Page 57 of Tristano

“It’s okay. If you change your mind, let me know,” I try to soothe her.

“The night you were taken…” she starts.

“It was the last night I saw you. You got into that car, and when I went to walk away, I was snatched.”

“I knew it.” She bites her lip. “The guy I was with. He was good-looking, which is already sketchy, but then he drove around the corner and paid me two hundred dollars to just sit with him. I didn’t question it at the time because it was easy money, but I think he was in on it. I remember when I walked up to him, he had his eyes on you. I asked him if he’d prefer something a bit younger, but he said no. He wanted me. Once I got inside, he continued to watch you, even looking in his mirror. I thought it was odd, but you know in this line you can’t be picky.”

“Do you remember what he looked like?” I ask, my heart now racing.

I hadn’t even thought about how they took me or why.

“He was tall and had dirty blonde hair. He had an accent. He got a text at the end and then told me to get out. I did see a tattoo on his wrist. It looked almost like a bracelet with some sort of design on it. I thought it was weird looking for a man to have.”

“Thank you, Meredith. That is very helpful. Can you think of anything else?”

“No, but if I do, I will let you know. Which number do I call if I want to reach you?”

“The second one. Tell them you need to talk to me, and I will get the message.”

She gives me a sad smile. “I’m going to miss you, but I don’t want you coming back here.”

“I won’t make that promise. Not until I know you’re safe.”

“I live on the streets and sell my body for money, honey. I’ll never be safe.”

I sigh. “I don’t like your logic.”

She stands, so I follow her. Then she pulls me in for a hug.

“Don’t worry about me. I chose this life, and I’m happy with it. I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself if this was taken away from me. Not you though. You have the chance at a new start. Take it and run with it, girl.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep in touch,” I tell her.

As I walk away, I glance back. My heart hurts for Meredith. She’s so lost in this hole she put herself in that she can’t see a way out.

Maybe one day, I’ll be able to help her find one.

* * *

Standing,I drop the tape gun onto the box and look around as I stretch. Boxes are stacked against the wall next to the door. Last night, Serena and I managed to pack up a few boxes before we crashed, but not nearly enough. Thankfully, it gave me something to do while she goes out there to talk to her friend. I hate that she didn’t want me there. The caveman in me almost followed anyway.

Then I realized that if I went against her wishes, I was only being controlling like her uncle is. I don’t want to be that for her. I want to possess her yes, but I want her to know that she also has her own mind as well. She can do anything she wants with it. I mean, unless she wants to leave me. Then I’ll tie her ass to my bed and spank it raw until she changes her mind.

Fuck, that’s a dark thought. She’s been through enough, yet the idea of tying her up has my dick hard. I’m fucked up.

I shake the thoughts away as I focus back on the task at hand. Ricky texted ten minutes ago, saying they were on their way back. I don’t have too much left, but I want to get it done as quickly as possible.

It’s weird seeing this side of her. While I’ve known her for years, we haven’t ever spent much time together in each other’s space. Other than the one time I showed up for her academy graduation, we agreed to keep our distance, so I’ve never seen her house. I didn’t know that she had a basket full of blankets to curl up on the couch with or a bunch of knickknacks from different places she’s traveled.

Having a couple of hours alone in her space has let me see a different side of the woman I’ve been obsessed with for years.

I can’t wait to see her shit mixed with mine.

That thought hits me hard.

Her things will be mixed in with mine because we will be living together. I used to think being tied down to one woman was a death sentence.

When did that change for me?

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