AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I suppose he’s right. My constant need to find out how long I’ve been here is a fight that’s not worth taking. What difference will it make? None, absolutely none. Yet I have a burning need to find out.
People are so obsessed with time, and our perception of its passing all depends on the circumstances. If you’re happy, it flies by. If you’re miserable, every minute feels like a year. Which is why I can’t let it go.
Fuck, I don’t even know the date the Kings attacked the Reapers. Everything’s blurred together, and the last time I was really aware of the date was on the Fourth of July. But since then I’d been busy wanting Gray to pay, and… irrevocably falling for him.
When I don’t answer Gunner quickly enough for his liking, he wraps his hand around the nape of my neck and squeezes until I gasp.
“I asked you a question, Sugar.”
“N-no,” I mutter through the pain slicing my insides. “You’re right, Gunner. It doesn’t matter at all.”
He nods, pleased with my answer. “Of course it doesn’t. You’re here now, and you’ll never get to leave. Not even in a body bag.”
Though I know I shouldn’t, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“Did you know Cat is really good at taxidermy? He reckons he can even do it to humans.” Gunner’s blue eyes light up with a cruel excitement that makes it impossible to misinterpret the underlying implication of his words.
Schooling my features, I do my best not to give an outward reaction to the sick words. Instead, I snuggle closer and hide my face against his skin.
When I was lying like this with Gray, I loved every minute of it. The smell of his sweat wasn’t revolting to me. It was a part of him I grew to love, just like everything else about him. But with Gunner, I have to breathe in through my mouth so I don’t gag. He smells as rotten as he is.
After a while, Gunner gets up and gets dressed. Unsure of what to do, I don’t move a muscle. Unlike when I first came to the Kings’ clubhouse, I haven’t been given any duties here.And I’m too scared to walk around by myself to take any initiative.
“You’ve been good lately,” Gunner says, like he’s carrying on a conversation.
“Thank you,” I say as I force a smile.
He takes Leslie’s unicorn from the floor, placing it next to me on the bed. “One of the times Gray and I had lemonade with Leslie, she told us about getting you a graduation present she wanted you to have for when you moved away to go to Harvard.”
Breathing is always hard when my mom or sister is mentioned, and it feels like my heart breaks all over again. But this time, I feel a rush of excitement. I’d completely forgotten about the present her horse riding trainer mentioned at the memorial.
“I know she hid it at the stables so you wouldn’t find it, and I assume it’s still there?”
Nodding, I say, “Yeah… I-I never picked it up.”
Gunner beckons me over to him with his finger, and I quickly move to his side. When he hands me a pair of booty shorts and a crop top, I automatically put them on.
Once I’m dressed, he circles me, letting out a low whistle. “Your ass really is magnificent,” he groans. As he cups his junk and swats my ass, I suppress the need to roll my eyes.
“Thank you,” I say again, happy I manage to actually sound grateful this time.
“I’ve decided to take you to get the graduation present next week. You deserve a treat.”
At first, I’m not sure I heard him correctly. Then I grow suspicious, because Gunner isn’t my fairy fucking godmother. “Really?” I ask, not daring to believe him.
“Absolutely,” he grins. “You’ve earned it, Sugar.”
Even though I know I should appease him by smiling back and thanking him for his benevolence, I can’t make myself do it. I’m too scared to take him at his word. He’s dangling a priceless carrot in front of me, and I’m terrified he’ll rip it away before I can grasp it.
“I’m serious,” he says, reading the distrust on my face. “We’ll make a day out of it. You need a change in scenery.”
A day of it… a day in public… if I play my cards right, I might be able to use this for my benefit. If I can find a way to warn Chris, he can call the cops for me and I can go… home. Wherever that is. No, focus, damnit. That’s a problem for later. Freedom is within my reach, so close I can taste it on the air, and that’s all that matters.
Spurred on by the thought of getting the hell out of here, I jump into Gunner’s arms, quickly wrapping my legs around his waist.
“You’re too good to me,” I purr, peppering his neck in kisses. “Thank you so much.”
At first he seems surprised by my outburst, and honestly, so am I. Neither of us questions it, probably for very different reasons. I don’t because I’m willing to do anything to get out of here. And him… I don’t even want to guess his reasons.
