I want to tell him to get off me. To go fuck himself. That what I do is none of his business.
But instead, all I can croak out is an apology. And I’m not even sure why I’m saying I’m sorry. Just that I want him to let go of me.
“You’re sorry?” Grant drops his free hand to my hip. “Why don’t we see how sorry you are?”
“Grant…” It’s all I can say. My whole body is shaking. It’s as though all those years I’ve spent out of Brooklyn didn’t make a difference. I’m fifteen again, and I need someone to save me. I need to…
Grant’s hand shifts to my crotch and squeezes.
I need to behave. Grant is dangerous. He wants to hurt people I love. And if I let him, then I’m just as bad as he is.
“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll show you I’m sorry.”
Grant shifts his hand from my throat to the back of my neck so he can push me to my knees.
I let him. I feel the hot asphalt of the alleyway through the fabric of my jeans. I feel pain in my throat from where Grant grabbed me.
I told myself I’d never be in this position again, on my knees looking up at Grant, but I don’t know what else to do. No one’s coming to save me.
Grant stares down expectantly at me, and I know I’m supposed to unzip him. I’m supposed to take his dick out and put it in my mouth and pleasure him until he shoots a load down my throat. But it’s like my arms can’t move. I keep staring up at him, waiting for him to disappear. Like he always does in my nightmares.
With a grunt of frustration, Grant lifts an arm and backhands me across the face. My teeth cut into my lip, and blood explodes across my tongue.
Grant’s right. It’s time to be good. Time to do what he wants. Just one blowjob, and it’ll be over. At least until the next time he wants to see me.
The door to the office opens suddenly, and the sound of it snaps me out of this. Max is coming out. I can’t let him see me like this. It’ll disgust him.
I scramble to my feet and call his name.
Grant grabs my arm hard enough to bruise. “What are you doing?” he hisses.
I ignore him and keep my gaze focused on Max. He can’t save me, but Grant never did anything if someone was watching. All I need is for Max to come closer. Grant wouldn’t dare—
Or maybe he’d hurt Max. Grant could get violent. He could hit Max like he hit me, only worse. Because when Grant doesn’t get his way, it’s always ugly.
But Grant releases me with a shove and hurries out of the alley.
“Who was that?” Max asks when he reaches me. Then he frowns. “Jude, what happened to your face? You’re bleeding.”
“It’s fine.” I lift a hand to my lip, and my fingers come away bloody. They’re trembling.
“Hey.” Max catches my other hand in his, squeezing my fingers tightly. “What happened?”
“Someone tried to mug me.” The lie comes out of me quickly. How many times did I have to lie to a teacher about a bruise I had? A friend? It should be no different with Max.
“Did he get anything?” Max asks.
“No. No, you came out.”
“Well, come back in here,” Max says, pulling the keys out of his pocket. He holds onto my hand as he uses his other to unlock the office door.
When we step inside, he flicks the light switch, and I blink in the brightness. It feels weird after being in the alley.
Max shuts the door behind us and locks it. “We should call the police.”
“No.” My voice is sharper than I mean for it to be. But there’s no way in hell I’m talking to the cops about this. If anyone finds out, Rowan or Dominic will go after him again, and I can’t let that happen. I already messed up Rowan’s life. I can’t do it again.
Max chews on his bottom lip before going into the adjoining bathroom and coming back out with a wet washcloth. “Sit, okay?”
