Page 71 of Make Me Scream
I think I might actually love the fucker.
CHAPTER 22
ABEL
I can’t bringmyself to text Jason back.
His text stares at me,taunting me.But what Peris did for me on Christmas… what heandElise both did…
I can’t ruin that, can I?
Can I truly be that selfish and fucked up? Is that who I am still?
But the money, the chance to get away from it all… it’s too tempting to resist, I think. And I know it’s the best way to get out—and the safest for me.
Jason is easy. I know him. He is kind and gentle, and he pays well—fuck, even more now. I can see him once a week, maybe more if he can afford it, and I will have more than enough quicker than I ever thought possible.
I’d be fucking stupid not to do this.
“Abel, right?”
I startle and shoot upward in bed, clutching my bag to my chest. A few of my lighters spill out of it, garnering Adam’s attention.
“Like lighters, do ya?” He takes it upon himself to step into my room, his hands thrust into the front pockets of his holey jeans. My eyes zero in on him, and my body becomes hyper-aware of his every fucking move. My skin crawls, and my stomach curdles.
“That’s not really any of your concern,” I deadpan as I gather them without taking my eyes off him and drop them back inside the pocket. “What the fuck are you doing in here?”
“Just trying to have a conversation,” he muses.
“Well, you have the wrong idea. Get the fuck out,” I snap, molars clamped together. But if anything, the creep gets closer, and my heart starts to race, sweat gathering along my hairline. “Dude, I don’t know what you’re doing, but you need to leave. Now.”
“Lucy left for work a little bit ago.”
“Okay. And?”Fuckfuckfuck.My hands begin to shake.
My phone blaring startles us both, and I jolt. “Fuck!” I reach for it, sweaty palms causing it to slip before I grip it tightly. I don’t bother even looking to see who it is before I answer. “Hello?”
“You ignoring me, baby boy?”
“Jason,” I breathe out in relief.
“Who else?” he chuckles, and I scowl as Adam’s lips curl.
“Let’s meet up. Right now,” I blurt, needing to get the fuck out of here. “Can you pick me up?”
“Of course,” he says easily, though he sounds slightly confused, and I can’t blame him. We’ve always met at the motel before. I’veneverasked for a ride. But it’s cold. And I need to get out of here. “Send me your address. I’ll be there soon.”
“I will. Thank you.” And then, I hang up, immediately texting him the address without really looking away from Adam. “Sorry to disappoint,” I mutter, “but I gotta go. You need to leave.”
“You’re a tough nut to crack.” Adam chuckles, and I give him a disgusted smile, silent until he walks out.
Once he’s out of sight, I gather all my shit and shove it in my bag, making quick work of it. I’ll fucking shower when I get thereor something—I’m sure Jason won’t mind. And then, I’m out the door, taking the stairs two steps at a time, hood pulled over my head to block a lot of the setting sunlight.
I only have to stand out in the cold for five minutes or so before Jason pulls up in his black BMW. He rolls down his window and drags his gaze down my body and back up again before settling on my face.
“You look good. You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I mutter as I round the front and hop in the passenger seat.
