Page 22 of Against All Odds

“Like what?”

“So straightforward,” he said after a brief hesitation. He must’ve noticed how my eyes narrowed, because he put his hands up in defense. “I mean that in a good way.”

A silence fell. My hands started playing with my straw. The bartender practically glared us out of his bar. I knew it was almost closing time, and decisions had to be made.

“So.” Peter cleared his throat. “What’s next?”

I glanced up at him from behind my mascara-elongated eyelashes. “Well, I would like some coke,” I repeated.

“I understand, princess, but coke here isn’t cheap and you have no money.” He raised his eyebrows.

I lowered my gaze. I knew he was right, but he had been paying the tab for the whole night – so I figured getting him to pay for the coke was worth a try.

He tilted his head, a slight smile playing around his thin lips. “Maybe we can work something out, you and I.”

I frowned.

He leaned slightly forward. “If I can have you for a night, coke’s on me… just like all the drinks.”

I hesitated for just a second. “I don’t have sex for money. That’s one promise to myself I won’t break.” I paused. “But I could suck your dick.”

His eyebrows rose, amused. I wasn’t sure why I said it. Sure, I’d sucked dick for free coke before, but usually, those men were at least somewhat good-looking. Nothing about Peter appealed to me, other than that he was alright company and he’d paid for all of my drinks. But then again, did it matter? A dick was a dick. I’d learned how to make them come quickly, and if I just downed one more drink, I should barely have to feel it.

And my coke craving got worse with every drink. Right now, every cell in my body was begging for it. The only thing I wanted more than coke was Rebekah, and she was more toxic than the drug itself – coke was the only thing that could make me forget about her.

“Fine,” I heard myself say, but it was no longer me – this was my shadow talking, so if she could just take over during the deed, it wouldn’t feel like it was me doing it. “I’ll call the dealer. But we’ll do it at your house.”

Chapter 10.

Seren

I forced my mind to focus on the odds of random things happening around the house. The smoke alarm going off, a light bulb flickering off, a knock on the door. If I didn’t, all I could think about was how badly I wanted this man to die as he muttered praise to Raya while she sucked his disgusting dick and every nerve in her body clearly wanted to be anywhere but there. I watched her regret seep in with every second she stayed in that position, no matter how hard she tried to push it down, clinging to her dissociation that had started this.

“A-Actually.” Raya backed away, carefully prying the man’s dirty hands off her. Her voice trembled despite the effort to sound steadfast. “I forgot. My dealer just called. He’s right outside.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, releasing a pained groan. Foolish, foolish girl. Could she at least make up a believable excuse? Had the combination of alcohol, Ritalin and panic invaded her brain and prevented her from thinking clearly? She had not even looked at her phone.

I saw the shift in Peter’s eyes before she did.

“No, you’re not.” He got up from the couch, eyes narrowing. Suddenly, his friendly demeanor had changed into something darker. “Now you’re trying to play me.” His fists clenched. “I don’t like it when people try to play me.”

The noise Soraya let out was that of a deer facing its inevitable death.

“Listen up.” The man pointed a fat finger toward her, causing the girl to stumble backward. “You come into my house, all big talk, you take my money, and then when it comes to it, you think you can fool me? Who do you think I am?!” He spat out the last word.

Chance of Peter’s phone ringing → increase to 75%.

It was the best I could come up with so soon, and a phone call hardly seemed like something that would draw attention to the Court. Both their heads snapped up at the sound of his ringtone, a high-pitched noise that cut through my bones even from across the veil.

Raya flinched. We both held our breath as Peter picked up his phone, glanced at the display, and threw it aside, deciding that whoever had called him was insignificant. My stomach turned when I realized his breath came even faster, his fists balling at his sides. The phone call was supposed to distract him, not make him angrier.

“This is all a big misunderstanding.” Raya raised her hands in an attempt to soothe, and with a lump in my throat, I watched her fawn instincts kick in. She was not a fighter, not when she was truly in danger. If she were, she wouldn’t always resort to pleasing people who did not deserve being pleased. “I just need a moment to think, okay? If you let me just go outside for a second…”

God, no. More lies? And fucking obvious ones at that? I wish I could break through the veil and shake some sense into her, but I couldn’t. Instead, I was forced to watch Peter lunge forward. Something animalistic flashed across the man who was more monster than human as he reached for her. She jumped, yelped, and ducked under his arm. Into the corridor, she stormed toward the front door.

“You’re not going anywhere, bitch.” Peter snarled. “You’re just going to go back to the city and whore yourself out to someone else – but I’m not letting that happen. You’re mine now.”

Raya reached for the key in the lock, but he was faster, his body blocking the door. Her composure faltered, the fear breaking through, and she started pleading.