Page 123 of Forged in Rain

“Good. When can we be alone?”

“Soon. I miss you,” I whisper.

“Fuck, beauty,” he breathes, resting his forehead against mine. “What are you doing to me?”

With a small smile, I thread my fingers through his hair. “Loving you.”

Grabbing my waist, he bucks his erection against my core and rumbles, “The next time I see you, I’m going to defile you.”

Pressing my chest against his, I say, “And I can’t wait to get dirty with you.”

He shudders and I smile before sliding away. “I have to go.”

“Soon,” he says, holding my gaze until I’m around the corner.

Straightening my spine, I walk away, praying this isn’t the last time I see him because the thought is eating at my soul like a disease.

∞∞∞

The following evening, I wait until Pam’s out the door. Iris is already long gone, supposedly at a party, but with her, it could be anywhere.

As soon as I’m alone, I head straight for Iris’ room. She had that fucking gun. Now I just need to figure out where it is. I stopped off and bought a burner phone, since both of mine were long gone and after an exchange with John last night that left me sick to my stomach, I’m resolved.

Her space still looks like a tornado came through. No surprise. And I’m desperate enough that I don’t care as I empty her drawers on the floor, followed by the shit in her closet.

But despite my efforts, the gun isn’t here, and with a pitiful sob, I sink to my knees. What now?

Although John isn’t super strong, he can still overpower me. Besides, he’s a sick fuck. I need a weapon, or I’m screwed, but I can’t exactly wander into a store and buy one.

Joey’s pale face flashes before my eyes and, burying my face in my hands, I scream, swallowing back my pathetic tears. They’re going to die because I’m weak.

With a pained laugh, I drop my hands and wipe my nose before looking up and directly into Iris’ wide eyes.

“What are you doing?”

Wearily, I stand before saying softly, “If I asked you for the gun, would you give it to me? No questions?”

She cocks her head to the side, her pretty red hair a waterfall over her shoulder, and narrows her eyes. “Probably not. What’s going on?”

Sitting on the bed, I grab her damn teddy bear and stare into its jewel-hard eyes. I’m out of time. It doesn’t matter what I do or say now.

With a sigh, I rub my forehead. I’ve had a fucking headache since I came to this damn town.

“Rain?” Iris steps around the bed and pins me with her stare.

Shuddering, I bow my head and say, “I’m in trouble.”

“Okay. Why?”

“John.”

She stiffens and steps back, holding out a hand. “What do you mean?”

“It’s—He has Joey and my mom.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? When? Why didn’t you tell me?” she demands, slamming a hand against her dresser.

A bottle of perfume topples to the floor with a dull thud, the rich scent of lilac filling the room.

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