Page 8 of Boneyard HEA

“How?”

“How did I see what you did? My secret, for now.”

I swallow, thinking, trying to see a plus in this. My heart is still flailing away, begging me to find an answer. I’m panicking in silence. I’m at their mercy, and he wants something. He. Wants. Something.

He’s still waiting, patient as a pig in mud.

“What do you want from me?”

“You. I want you.”

He’s a man, so his answer is not totally surprising. Except, he has me already.

Am I fucked? He just wants to do what they did to Riley…or not.

I guess I look puzzled.

“I told you I won’t ask for anything you don’t agree to. I want you. I want to do things to you but with your permission. Things that might seem unusual. That said, if you say yes to me now, I’ll take it as permission for anything I want. Anything. Got that? I might hurt you, but won’t harm you irreversibly, unless you ask for that.”

“Why the fuck would I⁠—”

“Ask for that? Some like to be branded or pierced and stitched. Kinky shit.” His smile hardens. “In return, because I know this agreement may seem wronger as time passes…”

Wronger. I snort, smile back. Smiling says I have power, right?

“In return, I will help you find those other two men. As will Tomás.”

“Oh.” Oh crap. Oh to every-fucking-thing. My mouth has stayed open, and I shut it. It’s a shock even after all he’s done, that he knows this detail. I was thinking it was him. That he was one of them. Now it seems not.

He was my math teacher, a substitute one. Ten whole years ago, for a few weeks or maybe a month. Can I trust him? Can anyone trust anyone that’s into math?

That’s an inner joke and my god, it’s ridiculous what my life is doing to me.

He wants permission for almost any damn thing.

I don’t know this man other than what he has said to me and done. I risk everything pointing out the flaws, but I’m going to do it because I need this to make sense.

Same as me clobbering Nathan with a shovel. I just need to. I need his answer.

“It doesn’t add up…even for a math teacher.” I shake my head, as if to take the sting from that. “You are willing to risk prosecution for aiding a murderer in return for me agreeing to…kink?”

He eyes me for a while then puffs out his cheeks. He shrugs. “You’re right. I should just give you to the cops.”

Panic returns. “No! No. Wait. I’m lost here.” I duck my head, stare at the floor. And I’m tied up, and really what am I doing? If I say yes, and he means to kill me or something, then he would’ve done it anyway. Never mind what I say. If he gets some giggles out of me saying yes, how would that matter?

It wouldn’t. Not at all.

And if he is telling the truth? Why though? It’s still crazy.

Two men cannot both be crazy? Oh yes, they can.

I’m frowning at the floor. “Do you even know why you want me saying yes to this?”

He sighs deeply. “You love pushing buttons, don’t you? But maybe that’s why I want you. How many women would kill a man with a shovel, two years after they raped their friend? If I’m not making sense⁠—”

“Okay.” He doesn’t know why, does he? I raise my head, wincing at what I’m going to say. “I will agree to this.” I swallow. “For now. I can back out later?”

God, I hope this man is truthful.