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“Sure.” He doesn’t ask any questions, going on his way.
I shut the door, looking at the chair where my clothes are. I dip my trousers and pull out the used condom. And Pearl’s knickers. I’m not done with you yet. I should never have gone there in the first place.
I shake my head to myself and head to the bathroom, but stall, frowning at the bed. I move in closer.
Red.
“Fuck,” I whisper, taking in the bloody sheets.
And there’s me, being so careful not to hurt her.
There’s the proof.
I’m incapable.
And not just physically.
10
PEARL
* * *
I drop to the end of the bed and fall to my back. “Bloody hell,” I murmur, wincing at the soreness between my legs. My insides feel like they’re swollen, throbbing, and raw. To be expected, I suppose, given Brad was hardly at the back of the queue when God gave out?—
“Where have you been?”
I lift my head off the bed, my mind scrambled, as Anya observes me from the bathroom doorway. Think. “I fell asleep in the TV room,” I blurt, getting up, avoiding her eyes, as I pass her and go to the bathroom.
“Do you feel better?”
“Not really.” Worse. I go to the mirror, cringing as I get out of my dress.
Fucked.
Ruined.
I reach between my thighs, wincing, seeing the dried blood staining my skin. I sigh. I can’t go back now, only forward. Problem is, I don’t know where to head. Having sex in the office was one thing. Having sex in his room and staying the night, now that’s another thing altogether.
Isn’t it? My palm meets my forehead, my eyes squeezing shut.
He took me to bed.
What do I do with that?
After showering and throwing on a white shift dress—no makeup, because I’m ill—I brave leaving the room, sure it’s now safe to do so. He won’t be here. Hardly ever is, and I can’t imagine that’s changed now. I wander down the corridor, still tense, and as I descend the stairs, I see Daniel coming up them. “Hey, kid,” I say, taking in his forlorn expression. “What’s the matter?”
“I’m grounded,” he grunts, passing me. “Well, Mom says I’m grounded. Dad says I’m not.”
I laugh. “Then you’re definitely grounded, kid.” Rose certainly has the power over her capable, murdering husband. She’s fearless.
“Yeah, I know.”
I check the time on my phone. He should be getting ready for school. “Does grounded mean you don’t go to school? Because that sounds like a great kind of grounded to me.” I turn at the bottom of the stairs and watch Daniel trudge up them.
“Principal Tucker has thrown me out.”
My eyes widen. “Why?”
