Текст книги "Raw"

Автор книги: Belle Aurora

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

The front door of my unit bursts open, and there stands Nikki, looking haggard and worn. Smiling, I open my mouth to greet her, but she cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “No! You said you’d tell me. Now we’re both free and you can tell me. What the hell happened to you the other day? No more avoiding me!”

Why do people always cut me off?

Signing, I stand from my place on the sofa. “Coffee?”

Sitting in my now-empty space with a groan, she replies tiredly, “Do bears shit in the woods?”

Chuckling, I go about making coffee and thinking hard about just how much I should tell her. Nikki and I don’t have secrets, but in this case, I may need to make an exception. My gut churns in apprehension. Shit’s about to go down.

Placing our coffees on my coffee table, I sit away from her in the armchair so I can have some space while I relay what happened.

“So you know I said a while ago that I thought someone was watching me?” Immediately, her eyes turn worrisome. She nods and I add cautiously, “Well, it turns out I do…” pause, “…have someone…” pause, “…watching me.”

Eyes wide, mouth gaping, she doesn’t even blink. Shocked is the word I’d use. Definitely shocked. Unsure what to do here, I weakly yell, “Surprise.”

Lowering her wide eyes, she shakes her head as if to clear it. “He hurt you?”

Define hurt.

Sipping my coffee, I suddenly feel the need to defend Twitch. After all, he did save me. “No. If he wasn’t there when I was attacked…” Nikki gasps and covers her mouth with her hand. “…I would have been raped. Maybe even killed.” Looking Nikki in the eye, I tell her honestly, “I don’t know what I would’ve done if he wasn’t there, Nik. He saved me.”

She says, “Oh my God.”

Leaning back in the armchair, I agree. “Yeah. Kind of freaky.”

Still in shock, she repeats distantly, “Oh my God.”

Nodding, I tell her. “Could’ve been much worse.”

And I know the exact moment what I just told her hits her, because jumping up, she covers her mouth with both hands and yells out from behind them, “Oh my fucking God!”

Throwing herself at me, I awkwardly wrap one arm around her while balancing my coffee with the other. Squeezing me tight, she says, “You got attacked and a weird stalker guy had to save you! And you got hurt! You were hurt, Lex! Oh my God. I can’t believe this. Stuff like this doesn’t happen to people I know, dammit!”

Sweet, sweet Nikki. Rubbing her back, I state quietly, “I’m okay. Like I said, it could’ve been worse, right?”

Nodding into my shoulder, she mumbles, “You’re so lucky he was watching.”

I know it. 

Pulling away from me, she demands angrily, “You have a stalker? Best friends tell each other shit like that, Lexi! If this guy did something to you, how do you think I would’ve felt that you’d kept this a secret? How long have you known some guy was following you, Lex? That’s a really dumb thing to keep to yourself. He could’ve been the one to attack you! He could’ve killed you!”

Feeling like a child being chastised, I tell her weakly, “But he wasn’t. And he didn’t. He saved me, Nikki.” Her anger doesn’t cease, so I explain, “He never approached me. Not ever. He was always just…there. I figured he was harmless enough, but you’re right. Totally right. Because when he stepped in and I saw what he did to the man that attacked me, there was a split second there that I thought he was only stepping in to take over.” Staring her in the eye, I tell her firmly, “But he didn’t. He helped me up here and looked after me. He’s a little strange, but I…” Looking down at my hands, I say softly, “I feel safe around him.”

Breathing deeply, she blows out a long breath before nodding to my coffee. “I think I’m going to need something stronger than that.”

Bunching my face in a please don’t be mad at me kind of way, I offer, “Cocoa à la Lexi?”

Her eyes narrow, and I know she wants to be mad at me some more, but her anger fizzles slightly when her lip twitches. “Yeah. Make it a double.”

Smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt, I whizz off to the kitchen to whip up a strong batch of cocoa. Coming back with two mugs full, I hand her one, and when she takes the first sip with her eyes closed in bliss, I throw in there, “By the way, we’ve been invited to a masque this weekend. A charity function. And I know you think costume balls are lame, but I thought maybe if we got Dave out and about, he wouldn’t feel so sorry for himself.”

Dave and Phil still haven’t patched things up. And not for Dave’s lack of trying either. I spoke to Phil online for a while today and he explained that he just needs some time to think about what he wants in life and if Dave is something he could make a part of that.

Never a good sign.

Dave cut him deep. And he’s paying the price.

You can only push someone so far before that push sends them walking away in the opposite direction. Everyone has their limits.

Dave may need to rethink his diva ways.

On a brighter note, Nikki seems to have perked up at hearing the word invitation. “Where did this invite come from? It’s a little late notice, babe. Last minute costumes are hard to find.”

Avoiding the first question, I try to get away with answering the costume dilemma. “There’s an address on the card. A costume store in the city has been completely reserved for use of the masque. All we need to do is show up and take our picks.”

Nikki spots my avoidance pretty quickly. “Who invited us?”

I’m so bad at masking my emotions. I wear them right there on my sleeve for all to see. So when my eyes widen and I stutter, “I-I’m not sure a-actually, I think s-som—”

“Cut the bullshit and tell me!”

“Twitch,” I blurt out.

“Bless you.”

Bursting into laughter, I repeat, “Twitch. That’s his name. Twitch. The man who watches me. The guy who saved me.”

Leaning away from me, her face bunches. Smiling, I nod. She asks incredulously, “Stalker dude is called Twitch?”

“Yep.”

After a second, she mutters under her breath, “Fuckin’ hippies.”

Another bout of laughter bursts out of me. “That’s not his real name, babe, it’s just what he calls himself, and from what I’ve seen, it’s what everyone else calls him too. He doesn’t want people to know his real name, and for now, that’s cool with me. He’s part owner of a business – a big business – so I know it would be easy enough to find out but,” my brows furrow and my lips purse a little, “it’s important to him for some reason. So if he doesn’t want people to know, I’m not going to go looking. Not until he tells me himself.”

Looking up at Nikki, her eyes on me feel more like an interrogation and I know I’ve fucked up. Suddenly, her eyes widen comically, she leans forward, and hisses, “You fucked him!” When my brows almost hit my hairline, she gasps, “You skank! You dirty hooker skank face! When did this happen? And more importantly, was it any good?”

Both taking our places on the sofa once more, I lean back into the soft cushion. “The other night. I don’t know if it was me reclaiming my sexuality and not letting my attacker have that stupid hold on me or if it was just…” sigh, “…just Twitch. I can’t really explain him to you. It’s something you have to experience. He likes control and he’s not afraid to let people know that. He can be so fucking arrogant and annoying one second, then the next second, he has you wanting to take orders from him. He’s intense. And kinda scary. And I want to know him better. So I’ll bide my time and do what I have to to make him open up to me.” Frowning, I look up into her eyes and tell her quietly, “Something bad happened to him, Nik. I can feel it.”

Her eyes turn sad. “Oh honey. I’m glad you’re safe and all, but can you really trust this guy? You barely know him, and you just said yourself that he’s kinda scary.” When I try to speak, she cuts me off with, “I trust you. You’ve never made a bad decision in your life. I know this. We’ve been through a lot together. And maybe you’re right. Maybe he needs someone. But I don’t want you to make him a project. You have to stop worrying about protecting everyone around you, and start protecting yourself.”

Staring eye-to-eye, a small smile breaks out onto my face as I whisper, “He’s a freak in bed.”

Her body shakes with silent laughter. “Oh, I gotta hear this. Do tell.”

My belly flutters.

And suddenly, I can’t wait until Saturday.

I don’t know if I can do this anymore.

The urge to touch her is overwhelming.

Never being one to deny myself, I allow my fingertips to glide over the silky skin of her shoulder.

Waking to feel of rough hand on my upper arm, panic sets in only a moment before I smell him.

My tense body relaxes almost immediately. The darkness of my room allows me to fake my sleep a little longer, savouring the gentle sweetness of a touch reserved for his private moments. Moments like these are fleeting. I know he would never touch me like this had he known I was awake.

The CD player on my dresser still on low volume, I’ve never been able to fall asleep without the TV or music playing. Something I took with me when I left home. As a child, I needed something to drown out the constant shouting and bickering. Music worked. And it stuck.

When the fingertips on my arm move away, I feel like crying. I want them back.

I want him.

Desperately.

The sounds of clothes being removed make my belly flutter, and I fight the urge to cheer and clap. The covers lift, and he climbs in and over me.

“Twitch?” I ask sleepily.

A long silence, then a husky, “Yeah.” Pinching the material of my tank between his thumb and forefinger, he tugs and says, “Off.”

Stretching, I work on my tank while he pulls off my pajama pants and panties in one swift yank. Then I’m lying naked in the middle of my bed, unable to see much of anything, just a silhouette of a large male body. And that body is stalking towards me, then covering me.

Chest-to-chest, he lies flat on top of me, skin-to-skin. His warm, firm body blankets mine. He presses me into the mattress, putting his weight on me. Putting pressure on me. It’s not uncomfortable, but restricts me. Reaching down, his links his fingers with mine and slowly pulls my arms up over my head. I know what he wants.

Tonight, he won’t get a fight. I’ll give in.

As much as is possible for me.

Looking down at my body, he takes his time drinking me in. And the way he looks at me is as if I’m precious. His slow, drawn out exhale makes my body break into goosebumps and I flush. His knee pushes between my legs, forcing them apart. I get the hint. Spreading my legs for him, he settles on top of me and puts his face close to mine. So close that his lips touch the corner of mine as he speaks. “Legs around me.”

His breath warms my lips. I nod. My legs snake around his hips and wrap tight. He won’t get away from me easily tonight.

Releasing one hand, he fists his cock and rubs up and down my damp entrance. Every time his piercing touches my clit, my eyes roll back into my head and I fight the urge to moan out loud. So I’m surprised when he growls, “Already wet. I knew you would be.”

I’m ready for him when he pushes the head of his cock into me. Ready or not, I mew like a cat in heat. The fullness, the satisfaction, the stiff heat…it’s perfection. How could I ever want more than this? I feel complete.

And it’s then that my eyes fly open and his words come back to haunt me.

“You’re not gonna want anyone but me.”

As soon as my mind begins to panic, Twitch slides home. My mouth opens in a silent moan and my eyes close. Linking our fingers once more, he holds my hands firmly above my head, rocking into me slowly but deeply.

“Miss me?”

I hear the smile in his voice and can’t help but smile back. “You’re an asshole.”

His voice changes. A strong agreement. “I know.”

He thrusts deep and my channel grips him tightly. Almost as if even my body fears this will be the last time and doesn’t want him to go. I don’t know what possesses me, but the words fly out mid-moan, “Kiss me.”

Thrust. Thrust. Thrust. “No.”

Well, alright then. It was worth a shot. I guess.

Thank God the room is so dark that my embarrassed flush will go unnoticed.

When he stops thrusting and tries to unwrap my legs from around him, I squeeze them tighter around his waist. Dropping his hands, he says low in warning, “Lexi.”

And with a pout, I allow myself to be unravelled. Gripping my hips, he pulls me further down the bed, lifts my legs onto his shoulders, and enters me again in one harsh thrust. A whimper breaks free from me. As soon as Twitch hears it, something in him breaks. He grunts and slams into me. At this angle, it feels so much deeper. So deep that it almost hurts.

And I love every second of it.

He continues to work my body into a frenzy. Tossing my head from side to side, I moan loudly and grip the sheets. The first contraction warns us both that my orgasm is coming hard and fast.

So he pulls out. Again.

Exasperated and unsatisfied, I let out a growl of frustration. I can’t stop myself from asking between deep breaths, “So I’m not allowed to come tonight?”

Panting and making no effort to reply to me, he turns me on my side and settles in behind me. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulls me into him and nips my ear, “You wanna come, baby?” His fingertips trail down to my sensitive nub and circle slowly.

My nipples bead. “Yes. Please.”

Sucking the point where my neck meets my shoulder, he works me faster, and white sparks flash behind my eyes. “I want you to beg, Lexi.”

I’m close to the finish line, so begging is not above me right this second. “Oh fuck, Twitch! Please, please let me come. I need it so bad. Put your cock in me. Now! Please!”

Placing his knee between mine, he pushes my legs apart and drives back into me. A long groan is pulled from me as my contractions start. He whispers, “Oh baby, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

The tingles in spine turn to full blown fireworks when he slaps my clit. Hard.

Crying out, “Oh my fucking God,” my body jerks viciously as I come violently around him.

The arm around my waist pulls, seating me deeper onto his cock as his thrusts shallow. Panting through my orgasm, a sob escapes me. His free hand comes up to knead my breast, and a familiar tingle starts low on my back as I throb around him. He utters breathlessly, “Fuck yeah. I knew it. I fucking knew it.”

My eyes cross and I whimper when his thumb and forefinger work together to twist my nipple. Freeing his other hand, he slaps my clit lightly and it happens.

Never in my life have I had a multiple orgasm.

Never.

Not ever.

But I’m now living proof that they aren’t a fable.

I whimper as tingling takes over my body and my pussy pulses lightly. My whimper turns into a moan when he thrusts harder and deeper into me. When he snarls and bites down on my shoulder, I tip my head back and cry out loudly. My body turns rigid as I begin to pulsate. Twitch bites harder, and the mixture of pleasure and pain breaks something in me.

If heaven were a place, it would be the tiny area Twitch’s piercing touches when I come on him.

Tears trail my cheeks in complete and utter bliss.

The moment he stills, he groans around my shoulder. His cock jerks inside of me, and the warmth I feel tells me that he – once again – didn’t wear a condom. If it were anyone else, that would be a big deal.

But it’s not anyone else.

The arm around my waist holds me tight. Removing his teeth from my shoulder, he rests his forehead in their place. Both panting, we lay there a few minutes. Sooner than I’d like, he slides out of me, then my bed, dresses quickly, and walks away from me without even a peep. Or so I think.

At my bedroom door, he turns to me and speaks into the dark. “I’ll call.”

A sudden thought rushes through me, causing my stomach to coil, and without a second thought, I blurt out, “You’re clean, right?”

He stills a moment before he answers in dead seriousness, “Of course.”

My mind and body relax tenfold. Closing my eyes, I listen to the footsteps walk further and further away from me with only one thought in mind:

Please, don’t hurt me.

Turning my desk chair around to face out the window, I place my foot on my opposite knee and wonder why the fuck I can’t concentrate today.

Closing my eyes, I tap the pen at my temple and try to avoid any thoughts of the woman whose pussy tastes so good that I want it available to me at all hours. The woman I already have a purpose for. The woman who is somehow scrambling my fucking brains to slop.

This was meant to be fun. And it started that way.

But it doesn’t feel so fun anymore.

Julius would laugh his fucking ass off knowing I’m startin’ to feel something more than physical for this sparrow.

Julius is my best friend. And the person I would do anything for. He’s one of the rare people I listen to. Keeping me safe in juvie is one of the things I’ll always remember.

He saved me.

The door creaks open, and the sound of heels coming my way alerts me to the fact that someone wants something from me.

Like always.

When she comes into view, I turn my head to see Ling smiling at me. “Got a sec?”

Nodding, I watch her smile turn predatory. And my mind sighs.

Not today.

Ling and I have a long standing arrangement. It’s not a big deal. Just sex. But I haven’t touched her since the day my girl got her ass beat. Trying to keep a clear head is hard when sex is involved.

Taking a step towards me, her petite hand and long red nails slide up my bent knee, then higher to my thigh. She wastes no time palming my crotch. I mentally growl. She knows what happens when she takes liberties with me, meaning she’s feeling frisky and wants a reaction.

When I don’t react and let her palm me, her red lips pout. She wants a fight. She’s not going to get one. Her almond eyes narrow and she presses harder into me. Fury masks her face, “What the fuck is going on with you, Twitch? You haven’t touched me in ages.”

I don’t answer. She continues to palm my flaccid dick, looking for signs of life, but little Twitch doesn’t want what’s on the menu tonight. Little Twitch’s tastes have changed. Trying to get a reaction out of me, she squeezes my dick hard and digs her nails in. I snarl and bare my teeth at her. Her eyes flare in excitement. This has gone on too long.

Placing my palm over her face, I push back, hard. She stumbles back in her heels and falls on her ass. “That what you want, Ling? You want it rough? Fuck off. I’m not in the mood.”

Chest heaving, still seated on the floor, her face flames. Walking over to her, I offer her my hand, but she slaps it away.

The little woman has too much pride in her. She’ll never learn.

Standing, she smooths down the front of her dress and asks in perfect calm, “You fucking someone?”

No hesitation. “Yeah.”

“You wanna keep her?”

Ling knows me well. She’s an observer. I scratch my chin absently. “Yeah. I’m keeping this one.”

Her face displays stunned disbelief. Clearly not the answer the she was expecting. Then a small smile spreads across her lips. A calculating smile. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

My face devoids. “Who?”

Ling smirks, “Her. The girl who came to the office. Lexi.” Her eyes darken. “You know. The one you watch.”

I don’t like her tone. Anger surges through me.

Crossing the room in a quick stride, I place my hand at her throat and walk her back into the wall until she hits it with a small thud. Squeezing tight enough to warn, but not enough to hurt her, I’ve never been so serious in my life when I threaten, “Ling, I swear, if you fuck this up for me…” Her eyes full of lust, she bites her lip. Leaning forward, I whisper, “I will fucking kill you.”

I squeeze her throat hard a moment before I let go. But Ling doesn’t take the hint. Smiling, she looks up at me through hooded eyes and whispers back, “We can still have fun though. I don’t care if you want her too. No one knows me like you do. No one knows what I like.”

Rolling my eyes, I call bullshit. “Not true. I know you’re fucking Happy.” And about ten other guys.

Her cheeks turn pink. “He’s not like you.”

I bark out a humourless laugh and nod once. “Yeah. He has a heart.”

Ling has unusual tastes. Maybe that’s why I liked her. For a while. There was a time I thought we were one in the same, but it didn’t take long to see that everything I thought I liked about her now just pisses me off.

Reaching forward and taking my hand, she guides it under her dress to her bare pussy and gyrates, masturbating against my loose fingers. Her eyes flutters closed. She grinds against me and moans out, “Do it.”

This would normally turn me on. Normally.

I know what she wants. I’m so fucking agitated right now that I could. But that would mean she’s won.

Not happening.

Looking around the room in a bored fashion, I sigh, “You gonna be done soon? I got shit to do.”

Her eyes snap open; hurt shines there. She recovers quickly, rubbing her wet pussy onto my open palm. “Come on, baby. Help me. You used to love this.” Her statement sounds more like a plea.

Not able to take any more of this shit, I pull my hand out from under her skirt and tell her firmly but quietly, “Enough. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Her pretty face changes to something ugly and vicious. Taking both her small hands, she pushes at my shoulders. “Fuck you, Twitch! You think you’re the only guy that can please me? Well, you’re fucking wrong! I can get any guy. Any guy I want!”

I chuckle at the fact that she’s just contradicted herself and shake my head. “Yeah. Okay. Can you take your bitch-fit outside? Like I said, I got shit to do.”

Turning my back on her, I listen to her heels clip-clop away before my office door is slammed shut. Sitting back down in my chair, the first thing that comes to mind is the sweet smile of a woman I should never have had.

My cock stirs.

Running a hand down my face, I think long and hard about what needs to be done, all the while knowing I won’t ever let her go.

For the second time in a row, I contemplate what the heck I’m doing in my car, just beside the parking lot of Falcon Plastics. Before I can chicken out, I grab my purse and shuffle out of my car, making sure to memorize the reason I’m here. Or, that is, the reason I say I’m here.

Checking my wrist watch, the time reads 5:46pm and I wonder if anyone will actually be there. The thought that I’ve missed everyone comes as a great relief.

Yeah, because you don’t want to see the gorgeous tattooed hunk who fucks like a pro.

What’s the point in denying I like the guy? What I’m doing here has everything to do with that. I want to start fresh, and I know the only way to do that with someone like Twitch is to make the first move.

Approaching the double doors, I pull and meet resistance. My brain cheers and skips, while smiling big and saying, ‘Oh well! We tried! Better luck next time!’.

Standing there a moment, I wonder if I should back down so soon; just when I turn to look around for an intercom, the door opens before me, and a young woman crashes into me. Her body slams into mine and she squeaks, “Oh jeez! I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there!”

Grabbing hold of her, I smile. “No, you’re fine. I didn’t realize you were closed.”

Pushing her hipster black glasses higher up on her nose, she smooths her dress down. “Oh, we technically are, but the bosses are still up…” When her face lifts to mine, she squeaks again. “Ms. Ballentine! Mr. T asked that you be let through the other day. If I don’t let you in now, he’ll be pissed. I’m kinda in a hurry, but if you give me a sec, I can show you to his office.”

And my day just got interesting. “I’m guessing Mr. T is Twitch?” She nods. “Okay, well I know how to get to his office. I can save you a few minutes by letting myself in?”

Her face relaxes instantly. “You have no idea how great that would be. I’m late picking up my daughter from after-school care and they close at six. I’m already stretching it.” Holding open the door for me, she quickly adds, “The elevator code is 2245. Go on up!”

Smiling at her, I nod and make my way through the now empty building. It’s so quiet here compared to the other day. It’s so eerie, that my body breaks out in goosebumps.

The elevator code works, and before I know it, I’m standing in front of the huge mahogany double doors that lead to the unknown. Raising my fisted hand, I hesitate to knock when I hear a groan and what sounds to be thumping.

My face flames.

Oh shit. He’s getting busy.

Suddenly, my stomach drops. That hurts in such an irrational way that I’m questioning my sanity. What’s worse is that I’m sure he’s doing it with his all-too-perfect bitch of a girlfriend.

I know I should walk away, but I…I just can’t.

Placing my hand on the lever handle, I press down as slow as I can and open the door an inch. When I see him, my heart stutters. Watching him through the crack, I smile and chuckle silently.

Well, that could’ve been embarrassing.

His shirtless back to me, I take in the artwork tattooed on him. His back is one big picture. What looks to be an angel – more accurately, a fallen angel – covers the length of him in one of the most realistic tattoos I have ever seen. The angel stands tall and proud in a tattered cloak of black, the wind blowing to one side separating the cloak, revealing a long, slender leg and bare foot. Her long blonde hair flares out to the side, the wind lifting the hood slightly to reveal her face. One side, gorgeous. The other, melted and disfigured.

I don’t understand what it means, but her face is so unashamed and filled with pride that it’s beautiful in a twisted way.

Panting with his back to me, he asks loudly, “You gonna stand there all night, or you gonna come in?”

Busted.

My face flames. Opening the door, I watch as he punches the boxing bag in the middle of his office before answering “Wasn’t sure if I was welcome.”

“You’re not.”

Well…shit.

That’s when he turns and adds with a smirk, “But that doesn’t stop me either.”

Walking over to his desk, he picks up a towel and pats down his face, arms, and heaving chest.

I knew he worked out.

“Like what you see?” Arrogant ass.

My eyes never leaving his body, I swallow hard. “Yeah.” When I see him step towards me, I quickly hold up my hands and step back. “No!” I say this in a way that you would say no to your dog for trying to steal your food. And it shocks Twitch. I know this because his eyebrows rise in disbelief. I’m shocked too. “Don’t. Not tonight. I just came here to say thank you.”

His brow furrows. “For what?”

“For the donation. For the money. I realized I never even said thank you, which was totally rude. My mom would be pissed at me. You have no idea how much we can do with that money. It’s…” I stop a moment, trying desperately to get my emotions under control. I whisper thickly, “It’s a godsend.”

He stops mid-step to watch me closely. His forever-hooded eyes lazily scrutinize me. His eyes narrow dangerously, “Don’t mention it.” Standing by the office door, feeling awkward and vulnerable, I could kiss him when his eyes crinkle in the corners. “I can show you how you can thank me.”

Smiling, I dip my chin. “Not tonight. I’m here purely for professional reasons.”

His brows rise again. “Is that right, Ms. Ballentine?” I nod and take in his muscular body as he seats himself on the edge of his desk.

Good lord, this man is a treat! I don’t know if I like him better shirtless or in the damn suit. I can’t decide. He’s lickable both ways.

Crossing his long legs in front of him, he asks curiously, “And what is your purpose here tonight, Alexa?” The way he says my name like that, it’s not just a word or name, it’s a caress.

Leaning back into the wall, I state quietly, nervously, “I want to know how you work. How your company works. I want to know what you do here.”

His face turns hard. I have no idea what I’ve said for that to happen, but my palms begin to sweat. Running his tongue over his teeth, he sniffs, then nods to the guest chair beside him. “Sit.”

When I don’t make an effort to move, his eyes find mine and he says more firmly, “Sit, Lexi.”

Taking small steps on shaky legs, making sure I don’t fall, he pushes out the chair with his foot and I sit. Looking up into his soft brown eyes, he watches me, searching my face through narrowed eyes a long while before he states, “The company is a cover.”

My eyes widen as he continues, “Yes, we’re a plastics company. A successful one. Very successful. But there was only one reason a guy like me buys a place like this.” He states quietly, “And I think you know why that would be. You’re a smart girl, Lexi. What do you think we’re making and selling out of here?”

One thing pops into my head immediately, but I push it down trying to ignore the blood roaring in my ears. I think back to the other day when Happy helped me out of my car.

“You’ve been sitting in your car in an industrial area looking like an on-edge crack junkie wanting her next fix for about a half-hour. So either you’re here for drugs, or…”

Drugs. They’re making and selling drugs from the warehouse.

A twisted smile appears on his face. “She knows.”

My stomach drops. Disappointment and regret swirl through my rigid body.

I need to leave. As in, yesterday.

Standing and trying to avoid eye contact, I utter shakily, “It was stupid to come here. I’m sorry for intruding, Twitch. It won’t happen again.”

A hand on my arm halts my exit. “Stop.” And I do, but when he sees my obvious panic, he whispers, “Breathe.”

Sitting back down, I fight the shakes for a full minute before anger flows through my veins. I whisper, “Why would you tell me that? You barely know me.”

He doesn’t answer. When I look up at him, his face conveys his answer. That he knows me better than I think he does. I still can’t believe this. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

His eyes narrow; he searches my face lazily and says bored-like, “I ask myself that question every day of my miserable life.”

I allow his comment to slide off me. Now is not the time for sympathy. Feeling defiant, I state, “I could tell the police.”

Reaching forward, he runs his fingertips down my cheek. Breathing deeply, he replies on an exhale, “You could. But you won’t.” Closing my eyes, I lean into his touch, now trailing my jaw. “You won’t because you know what would happen to you, what happens to a squealer, don’t you, Lexi?”