Page 80 of Forbidden
“He didn’t know my age.”
“Aah, now I get it. With your birthday coming up, he’s sniffing around you again.”
“Chris, I swear I didn’t want…I didn’tmeanto hurt you.”
“Well, you have. And for what? Some guy who’s just going to fuck you and then toss you out like garbage.” He practically spits the words at me.
“I get your anger, but there’s no need to be mean.”
“Well, what are you going to do?”
“I…I don’t know.”I honestly don’t.
“Great. You know what? Have fun with the biker trash.”
“Chris…”
“Oh, by the way, ask him about Janet Presley.”
He walks away and this time I let him leave.What have I done?My knees buckle, but I’m caught before I hit the ground.
“It’s okay, doll. I got you.”
He picks me up and I bury my face in his neck as I bawl my eyes out. When he sets me down, I open my eyes and see I’m in the passenger seat of his car. “Where are we going?”
“I’m getting you out of here.”
“But Chrissy –”
“I’ll have the boys take care of her.”
He buckles my seat belt, closes the door, and then slides in next to me. I stare out my window, feeling absolutely numb. I’m the scum of the Earth. Worse than that. I’m the scum on the bottom of the shoe of the scum of the Earth. I should have told him instead of him finding out this way. I watch the scenery change as Gage drives, not knowing where we’re going and not caring. He takes my hand and gives it a light squeeze.
“You’ll be okay, babe. I’m here.”
I turn to look at him and remember Chris’ last words. “Who’s Janet Presley?”
His jaw clenches and I see the anger in his eyes before he looks away. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Who is she?”
“Just some chick. She’s not important.”
“What happened to her?”
“Nothing. She moved away a couple years ago.”
“Was she your girlfriend?”
“What? Hell no.”
I watch him grip the wheel tightly. She means something to him. I’m not sure what, but I’m not in the frame of mind to figure it out. I have my own shit to deal with.
“Fuck.” he says, glancing in the rear-view mirror.
“What is it?”
“Two bikes behind us. Been there for a while.”
