Page 52 of Let Me
I feel my heart squeezing in on itself. I run my hand over my mouth, swearing under my breath.
“Rolland has given her a long leash. He knew she was fucking Adam. But he’s got your mom, so he let it go.”
At the mention of Mom, I tense, but don’t say anything as Benji hurries along, as if he knows what I’m feeling.
“Don’t worry,” he says calmly. “I’m not going to cause any trouble for Maria. But if your dad knew that you two were fucking around—”
“I’m not going to touch her.” There’s no way. I can’t do that again. Not now. Now that I know my dad has been all over her. Claiming her. Owning her.
Benji smiles. “You just close your eyes and pretend it’s Vivian.”
I shake my head. “You do it.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I’m already regretting them, and I hate that.
Benji shrugs. “Okay,” he says.
I want to bash his face in. Instead, I shake my head. “No, fuck it. I’ll do it. She always did have a tight pussy. Hopefully she still does.”
She does.I just had my fingers inside of her. But my dad…I clench my jaw.
“You film it. Send it to your dad. He cuts off her supply of money to get her here. She’s fucked. And she won’t come back here again.”
I sigh. “Benji, there’s a lot of legal ramifications tofilmingsomeone without their consent.”
He shrugs. “Good thing you’re a lawyer.” He stands to his feet. “Figure out how to work around it. When do you want to do it?”
“You said you gave her a chance to leave.” I hope to God she takes it, even as a part of me is excited about this plan Benji has. Round two.
He nods. “I did. But I’m not sure she will. I’ll know tonight if she books a flight.”
I don’t ask how. “Okay. If she doesn’t…Tuesday is always a good day to fuck shit up?” And a good day to give Riley the payback she deserves.
He winks at me. “Perfect. I’ll be in touch.”
As he walks out of my office, I can’t help the sick feeling that’s still in my gut.
TWENTY-FOUR
June, 3 Years Ago
THIS PARTY IS out of control, and I don’t mean that in a good way. I’ve already seen two chicks vomiting on a white rug, a dude whipping his limp dick out by the water cooler, and whatever speaker is thudding Slipknot at full volume has definitely busted. The twang beneath the bass is evidence of that.
This is a regular Friday night in Grove, one of the richest areas of the city. Even rich people get sloppy.
I need to find Benji and get the fuck out. He invited me here, the dude won’t pick up his phone, and if I don’t let him know I stopped by, he’ll piss and moan about it for days. Or come to my condo in the middle of the night and yank my ass out of bed. I should’ve never given him a key.
I thread my way through the crowd in whatever poor family’s living room this is—a rental, Benji said, from some chick named Morgan—my shoes stepping into something sticky, and make my way upstairs, keeping my eyes peeled for Benji. A few guys nod my way, some call my name—law school friends, old high school friends who never left, some from university—and more than a few women tug on my arm.
I shrug them off. I don’t want to fuck someone in this shit storm.
I pass by two closed doors, the smell of cigarettes and marijuana thick up here. I hear girls moaning, some dude retching, and wonder—not for the first time—why the fuck I’m here.
A flash of lightening and a crack of thunder from the window at the end of the hall sour my mood more. I don’t relish the thought of getting my blazer drenched and I didn’t bring a goddamn rain coat because I’m only here for Benji.
I check the last room on the left, at the end of the narrow hallway, pushing it open with my toe.
At first, I think it’s empty. Then the door swings open a little more, and I see a girl in her bra and underwear, on all fours, apparently teasing some dude beneath her.
She’s got a nice, tight ass and she’s biting this guy’s neck. He’s got a beer bottle dangling from his fingers in one hand, but his eyes are closed. He lets out a low groan as she trails her hand down his bare chest and over his jeans, palming him.
