He emphasizes the word “right” but I hear “wrong.” Wrong people. He’s one of the bad guys now. Does he think this is the best career ever? Does he think it’s right what he’s doing?
Charlie doesn’t appear mentally stable. I wonder if his dad ignored Charlie’s behavior and mental tendencies when he was a child—maybe neglected him and didn’t notice.
Charlie may have made different choices if his father had taken care of him in thepast. And hisfuture… My body trembles and I refuse to go there.
“My dad had high standards I didn’t live up to. I think he’s ashamed of me. But he’s a good person. I know it.”
Charlie turns his entire body toward me, and I don’t like one bit of his extra attention. He reaches to touch my thigh, but I flinch and scoot away. Something flickers in his gray eyes, but instead of seeing a piece of his soul, I see darkness and wildness. I set him off. The rejection.Shit.
“I already know everything about you, so we can skip that step,” he says.
“Wha… how? I doubt it.” I scan the room and search for the exit.
“Oh, Firefly. I love your innocence. You remind me of my mom before she changed.” He licks his lips and stands up. “I normally wouldn’t even see my clients directly, but earlier this summer I went to your mom’s apartment because I was short on staff. Anyway, the moment I saw you, the obsession started.”
I almost throw up in my mouth. I can’t decide if he’s pure evil or mentally unstable or both.
We are face-to-face. It takes him one step and he’s on top of me, straddling my body, his weight pinning my hips and thighs down.
“Get off me. You’re a monster,” I scream.
“Depends on the perspective. Your mom lives because you’re here right now.”
Back in the apartment I thought I could do something to save her, but now with him on top of me, I don’t know if I can do what he wants.
My thoughts are racing, and I dart my gaze around the room, not sure what I’m looking for. A weapon? An escape route? A miracle?
He lowers his head and presses his lips into mine, his tongue pushing through. I taste alcohol and want to gag.
I slap him across the face.
Wrong move.
His eyes become wilder with lust and something else—detachment from reality.
“Tell me you want me.”
“No.” I spit in his face.
The wrinkle between his eyebrows deepens and his lips curve down. Obviously, he doesn’t appreciate my rejection.
Charlie doesn’t even hold his cheek. Instead, he grabs my hands and traps them at my stomach with one of his hands. He reaches into his leather boot. The shiny blade catches a glimpse of the light, and I freeze. He’s holding the knife close to my face.
“Now it’s my turn,” he says in a low voice.
“I barely touched you, Charlie. Please don’t do it.”
The sharp blade touches my cheek. I don’t dare to move or breathe or blink. He makes that sound in his chest I heard back in the apartment, almost resembling a moan. He is a monster who gets off on hurting me. He lowers the blade to my shirt and cuts off the top button and the second one and the third one. My bra peeks through the material, and although Charlie’s hand is not moving, his eyes continue to undress me.
“I’ll find the money. Stop. I promise. I’ll find the money.”
“There’s no way you can find the money, Firefly.”
“I will. I have a way. I promise,” I lie. “You’re a businessman. You need to keep your word.”
That gets his attention, and I regain my breathing.
“I always keep my word. And a deal is a deal. If you don’t have the money by November eighth, then let me show you what would happen.”
