Page 46 of Tempted
“Well, young lady. The rent’s coming up a bitshort this month, but I’m sure we can work something out.”
What the hell?He sounds like some guyfrom a bad porno. “What? What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’m willing toaccept...otherforms of payment.”
Gross. “I don’t know what you’retalking about, and I’m leaving.” He grabs my wrist as I’m walkingaway and pulls me toward him. “Let go of me!”
“Oh, wonderful! Lonnie told me you’d be goodat this.”
Lonnie. Fucking Lonnie!This is whyshe wanted me to come over here – to be a part of some role-playsex game with this sick fucker. He pushes me against the wall andtries to secure my hands. I struggle against him, trying not tofreak out. I’m failing miserably. All those self-defense lessonsDaddy gave me seem like distant memories. I try to kick him in theballs, but he wedges his thigh between mine.
“I like it rough.”
His breath hits me like a punch to the face.Dear God, it smells like a dozen small animals crawled into hismouth and died. A week ago. He reaches for the button on my jeansand pops it open.
“Stop!”
I struggle harder, panic rising as he pullson my zipper. I close my eyes but before I can scream, I feel himbeing pulled away from me. I open my eyes to see Gage throwing theman across the room. He hits the wall, staggers, and falls to thefloor. Gage is huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf. He stalksover to Glenn, steps over him so Glenn is between his legs, andgrabs the neck of his tank top.
“Motherfucker!” Gage shouts.
And then all hell breaks loose. Or should Isay the straw house tumbles down? Gage pummels Glenn’s face with asingle-minded purpose. This is Reaper in rare form. It’s likewatching an accident happen – you don’t want to look, but you can’tnotlook. I watch his fist rise and fall until I see theblood. Glenn’s face is a bloody mess. He’s not even trying to blockthe punches. And that’s because he’s out cold.
“Gage! Stop…that’s enough!”
He doesn’t hear me. I watch with increasingfear as he pulls his Glock out of the back of his jeans.Holyshit.I run over and grab his shoulder. He turns to me likesomeone emerging from a trance.
“It’s over. He’s done.”
He looks down at the man beaten to a pulp,then back to me.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Let’s just get out of here beforesomeone calls the cops.”
He gives Glenn’s leg a kick and wraps abandana around his bloody knuckles. Once we’re in the car, he takesa deep breath and looks over at me.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. He didn’t…get to do anything.”
He slams his palm down on the steering wheeland growls like an angry bear. “Fuck! I’m gonna kill theson-of-a-bitch!”
“No! Don’t. He was drunk and…”
Under the impression that I had agreed toit.I know Lonnie has her thing with me about Gage, but thisjust proves she really hates me. She was pimping me out for somerent money. First thing in the morning, I’m calling Dad’s lawyer. Ineed to get some shit sorted out ASAP.
“Just leave him be. I’m sure he won’t be aproblem anymore.”
He turns to me with an incredulous stare,brows furrowed. “Leave him be? It’snothingfor me to endhim. I can do it and be back in thirty seconds.”
“Gage, please…don’t.”
“Fuck that shit.”
He reaches for the car door but I grab hisarm. I can’t let him go back in there. I can’t handle another deathon my conscience. “Please, don’t do this.Please. I’m surehe’s learned his lesson. Just leave it alone.”
“You think some fucker’s going to put hishands onmywoman and live to talk about it?”
