Page 98 of Octane

Both of our heads turn toward the door at the sound of a knock. A bad feeling sinks into the pit of my stomach. Jackson notices it. “Don’t worry, it’s probably Mitch.”

He gets up and opens the door, and my heart drops when I see Daniel on the other side.

“How thehelldid you get up here?” Jackson asks him, his body rigid.

“You’re not the only one with building staff on their payroll. Sawyer, you have one second to get your ass over here.”

“No, Sawyer. Stay.”

Jackson shoves Daniel back out into the hall.

“Jackson!” I yell at him. “Stay out of this! I said what I came to say, so butt out of my life from now on!”

I shout at him as I walk by, hoping beyond hope that he knows I’m acting and that my performance is good enough for Daniel.

“Come on, Daniel.” I put my hand in his for good measure, then slam Jackson’s door closed behind us.

“You don’t honestly think I believe this little act you’re putting on at the moment, do you?” He waves his hand at me with narrowed, terrifying eyes.

“Daniel, I’m so sorry. I know I shouldn’t have come, but I was just trying to put an end to all of this. I don’t want you guys fighting over me. I’m not worth it. I know that I belong with you, and that’s where I’m going to be.”

Please let him believe what I’m saying.

The elevator doors open, and I pull Daniel inside. I don’t dare chance a glance to see if Jackson followed us into the hallway.

“Sawyer,” he places a palm on my cheek, just like I did to Jackson a moment ago.

He looks like he may believe me. Until his hand moves to my hair, and he grabs a fist full of it, tugging painfully. He backs me up until my head hits the wall with force.

“I’m not an idiot, Sawyer. And you just lost any chance of getting out of the condo on your own. You’re like a fucking toddler; I can’t leave you alone for two fucking seconds because you’re bound to get into trouble.”

I fight against his hold on me until we reach our floor. He lets go just before the doors open, surely in case there are any witnesses in the hall, but then he grabs my hand and squeezes it the entire way back to the condo.

When we get inside, I expect him to lash out at me some more, but he doesn’t. Instead, he pulls me into his office and pushes me down onto his chair.

“Don’t fucking move,” he pins me with his violent stare.

He picks up his phone and presses a few buttons before putting it on speaker. I hear the phone ring a few times before a man on the other end answers.

“What do you need, Daniel?”

It’s Warren, and suddenly I feel like I’m going to throw up.

“Father, Sawyer seems to have forgotten the deal we made. I believe we should rethink our monthly payment to Zach.”

“What? No!” I scream. “Please don’t do this, Daniel. I’m sorry!”

Tears roll down my face as I consider all of the possible outcomes of the choice I just made. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to ruin things? Why couldn’t I have waited until tomorrow?

Warren begins to speak, but Daniel takes him off of speaker before I get a chance to hear what he says.

“Warren!” I shout, hoping he can hear me. “Please don’t punish my father for my mistake!”

Daniel whirls around, looking like he’s going to hit me. I turn away from him in the chair and cover my head with my hands, but his fist never connects with me. I can’t hear the rest of the conversation over the sounds of my sobbing.

“I hope you’re happy now, Sawyer. You may have just signed your father’s death warrant.”

He walks out of the office, leaving me a weeping mess in his chair.

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