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“You have a mouth on you, you know that?”
“Oh,Iknow. This is new to you becauseyoudon’t know me.”
Ignoring my little jib, he argues, “You can’t leave your mother. You’re the only person she has left.”
My spine stiffens and I draw myself up tall. “You know nothing about me and my mother so kindly keep your mouth shut.”
A rumble comes from his chest.
He stands up, steps close, and looms over me. He circles around me, face a bit slack as if he’s seeing me for the first time. My stupid body reacts to his nearness.
Stupid, stupid hormones. Damn them.
He makes one circle, then another, and stops in front of me. He tucks one hand under his arm, holds his chin with his other hand, finger tapping on his bottom lip as he thinks, likely considering every angle of our agreement and how he can exploit it to his benefit or get out of it altogether.
“If we enter into this oral contract, then we do things my way. I’m in control. I make the plans. Think you can handle that, with your sassy mouth and witchy attitude?”
The elusive scent of freedom passes beneath my nose. Exhilaration strums through me to my nerve endings. I can almost taste the freedom. I can, but I lock it down tight and reply, “I can handle anything you dish out. Think I’ve proven that, no?”
He gives a ghost of a wince at my little dig but sticks out his hand to seal our deal.
I place my hand in his.
Electricity shoots through me.
I try to pull away, but he holds tight. “Don’t fuck with me, Star. You’ll regret it.”
A spark of anger fires through me, but I laugh it off. I’ve gotten what I want. He’s just being a sore loser. He thinks I’m a silly girl, but I’ve given this plan a lot of thought. In less than three months, he’ll go his way and I’ll go mine, and we’ll never set eyes on each other again.
Giving him a smug smile, I tease, “I promise to be good, this one last time.”
I yank my hand away, and he lets me take it back.
With that out of the way, I’m finally ready to focus on the essay he’s missed, along with the next assignment Ms. Sava already posted on Google Classroom.
Satisfied, I plop down on the couch and sniff.Eww.The smell.
Turning my nose up at him, I look away as I swallow down the nausea.
Beside me, he grabs his book and pauses. “What’s wrong?”
Still facing away, I stifle a gag and ask, “Isn’t this where you party?”
My gaze flicks to the glass top of the side table to my left. I’d heard how it’s covered in white with cocaine for his wild parties. There’s a jar on the table that gets filled to the brim with the highest-grade Molly on the market. Of course, it’s easy for him to supply his debauched parties since his clan sells anywhere there’s a beach in the tri-state area. Rumor has it that’s the exact wording in the treaty between the Lupu and Popescu clans.
Of course, beneath the question is another, more pertinent one.Isn’t this where you have sex with the many women you fuck?
“Yes,” he answers. There’s no point in lying when it’s common knowledge.
“Georgina, Marina, Joanna. Sofia and Cici. And let’s not forget Roxie,” I say bitterly. “Unless, of course, you haven’t had sex with her yet because you need to wave the blood-stained sheets around the morning after.”
“She’s a virgin,” he confirms.
Relief sweeps over me before I shake my head ruefully.
Gag, I’m acting as if it matters whether he’s fucked her or not. One day soon, he will. By the end of the school year, if the gossips have it right, and they do because it comes straight from the horse’s mouth. Roxie. According to her, they’ll be engaged the day after prom.
Not my problem, I remind myself firmly. I’m here for the escape plan and nothing else.
