I shrug. “So. I’m not on the clock yet.” Not that I punch a timecard. But I am consistent in the hours I work, which are way past bedtime. I’m surprised Sam hasn’t questioned me before now since I tend to tiptoe into the dorm room around two a.m. on nights I’m working the streets. “And I don’t carry my burner phone with me. You know that. Just cut to the chase.” I nervously look around for a third time.
“It’s come to my attention that you’re charging my clients more than my going rate.” His tone is calm on the surface, but that muscle jumping along his angular jaw says he’s ready to put his fist through my nose.
My blood gels. “If I recall, you told me what your cut was and what mine was. You never said I couldn’t charge more.”
The passenger window slides down and beady eyes glue to mine. It’s the same guy who frisked me that first night I met Ray. “Problem, boss?”
Ray scrubs his fingers along his hardened jaw. “Not yet,” he says, his gaze never wavering from mine. “So, you admit you’ve been skimming off me?”
My nostrils flare, anger bubbling to the surface. “Five or ten bucks here and there, but I don’t do it all the time.” I’ve been careful not to get too greedy.
He sucks in his lip ring, his hazel eyes glinting dangerously. “That could add up to a lot of money.”
I haven’t kept count. “Look, man. I’ll give you what I made so far this week, and we can call it even. In fact, I’m done. I’m not working for you anymore.”
He gives me a lethal sneer as he pops off the car, grinning like I said something funny. The mask falls over his face, and I swear I see fire burning in his eyes. “The fuck you are. You’re mine. And let’s not forget your three months isn’t up.”
Stupid me for coming up with that agreement.
I get in his face. “Are you threatening me?”
The short stocky guy always with him flies out of the car ready to pull his gun on me.
Ray holds up his hand to his bodyguard, glaring at me. “If you don’t want me to out you to your coach, you’ll do as I say. Or better yet, I can let the president of the college know what you’ve been doing. I’m sure she’ll love to hear how her husband’s star QB has been selling drugs to their daughter.”
I clench my fists at my side and step into him. “Like fuck you will.” Clearly, Ray has done his homework on Cypress University. Then again, Zach is a client. So, he could’ve told Ray about me. Not sure why Zach would do that unless he’s pissed that I’m dating Emily. Or maybe, he went to Ray directly to get his supply when Emily and I went to Charlotte.
“Do you want to test me,” Ray says calmly. “Because I have no problem heading over to see your coach now.”
Fuuuck!
I know he’ll do it. Drug dealers like Ray don’t take shit from anyone. I’m kidding myself if I think I can stand up to someone who wouldn’t think twice about shooting me. More importantly, Coach cannot know I’m a drug dealer. I mean, telling Coach Parker I’m dating his daughter is nothing compared to what he’ll do if he finds out I’m selling drugs.
I turn my head slightly, shoving my hand through my hair when I see Sam jogging toward me.
Double Fuuuck!Can this night get any worse?
Ray follows my line of sight and must see the panic on my face because he adds, “Do you want him to know too?”
I whip my head back at Ray. “What?”
“He’s your roommate, right? And he doesn’t know what you do.”
Asshole. He’s done his due diligence on me all right, which means he knows all about Mom and Phoebe too. A line of sweat glides down my back, and I gulp over the panic swimming up my throat.
Sam is fast approaching. I have no choice but to agree to Ray’s demands. I can’t tell Sam. I want to, but even if I did, it wouldn’t change the fact I skimmed money off Ray. And he’s going to make me pay in more ways than one. That’s what my gut is telling me.
I’m so fucking stupid. I shouldn’t have gotten money hungry.
Sam slows to a walk. His blond hair is windblown, and his blue eyes take in Ray and Ray’s thug. “What’s going on?” he asks, frowning.
Ray extends his hand to Sam before I can say a word. “Hi, I’m Ray Diaz, a friend of his.” Ray flicks his chin at me.
Sam shakes Ray’s hand. “Sam Spencer.”
“Got to run,” Ray says. “We’ll be in touch. Remember what I said.”
As soon as the SUV pulls away from the curb, my blood thaws a tiny bit.
