since we’ve been here. Whatever was going on when you arrived at campus, you’ve let it go.” She pauses to bite her lip. “You haven’t touched me, and you haven’t touched yourself, so it’s not about sex. It’s mental.”
I press my forehead to hers. “Does that freak you out? That I like… need this?”
She cups my face, breathing me in. “I believe the demons running around inside of me are darker than your secrets. You can see yours; I have no idea what mine are fully.
“I think I can handle this. If this is who you are, it’s who you are. From my dreams, I don’t think I know how to connect with people or show affection. If you can handle that, I can handle this.”
In my head I want to call bullshit. I see how she is with Torque. She loves that kid as if he were her little brother.
However, I let the comment go. If I can teach her how to release and free herself, I can get her to see she’s capable of more than she thinks. I go to take her lips, but it’s at that exact moment that my phone rings. Closing my eyes, I tighten my jaw and ball my fists. It’s probably for the best.
After all, my biggest distraction hasn’t been handled. For the last six months, Missy has been clinging to the last thread of my patience and twisted guilt. Two suicide attempts and random threats to follow through have kept me from severing our connection completely.
“Are you going to answer that?” Roni asks as I stare down at my phone.
I heave a heavy breath before kissing her forehead and lifting to my feet. “Yeah.”
Roni
My body is coiled with so much sexual tension, I think my head may explode. I was sure he was going to kiss me before his phone rang. I swear, I want to cut whoever that was. Not only did he look annoyed by the call, there was something else.
“You may not have a girlfriend, but there is a woman,” I murmur to myself as I stare at the door he walked out of.
Anger starts to boil out all of the hormones raging through my body. Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on my thighs and stare at the dude’s face as he’s being whipped. He’s so focused, so much intensity rests in his face.
I turn my attention to the woman whipping him. She’s as focused as he is. Suddenly, she pauses, leaning in to whisper something in the guy’s ear. He nods his head and that’s when she looks out in my direction. I’m sure she can’t see me.
From what John said, this room is one of many that can view the scenes below. Then there are the people that are on the main floor. However, it feels like she’s looking me right in the eyes.
There’s a fire and fierceness in her eyes. Strength that I recognize deep down in my soul. I’m thrown back in time.
“When will you understand the power, you have been born into?”
“Daddy, I—”
“Silence. You will do as I say, Roni. They treat you as princess, you let them. But what you let them see is the ruthless woman they will get if they cross you. You are a P—”
“Roni, Roni.”
I shake my head as John calls me out of the memory. I focus and his golden eyes come into view. He looks pissed off.
“We’re leaving.”
“Why?” I say as I stand.
“I’m not in the mood to be here anymore. I should take you back.”
I don’t respond. Instead I watch him closely as he ushers me out. Something has changed and not from that call alone. The way he shields me protectively as we walk is more possessive than it had been before.
It’s the first thing I pick up on as we walk out. If I didn’t know better, looking from the outside in, I’d think I belonged to him.
Get a grip, Roni. You don’t belong to no one. Listen to your father, you’re a ruthless savage and that’s how you’ll survive.
It’s the truth, my friend is still out there, and she needs me. I’m not giving up and I need to be ready when I find her. That’s when I’ll release the demons living inside me.
Let John and his problems have him. That’s not for you.
Chapter 27
All My Life
Cassy
“For fucks sake, Joe,” I huff as I slap the bed with my palm. “I feel like we’re failing our boys. Am I a bad,