Page 19 of Black
“Of course, and you can just pay when you get here. I’ll see you in a few hours, and I look forward to meeting you both.”
“We’ll see you soon.” Gabriel took the phone from me and gave me a bright smile.
“Ferfucksake?” I exclaimed with frustration. “I already owe you three hundred dollars, and now you want to put me in more debt without asking me first.”
“You can consider it a birthday gift for all the years I didn’t give you a present.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“You want me to believe that you’re just going to give me three thousand five hundred dollars and not ask me for something in return?”
He looked a bit perplexed. “Ask you for what? What do you mean?”
“You know… like sexual favors or things like that… because I’m not a hooker, you know.” Okay, so I’m not the most articulate person when I’m under pressure and, yes, I was freaked out by this new uncle popping into my life and starting to make decisions on my behalf. If there’s one thing I’ve found to be true in life, it’s that when something looks too good to be true, it usually is. Nobody just gives almost four thousand dollars to someone they just met – that doesn’t happen in real life. I knew there had to be a catch. A major one.
“You’re my niece, Black,” he said with a frown.
“So…? We both know we’re not blood related, and I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were stupid.”
“Everyone knows men fantasize about sex with their nieces and daughters, all the time.”
The look of disgust on his face was almost comical. “What the fuck are you talking about? What kind of sickos do you associate with?”
“Ohh, come on, like you’ve never watched porn and seen scenes of incest.”
For a moment there I worried he was going to throw a complete hissy fit on me, but despite his face being almost tomato red and his hands forming into fists, he managed to keep his calm, although his voice was strained.
“I can assure you that my interest in you is not sexual. I just hate how my brother failed you and I feel that our family owes you for letting you down. Since he’s not stepping up, I am.”
I blinked a few times. “So you’re not going to ask me to spread my legs for you?”
“No.”
“All right, good, just had to check.”
“And just so we’re clear,” he huffed out. “I don’t have to pay for sex and to be honest, I prefer my girls a bit less Goth.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said that.”
I felt stupid. He was right to be offended. I’m not exactly the hot cheerleader kind of girl, and this dude is gorgeous. To accuse him of wanting to have sex with me seemed a little ridiculous, as I have never been with anyone remotely that hot. But then again, I haven’t really been with anyone. Seeing my mom practically prostitute herself made me commit to being different, and guys generally find me cold and reserved.
“I’ll just pack my bag and then we’re leaving. It’s a long drive,” Gabriel said and went into his bedroom.
I turned my head toward the entry door. I could run, right now. Maybe the police and Gabriel wouldn’t find me. I could go to a new city, maybe hitchhike to New York. Anything was better than two weeks in the hands of some brain twister who would reboot me like a computer and cure me of whatever virus he thought I had going on.What a bunch of crap.
My shoulders sank when what-if thoughts filled my head. Hitchhikers end up raped and killed all the time. New York might be fun in the summer, but they have cold winters and where would I sleep?
So yeah, I was still standing in the same spot when Gabriel returned with a military backpack tossed over his shoulder.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Sure,” I lied and started walking toward hell.
