Page 129 of Depraved

“Listen, Swan Lake,” Neon tried to move the hand that had been bandaged, “girls like Tanit, they can’t be trusted. The way she flaunts her breasts at every man willing to look, and swaying those perfectly shaped hips of hers whenever there’s a dick in a room, it screams desperation. A woman that hungry for attention means trouble.”

I pursed my lips. “What are you saying, exactly?”

Neon nestled her head deeper into the pillow. “What I’m saying is keep an eye on her. And don’t trust her. If that bitch says go left, you haul that bony ass of yours to the right. Got it?”

I snickered. “Warning noted.”

“Good. So, are you and Granite…you know?” Her eye gleamed with mischief.

“God, Neon. I really don’t want to talk about that.”

“Are you kidding? Of course, you do. The man kidnapped you, tied you up, and then he takes your virginity. That’s a lot of Oprah shit right there that needs to be talked about.”

Tucking my hair behind my ears, I glanced around the room. “To answer your question, yes. We are…you know.” My cheeks burned.

“Fucking?”

“God!” I laughed. “You have no filter, do you?”

“Not that I know of, no. Listen,” she started then cleared her throat, “I wanted to ask you something before—” Her voice cut off, and her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “Before all this happened.”

I leaned closer. “What is it?”

“You on some kind of birth control?”

Slightly uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was going, I drew my lower lip between my teeth before finally responding. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret asking…but why do you want to know?”

“Because a man like Granite can impregnate you simply by looking you in the eye long enough, I swear to God.”

I burst out laughing. “Oh, my God.”

“I’m serious. That man’s semen can penetrate concrete, I’m sure of it.”

I couldn’t stop laughing. I almost doubled over. Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, I laughed so hard. “Neon, you’re insane, you know that?”

She let out a laugh, but then her face scrunched up in pain and she coughed.

“Shit, you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Just, can you bring that glass of water over here? My throat’s a little dry.”

“Sure.” I shot up and grabbed the glass of water that stood on the bedside table, holding the straw close to her mouth. She took a few sips, trying her best to keep her head up.

“Thanks.”

I placed the glass on the table. “You don’t have to worry about me getting pregnant.”

“I’m telling you. Hulk semen.”

I chuckled and sat, pushing my hair out of my face. “My cycles have always been irregular. Sometimes months pass without me, you know…”

“You ever get that checked out?”

“No.” I lowered my head and gave a half-shrug. “I guess it’s the whole issue with me being underweight. I dunno.”

“Damn, Swan Lake. And your mother never thought⁠—”

“My mother never cared,” I interrupted. “She’s more worried about my weight than my ability to bear children.”