Where We Belong (A Touch of Fate #1)(95)

“Um, I’d like to make a deal with you,” I began, rushing on before he got the chance to interrupt. “What if I said I won’t fight you?”

“I’d say you won’t fight me anyway. I’ve got the gun,” he replied, pushing it into my chest. As if I needed the reminder.

“Yes, but since I know that you have no problem using it,” I stated, indicating Hero lying on the floor nearby, “then I don’t have anything to lose, do I? Might as well go down fighting.”

“So what are you offerin’? Besides, of course, what I’m already gonna take.”

I’d have given just about anything to wipe that nasty smirk off his ugly mug, but instead I respond with the absolute last thing I want to say. “What I’m offering is my full cooperation, which I assure you, will be much more enjoyable for you,” I said, raising my eyebrow.

His eyes widened, then immediately narrowed. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I want to live,” I said simply. “So when you’re done, you leave, and I live. It won’t do me any good to report it, since I’m a willing participant. Therefore, there’s no need to kill me when you’re through.”

Creepy-guy Joe appeared to think about this for a few seconds and apparently his pea-sized brain couldn’t find any reason to argue, so he agreed. “Okay, deal. Now move it.”

“Shake on it.”

“Lady, you’re pushin’ your luck.”

“Sir,” I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “I don’t have any luck…obviously.” This was seriously the understatement of the century. “Just please,” I pleaded, with as little desperation as possible, “shake on it. I want your word.”

“Fine,” he said, shaking my hand with his calloused one. I fought back a shiver, knowing that within minutes, that same hand would be on my body. “Now let’s go.”

Looking into his cold, nearly black eyes, he seemed sincere, albeit in a hurry. And really, what choice did I have at this point but to believe him?

I hated turning my back, but knew I was safe as long as he still wanted something from me. And the sight of him licking his foul lips told me it was time for that something to happen.

With a heavy sigh, I took one more look at Hero and turned to march up the stairs, as if to my execution. I prayed to God that it wasn’t.

When I entered my bedroom, I went straight toward the bedside table, opened the drawer, and pulled out a condom.

“Oh, hell no—” he started.

“Look,” I interrupted, “unless you want me to hunt you down to pay child support for the next eighteen years, then you will wear this. Got it?”

He didn’t even appear to think about it this time. Guess he knew how much child support costs.

“Damn woman, you’re even more of a pain in the ass than my ex.”

Yup, he definitely knew.

“Fine, I’ll wear it,” he conceded. “No more negotiations. I’m in charge here. I’ve got the gun and the swingin’ dick. So get undressed—now.”

***

I lay on the bed, shaking, allowing myself a few minutes to pull my shit together. I knew he had left because, after hearing the door slam shut, I dragged myself off the bed long enough to look outside the window and watch him drive away in a non-descript white van. I couldn’t see the license plate and my Jell-O legs wouldn’t have carried me down the stairs, even if I did care enough to go and try and make out the plate number. But I didn’t…there was only one thing on this earth that I cared about. Well, two really.

After a deep breath, I glanced at the clock. Time’s up. The less thinking I did, the better off I was anyway. I reached across the bed and picked the phone up from the nightstand. After two rings, my friend, Ana, picked up. “Hello?”

“Hey,” I said, trying to control the unsteadiness in my voice.

“Celeste, what’s wrong?” she asked immediately. Damn.

“Ana, I need a favor. You know I hate to ask—”

“Done,” she interrupted.

“You don’t even know what it is yet.”

“Doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, consider it done. Now tell me what’s going on,” she demanded.

I loved Ana dearly and needed her more right now than I ever had and hopefully ever would, but I couldn’t get into it. Especially not over the phone.

“I promise I’ll explain everything later. In the meantime, I need you to pick up the twins. You are listed as my emergency contact, but I’ll call the school just in case, since they’ve never been picked up by anyone else before. After that, could you take them to your house and watch a movie or whatever until I can come and get them? Oh, and they might have homework, but then again, they’re in kindergarten so if they miss one night, it probably won’t destroy their academic records,” I rambled on. When she didn’t say anything, I added, “I don’t know how late I'll be.”

“Dios mio, now I know something is really wrong,” she said quietly.

“What makes you say that?”

“Besides the fact that you never ask for help from anyone? You’re not giving me the rundown about what they can and can’t watch, what snacks they’re allowed to have, and to watch my language around them… Just please tell me you’re alright, Celeste.”