Levi invades my space. I breathe through my mouth, not wanting to inhale anymore of his odour in the sleeveless gym top he’s wearing.
He takes the toothpick from between his teeth, leans close to me, and whispers, “A little disappointed to see you with your clothes on.”
Hairs prickle on the back of my neck as I straighten my spine. “You’re disgusting.”
He laughs in my face, his breath smelling worse than his armpits. “So are you.” Whispering in my ear, he says, “A disgusting, dirty fucking slut.” His tongue licks my ear.
“Fuck you.” I lift my shoulder and bend my neck to wipe his saliva from my ear. My skin itches all over like an army of ants crawling on my flesh.
He slips his hand into his jogging bottoms as if adjusting himself there. “If you want some extra cash, I’ll give you a tenner for a blow job.”
I can’t tell if he’s joking or serious, but from the fondling under his joggers, he’s getting hard.
“There’s no amount of money you could pay me to go near you. You’re probably riddled with STDs. And would it kill you to take a shower?”
He laughs again. “Does Ash know his sister’s a little whore?”
Without thinking, my hand reaches up and slaps him across the face. My palm stings, but it wiped the smug smile from his face.
“You’re gonna pay for that, bitch.”
“Not if you’re locked up. Is that why you’re here, hiding from the police?”
His lips press into a thin line as his jaw tightens. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“If it means keeping you away from my brother, I'd do anything to get him away from you.” I unzip my bag, hanging at my hip, my hand feeling inside for my phone.
Before I can retrieve it, Levi pins me against the unit with his hand around my throat. “You keep that filthy mouth of yours shut, or I’ll show your brother all the screenshots of your big tits saved on my phone. You dirty fucking bitch.”
I claw at his hand around my throat, unable to throw back an insult. His toxic breath fans over my face, making my stomach roil with nausea.
“Levi,” Ash shouts. “What the fuck are you doing, man?”
Levi lets go of my neck and steps back with a snarl. “Your sister has a big fucking mouth.”
“You touch her again and your life won’t be worth living.” Ash glares at him, his fist clenches at his side.
Levi bursts into laughter. “What the fuck you gonna do? You couldn’t even protect yourself in the slammer.”
Ash’s face pales. His eyes glaze over as if he’s disassociating.
I hold my throat as I swallow, rubbing the pain there. My other hand takes hold of Ash’s arm. “Ash?” I cover his clenched fist with my palms. “Ash, he’s not worth it.”
Levi places the toothpick back between his teeth. “Calm the fuck down. But keep your sister’s mouth shut, or I’ll shut it for her.” He chuckles as he exits the room. “With my cock.”
“I can’t believe you’re letting him stay here with you. I’m practically paying for this gaff foryou, not him.” My eyes widen at Ash.
He runs a hand over his weary face. Life’s taken its toll in his twenty-nine years. If you can call a life in and out of jail, living. This lifestyle’s all he’s ever known and my heart breaks for him.
I step closer and lift his eyelid, inspecting his pupils.
He flinches back. “I told you I’m clean. I’m trying to get Jodie clean, but she’s not doing well.”
“She needs help. She needs maintenance therapy or a detox program.”
“She has a support worker, but she relapsed three days ago.”
“You shouldn’t be around these people. Put yourself first. You promised me you wouldn’t land yourself back in jail this time.” My eyes pool with moisture in the corner. My heart aching for him and this existence he has.
