Page 40 of Bound To Me

I was now an expert at stalking people. It wasn’t hard to figure out who she was. I went to the New York Daily website and looked at all the articles. I clicked on every woman’s name, googled it, and continued my search when it wasn’t her. Then I found Hana Miller. She had written something about a woman with an eating disorder. I googled her name, and there popped up the mystery blonde. She was even more beautiful up close. Her Instagram was filled with pictures of books, sunsets, and views of the city. She apparently lived in Williamsburg. I found a selfie of her standing against greenery, a crooked smile on her red lips.

I needed to seek her out and tell her about Michael. I had a plan and everything: I would follow her home, knock on her door, and spill everything. I’d show her my scars. I’d tell her that he came to me one night, fucking me even though they wereapparently in a relationship. She would hate him, and then he’d be all mine again.

It was the day before Thanksgiving. I waited until 6 p.m. and saw her walk out of their office building, alone.Thank God.I followed her onto the train, and she exited at 14th St to take the L train.Okay, good. The L goes to Williamsburg; she’s going home. I quietly stalked her in the crowd as she walked toward McCarren Park. She entered a building right in front of it, and I stood beside it after she walked in, figuring out what to do next. That’s when I felt his hand grip my arm.

“Jackie, what are you doing here?” His voice was menacing and low, but somehow it wasn’t as sinister as I knew it could be.

I began to tremble. How was I going to explain myself? Was he stalking her too?

“I…I just wanted to talk to her,” I fumbled out, facing my beautiful Michael. He was in his work clothes with a black peacoat on, his hair perfectly styled with just a stubble of facial hair. His dark gray eyes bore into mine, but they softened slightly.

“No.” He smiled mockingly and shook his head. “No, baby. You can’t talk to her.”

I pulled away from his grip. “You can’t stop me from talking to her, Michael.” My voice was loud and unwavering, the lump in my throat threatening to make me start sobbing.

Michael searched my face, contemplating his next move.

“What do you need so you won’t talk to her?”Is he bargaining with me?“How much?”

I began to cry. “I don’t want money, Michael. I want you!” I huffed out.

He sighed with frustration. “Do you want me to call the police again? Have them charge you for stalking and threatening me and my girlfriend?”

I immediately shook my head. “No, please. I just need you, Michael. I need you, Daddy.” Tears streamed down my face.

He sighed again, rolling his eyes. “Of course you do, Jackie. Do you know how pathetic you sound?”

My hand trembled in my coat pocket, gripping my phone. An idea suddenly struck me.

“Okay. Money. I want money.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket, quickly opening the wallet app to request money.

Michael shook his head. “You’re a fucking leech, do you know that?” He pulled out his phone and began tapping the screen.

I discreetly opened the voice memos app and started recording, then went back to the wallet app.

“How much?” He looked up at me with contempt.

“How much do you think it’s worth for me to shut my mouth? To not tell her everything?” I raised my eyebrows at him, trying to appear brave, but my heart was racing.

His eye twitched. “Ten grand?”

I smiled. “How about ten grand for every fucking scar you’ve given me? I think that would put you at like…a million?”

Michael clenched his jaw. “You do not expect me to just give you a million dollars, Jackie. You deserved those fucking scars for trying to leave me.”

“And now? Now you want me to leave you?” I couldn’t believe I was getting this all on audio.

“I want you to leave me alone. I will come to you and use you when I see fit.”

I scoffed. “Like the other night? Just fucking me and discarding me like trash?”

He smiled. “Exactly, baby. You know you’re fucking trash.”

My heart raced with anger and excitement. I smiled back as I lifted my phone and stopped the recording. Michael’s eyes widened when he realized what I had done. I quickly put the phone back in my pocket for safety.

“Here’s the plan, Michael,” I started, my voice quiet and shaky. “You have a week to call it off with her unless you want me to show this to her.”

“And then what?” he hissed.

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