Page 20 of His Puppet

Blade puts a shoe to my chest before giving me a shove. I fall to my ass and scramble backward.

Blade laughs. “Goodness, you really are awful. Did you truly think I wouldn’t expect you to try that?”

I don’t answer.

“You’re a terrible actress, by the way. Terrible. I would never put you on the street representing me. One glance from the police, and they’d figure you out.”

My heart sinks. “You were never going to…”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t have you here trying to steal a weapon off every guy who comes within a foot of you. Unfortunately, not everyone is as vigilant as I am.” He nods toward the stairs. “Come on. We’re going for a drive.”

“A drive where?”

“Sixth street. There’s a house there you’re going to be staying in.”

“What kind of house?”

Blade’s lips pull into a frown. “If I gave you a piece of advice, would you take it?”

I just stare at him.

“Don’t fight. Victor isn’t coming to get you, but I’m guessing he’ll show up at that house. Or a man named Lorenzo. Either way, you need to do what they say. They won’t hesitate to hurt you.”

He waits a couple seconds then comes toward me. I shuffle back into the wall and shield my face with my hands. I don’t know what else to do. Not down here. Not while he has the knife in his sleeve and is anticipating my every move.

“Please,” I say, tears stinging my eyes. “Please just wait a minute.”

To my surprise, Blade pauses when he’s a foot away. “Get up, Emily.”

“I know the house you’re talking about. It’s yellow and has one of those chain-link fences that wrap around the property.”

I remember it. When I was younger, and frankly, stupid, I heard about it and all the men who come and go. Johns carry a lot of cash, and that was all my greedy mind saw. I quickly realized what a mistake it was when I felt a gun in a holster on one of the men’s sides. I didn’t take his wallet or any other wallet that came from that house again.

“Okay,” Blade says, offering nothing else.

“Iknowwhat goes on there, and I can’t be a part of it. Ican’t.” My breaths come out quick and panicky, and tears leak down my face. Not a single part of my reaction is fake, and I think Blade knows it. He’s frowning and staring at me like I’m a box of puppies left on the side of the road.

“Please,” I beg, putting my hands down. “I will doanythingelse.”

“Including die?”

I’m stunned for a moment, but then I let out a sob and nod. “Yes.” I put my head down and cry into my arms which are resting on my knees. Part of me hopes he’ll just go get a gun and shoot me. Make it quick and while my head is down so I don’t see it coming. It would make sense for him to. If I leave this room, surely he knows I’ll run. I’ll never stop trying.

Blade sighs. “Please stop.”

The tears keep coming, and I wait for him to make a move. I keep expecting him to drag me out of here, and the anticipation almost makes it worse.

“Emily.”

“Why?” I ask, my voice loud. I look up and blink through my tears. “Is my painsuchan annoyance for you? You fucking asshole.” I put my forehead back on my arms, but my crying is slowing.

Blade takes another step and crouches in front of me. I lift my head to look at him.

“This is not something I do, all right? I don’t know the etiquette for dealing with a woman in as hopeless a position as you put yourself in, but forgive me for not having much sympathy for you. You fucked up. Now it’s time to pay the price for that fuckup. It’s as simple as that.”

He reaches out and takes my hand. His hold is firm but not exactly aggressive. “Up to this point, I’ve been lucky enough not to have to hurt a woman. Would youpleasenot ruin that?”

“Are you saying you have a conscience?” I ask with a dry laugh.

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