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Before he could react, I was in front of him and yanking his head back by his hair. His mouth parted with a startled breath when my blade slid across his throat.
The gun clattered to the floor, and I roughly released my hold on him and let him fall to his knees.
Slowly dropping to a crouch, I stared into his wide, panicked eyes.
I forced the monster back and let all my pain and anger show. Let it threaten to consume me just as the destructive monster had not seconds before so it would be the last thing Finn saw.
So he would have no doubt why this was happening.
“Found you.”
I mumbled to any god or mother listening that I wouldn’t be stopped when I rounded the next corner. A girl I had buried long ago was thrashing deep inside me, trying to break free—but she wouldn’t.
Never again.
She meant hope. She was weak. I couldn’t afford either.
On the outside, I radiated confidence. I was the girl everyone wanted . . . or wanted to be. My hips swung just enough to catch the attention of every man who passed by me—and some of the women. My full lips were twisted into a sensual grin, causing people to stop in their tracks or stumble over themselves. My tight clothes dipped in all the right places so my body would be all they saw and craved that night.
On the inside . . . on the inside I was trembling and holding my breath.
Don’t stop me.
Don’t say my name.
My silent plea may as well have been shouted the way his head snapped up when I edged around the building.
He was always there. I doubted a day would come when he wouldn’t be. But I lived for the days when he didn’t call out to me.
I purposefully made eye contact to show he held no power over me.
Don’t stop me.
Don’t—
“Jess.”
A defeated breath punched from my lungs when he said my name just loud enough to reach me.
Not allowing my frustration or hurt to show, I let out a sharp, wicked laugh and sauntered up to him. Trailing my fingers over his bulky arm, I murmured huskily, “Beck . . . you’re always my favorite part of the night.”
He watched my fingers for a moment before lifting his glare to me. “You know the game, Jess. Gotta get paid. You just choose a different way of going about it than I do.”
My teeth gnashed, but I sidled up closer and forced my mouth into a taunting grin instead of the sneer that so desperately wanted to break free. “Beck, Beck, Beck . . . Baby, I know you’re craving to find out exactly why men keep coming back for me. Don’t pretend you’re better than me because you get to stay in that nice, big mansion. Or because you earn your money by assuring strung-out women they don’t need to pay for all they take when we both know someone has to pay.”
By the time I finished talking, my mouth was inches from his.
He dipped his head closer, almost as if he couldn’t help himself. Then whispered, “Three ninety, Jess.”
I jerked back, my face falling. “Like hell. You gave her two sixty worth a few days ago.” My stomach twisted as panic set in. Oh God . . .
He wrapped an arm around my waist and hauled my body back to his, his voice dropping low so it wouldn’t carry—an unspoken reminder there were people around who could hear us. “Not my goddamn problem your mom can’t stop using.”
“You’re an asshole,” I said. “Never again. Don’t ever sell her anything again.”
I’d said those same words to him countless times. Just as I’d said them to other sellers. The only difference between Beck and the others was Beck had never once laughed at my demands. But like them, he’d also never listened to them.
“I’m not selling to her. She takes and you pay.”
