Page 296 of Phobia
Standing by his head, I bend down to take a look. “You’ve got more going on down there than I expected, Oscar. Do we have any garden sheers knocking around?” I call out.
Oscar pulls against his restraints. “Dom! Fuck! I don’t know anything… you’ve got it wrong.”
“I haven’t, though, have I, Oscar.” That’s the problem. I know enough to have dragged him here, but he still needs to fill in the blanks.
“Here you go, Dom.”
I turn to Tommy and take the rusty sheers from him, his lips curling with glee—Tommy—my brother from another mother. Definitely, no relation since he’s as pale as snow, freckled, and his hair’s redder than a baboon's arse.
“These will have to do.” I pull the handles open and closed, the metal protesting. I’m not sure these will cut through paper, let alone flesh, but I doubt it’ll get that far. Holding them under Oscar’s face, I open and close them a few times more for effect. The result is immediate, and Oscar starts sobbing.
“Remember, Oscar. You were given a chance to do the right thing.”
“Dom! Please…”
“Not the words that will save your dick, Oscar. Try again.”
“Dom!”
“Ten, nine, eight-”
“Shit!” Oscar shrieks.
“Lift him higher,” I order, stepping under him. “If you piss on me, Oscar, I’ll shove these shears up your arse first.”
He responds with sobs and incoherent begs.
“I’ve lost count. Where the fuck was I?” I ask for effect.
“One, Dom,” Tommy grins—he doesn’t disappoint.
“One it is, then.” The sound of the metal shears grinding as they open bounces off the walls, as the dull blades graze Oscar’s left testicle.”
“Stop!” Oscar yells. “I’ll tell you everything, Dom! I’ll tell you fucking everything.”
***
Frank drives us back to my house without saying a word. There’s a lot to digest. Decisions to be made, but my mind flickers to the woman I left in my bed, the sounds she made when I made her come, her flesh slamming into mine.
She shouldn’t be plaguing my thoughts—not after one night. Is it because she’s special or different? Is it because she’s special or just different? Maybe it’s because she was real. There was no pretence, not after she bared her messy soul to me. It takes a brave woman to own her fears, defend her limits and let someone else take control.
I guess she’s special, after all.
We pull onto my street just as Frank’s phone rings, bringing me back to reality.
“Wonderful,” Frank says into his phone before hanging up, his tone matching his stony expression.
I don’t keep the venom from mine. “Problem?”
Stopping at the gate, Frank watches it open, mulling over his words before he speaks. “I just need you to remember that you’re very fond of Billy.”
My head snaps towards Frank, but he looks straight ahead.I gave him one. Fucking Job.
The gate opens, and Frank drives in. “And the boys don’t always know how to handle your mum.”
“Mum?” I choke.Shit.
Frank strides ahead, beating me to the door, ready to limit the damage, but as soon as he opens it, I push past and charge for the kitchen. Billy quickly puts his plate of food down, his hands out in apology.
