“I think we’re way past friends, princess,” I mumbled against her skin.
I pulled away from her, knowing it was time for me to leave. I’d done what I’d set out to do. I apologized for my actions and made it very clear that I wanted her. It was all I could do. The ball was in her court, and it was probably one of the hardest things I’d ever done. She had total control of the situation. The ‘take what I want’ kind of man had to be pushed aside; she wasn’t that type of girl.
“I’ll see you on Wednesday, Emma,” I said to her with a small smile, then turned away to head to my car.
I had to get away before I talked her into coming to my apartment, only a few blocks away. I needed the release. The anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach had been trying to take over for days, but I held it in. I’d hit my bag or run a few miles, letting all the tension out. I’d have to, because it was the only thing I was allowing myself to do. Cutting was no longer an option—at least, that’s what I told myself.
Seven
Mason
Seventeen years old
I looked myself over in my bedroom mirror as I buttoned my dress shirt. I woke up with a buzzing noise in my ear that hadn’t gone away. It was irritating and soothing all at the same time. Over the past few weeks, my life had been forever altered. It was the first time in a long time I felt like I had a purpose. I was doing this for Sophia. I would get her out if I had to destroy myself to do it. I felt obligated to save her. She was an innocent in my world of darkness, filled with lies, violence, deceit, and malice.
I’d do another swipe soon. I’d lure a girl and take her to the drop-off. Donicko made it sound easier than it was, but I knew I could do it. The vision of Sophia being set free was more than an incentive. I just had to block out my conscience. I had to build a wall around everything my mother had taught me. I had to transform myself into someone I hated, into someone evil who cared for nothing but his task. It was the only way I’d be able to get through what I had to do. No matter how trying or nervous I became, this was what I’d chosen to do.
I looked at the gleaming red numbers of my clock and decided it was time to head down to John’s office. I was to check in before I went out, orders from Donicko himself. John would inform him when I left, and I’d see Donicko when the drop-off was complete, only to make my way home as if nothing had happened.
I held on to the railing as I made my way down the stairs, as if I needed the extra support to stay upright. The bubbling sensation in my stomach was taking over as my nerves went haywire. I couldn’t tell if it was from fear or anticipation, maybe a mixture of both.
I walked into John’s office without knocking, a habit I knew he couldn’t stand, but I never seemed to care. He looked up from his laptop and motioned for me to sit, a gesture I ignored. I stayed by the door with my hands grasped behind my back and stared him down with a blank expression. I had nothing to say to him, and I had no idea why I was supposed to check in with him before I left. I was sure he and Donicko wanted to double-check I was in the right frame of mind before I left the house, although the notion was stupid since I could back out at any time. But they knew I wouldn’t do it. I knew what was at stake.
John stood from his desk and walked around to lean against the front of it. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked me over.
“You shouldn’t have any problem tonight, Mason. You play your cards right and the women will be eating out of the palm of your hand. I’ve seen the way their eyes follow you. Girls at your age are pitiful. They look for any kind of attention. It’s up to you whether or not you want to go for the easy swipe or a hard one. And watch your surroundings for security cameras. I want this to be clean. You got it? I don’t have time to deal with a cleanup.”
I squeezed my hands together in a tight ball as his words penetrated my eardrums. My heart was beating rapidly, and I was sweating from the anticipation. I needed to get the hell out of there.
“Are you done?” I asked him through gritted teeth.
“Yes.” John smirked. “Get out of here and make me proud.”
I turned abruptly and pressed my lips together to stop myself from responding to his words. I wasn’t doing any of this to make him proud. I was doing this for one reason and one reason only.
Sophia.
*
The bass of the music pumped through my body as I made my way through the nightclub with my hand firmly grasped around a petite one. I’d approached the dark-haired beauty after watching her shake her hips on the dance floor for an hour. She met all the requirements for the night, and she was dressed to receive attention.
Attention is exactly what she received.