broke her heart and mine.

“Why Willow? You don’t need to do this.”

“Don’t I? She was the only thing left standing between you and me.”

“And now that she is gone? What now?”

“I get to play.” Apprehension shook my body at the underlying threat in his words.

“What –”

“No more questions. There is nothing you can say or anything you can do that will deter me.”

“How long are you going to do this?”

“Until I’ve had enough and not a second before.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“I suppose.”

“You were only supposed to do six months. Why were you gone for a year?”

He was silent for a while and I figured he wouldn’t answer when he finally spoke. “Dash’s parents and my uncle pulled some strings and I received a reduced sentenced but inside I got into a few fights on a regular basis. I guess you can say I had a lot of tension to work off. I ended up with seven months tacked on to my original sentence that accumulated over time. Why is that your business?”

“I think it has everything to do with me. Don’t you?” My voice dripped with sarcasm and I was almost sorry he couldn’t see it on my face.

“Now is not the time to grow a pair of balls, Monroe. We are alone here for at least another fifteen minutes and there is nothing keeping me from you right now except my goodwill.”