you. I’ll….” I turn and begin walking. “I’ll see you in class.” It never fails. There’s always a girl trying for my affection when I don’t want them to.
I begin walking across campus and cutting through the grass under a big shade tree when I’m suddenly pushed against the trunk, my bag dropping to the ground and a large man’s arm presses against my throat, my hands pulling on it hard.
“Well, if it isn’t the boy who’s friends with my girl. I’m gonna suggest you stay away from her, asshole,” he growls.
“Who the fuck are you, asshat?” I growl, gasping for air.
His arm tightens as he sneers. “I’m your worst nightmare. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave her alone. Might think about your family too. I’d hate to see any accidents come their way.” His arm presses harder and I struggle to break free of his hold.
“Fuck you! You leave my family and Stormy alone. I’ll fucking rip you a new asshole!” I growl back, pulling on his arm harder.
He releases me, laughing and starts to turn away. “Nice funeral yesterday. You both looked really comfortable holding each other.” He starts to walk away as I take some deep breaths, my hands on my knees, but I keep an eye on him. He turns his head, looking at me and stops. “She was a nice lady. Too bad.” He walks again and I close my eyes, sweat beaded on my brow from the heat and struggle, my adrenaline racing. Who the fuck was that and why does he think Stormy is his? Needing some answers to these questions I pick up my bag from the ground, brush it off and jog to my bike.
I park about a block down at the curb, all of the trucks and cars from the crews in front of the building as well as down the street. By the time I get to the alley Stormy is sitting down on a crate, holding a bottled water against her forehead and her eyes are closed. She jumps as I get near, the ground crunchy under my feet alerting her and her eyes open and widen when she sees it’s me. She lowers the bottle and smiles, but it instantly turns into a frown when she sees my eyes glaring. She slowly stands, her eyes squinting from the sun and holds her hand over them. “What’s wrong, Bo? Is it Jade? Your dad? Oh, my God, Pearl?” She backs up against the wall as I finally get in front of her, my hand pressing against the brick, and I get close to her face.
“Who’s the chump who’s after you, Stormy?” Her widened eyes look down the alley and then back at me. “Oh, he’s not here but he was on campus today.” I watch as her throat moves up and down as she swallows. She ducks under my arm and picks up the broom that’s leaning on the wall a few feet down, and she starts sweeping. I turn around and watch her as she tries not to look at me. “Come on, Stormy! Who is he and why did he warn me to stay away from you and threaten my family?” She stops, looks down at the ground and then back up at me. Her shoulders pushed back, and her chin raises.
“Ricco. He’s a pimp.” My eyes close and I take a deep breath then open them again.
The anger flows through my body, overtaking me, controlling me, and I walk right up, getting right in her face. “Fuck, Stormy! What the fuck!? So you just gave it to him. How many others? How many have fucked you? Did you like it? Did they make you happy?” I watch as her body freezes, her face heats in embarrassment, the tears welling in her eyes, but I can’t stop. I’m so damn mad! “Fuck! Did you use protection? Have you been tested for diseases?” I start pacing in front of her, my hands going into my hair and pulling on it. “I can’t believe you’d do that. That you’d give out your body, that you’d…. Fuck!” I stop and look at her and watch as she changes. Right before my eyes she straightens her stance, her arms cross over her waist and her face morphs into anger.
“I did what I had to do. I….” I turn around, disgusted. Flashes of her naked, beneath his filthy body and others.
Jada Ryker
Lydia Michaels
An Unwilling Bride
The Baroness of Bow Street
Deirdre Martin, Lori Foster, Elizabeth Bevarly, Christie Ridgway
Greg Dragon
Christina Henry
Richard Stark
Anna Abner
Louise Penny