Perversion (Perversion Trilogy #1)(43)

His stance is cold and so is the air between us now. “But you’re not mine. I won’t risk my brothers’ lives for pussy.” He opens the door and tosses my borrowed gun into the grass. “Get the fuck out, Tricks.”

I hesitate, opening my mouth to say something, but for the first time in my life, nothing comes out.

“NOW!” he roars, reaching for his own gun on the dresser and aiming it at my chest with a shaking hand. His eyes rimmed in red. The vein underneath his black rose tattoo pulsing in his throat.

I dart out the door and into the night with a broken heart, broken dreams, and the horribly timed realization that I’m desperately in love with a man who I’ll never see again…and who hates me.

And it’s all my fault.





Twenty





I stop when I see a cat prowling in the grass. “Take care of him,” I whisper to Fuzzy who I pass on my way through the yard.

The plan is to go find Gabby and get to the bus station ASAP and see if I can change our tickets to NOW. There is no more waiting for the perfect time because there will be no perfect time. I’ve got to go, and I’ve got to go NOW. Before Marco takes what he thinks is his.

Before Grim’s rage leads to war.

My feet haven’t even hit the sidewalk yet when a voice stops me in my tracks. “Leaving so soon, Emma Jean?”

I turn to find Marci leaning up against a post at the front of the house. She looks exactly how I remember from the day I met Grim. She stubs out her cigarette. “Yeah, I know who you are. Grim told us he found you.” Her stare hardens. “And I know what you are.” She glances down to my dirty yellow Keds.

I stiffen. “He knows, too. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I’m just leaving,” I say. “I won’t be back. You don’t have to worry about me being around ever again.”

“Not until we have a little chat first.” She waves her hand, and I reluctantly follow her to the porch and take a seat on the step next to her, setting my backpack down at my feet.

“You plan on using that thing?” she asks, looking at the gun in my half zipped backpack.

I zip it back up. “I offered it to Grim. Gave him a chance to kill me if he wanted to.”

“I was wondering why two sets of D cups ran screaming through the yard earlier. That you, too?”

“Possibly.”

Marci sighs. “Things aren’t always what they seem. I know that. If you want a chance to unburden your soul, now is the time. I’m listening.”

“I can’t. Grim. He…he hates me.”

She nods like she understands. “When Belly and I first met, I felt something binding us together. Right then on that day. Took me a while to realize it was love. And when we were angry with each other, it’s like that connection made the anger so much worse. So much more hurtful.”

“It’s like I can feel his pain along with my own,” I admit. “I just got to get out of here.”

“Distance doesn’t crumble that kind of bond, baby. Trust me, I tried running from Belly quite a few times before I realized that. And can you blame him for being angry?”

“No, I can’t.”

“I ain’t gonna judge you, kid. No one in this town is in any place to do that. But you gotta give me something here. Free yourself of whatever burden is crushing you. I know the outline of the story, but fill in the pieces. I’m here. I ain’t going anywhere. And again, no judgments. I promise. Grim saw something in you that made him ask me to take you in, and that boy never asked for anything, especially back then. Make me understand why you’re messed up in all of this Marco mess.”

“Why are you doing this?” I ask, with a raspy voice.

She rests her hand over mine. “Because someone did it for me once, and sharing secrets I never wanted to repeat to myself out loud gave me a new perspective. I’d like to do the same for you.”

Something about her kind eyes and about the way she says those words, like a mother would to a child who’s done something wrong, makes the need to purge myself rise out of me like a volcano about to erupt the truth.

I take a deep shaky breath and squeeze Marci’s hand.

I tell her everything.





Twenty-One





Trick’s is wearing a white, crop-top tank, exposing a strip of skin under her pert, braless tits. Her skirt is red and reminds me of a Catholic school uniform. High-waisted and so short it barley covers her tight, round ass. Her hair is blonde again, wild and curly, cascading over her shoulders, brushing her hard nipples. Her lips are glossy pink.

FUCK ME.

The possessive feelings I’ve always had for her explode inside my gut like a grenade. The shrapnel hits my heart, and suddenly, I can’t fucking breathe.

She disappears. I look around for her, but she’s not there. I go back inside, wondering if I imagined her.

In the safety of my bathroom, I exhale and try to calm my rapid breathing. I rest both hands on the sink, shaking my head. I splash some cold water on my face and stare at my reflection as the water drips down from my jaw into the sink.

“You’re losing it, Grim. You are so very, very fucked,” I tell myself.

“Oh yeah? What’d you do now?” asks a familiar voice.