"You liked it?" He seemed surprised.
"Yeah. I mean, you could use some help with spelling and sentence structure, but it's got good bones. Get it cleaned up and I think you could get an agent."
"Cleaned up?"
That afternoon, I tried to show him what I meant, but it only confused him. He ended up giving me the second notebook and insisted I mark it up for him. I took a nap and then went to work, my first real editing job. I made it my mission then, to help Les get his story published. I told my therapist this, and he started to help too. He provided me with books on grammar and how the traditional publishing industry worked. He allowed me access to a computer to research agents and publishing houses.
That was his mistake.
That was the spark.
The moment I realized I couldn't keep waiting for someone to let me out. For them to see I wasn't a danger to society. I wasn't getting out of this place. I needed more from my life. I wanted to do something meaningful. Not just rot in a bed at Cunningham's Mental Health Facility. No, I had to escape. And maybe, once I was successful enough, I could find Laney and convince her to run away with me.But could I?
I looked around the rec room, my books strewn across the table. They had no proof that I belonged here or anywhere locked up. I'd been tricked. Given the choice between prison and Cunningham's, scared, my parents sent me here. But I was done playing the good guy.I stood and stacked all my books and notes for Les's book.
"I can't wait to see your book on the shelves at a bookstore, Les," I told him. His deep brows furrowed in confusion. He and I both knew what they called me.
A lifer.
But they were wrong. I wasn't going to spend my life here. Striding over to the reception counter, I leaned over and smiled at Tatum, my most recent toy. Cunningham's was so short-staffed that she was the only one watching us today.
"Hey, sexy. You want to take a smoke break?" I winked at her. That was our little codeword. She nodded eagerly.
"Sure, it's about time for my lunch." She stood on her tiptoes. "I'll be back soon!" she said to the other patients. Tatum took me to the staff break room, which was just an oversized closet. The moment the door closed, her hands were ripping down my pants and reaching for my cock.
"I've been wet all morning," she moaned into my ear.
The pretty brunette slowly morphed into an adult Laney. Or, how I imagined she looked now. Would she still remember what I looked like when I got out? Thinking of Laney was the only way I could maintain an erection.
“I need a favor,” I said.
“Me too, a favor.” She giggled and dropped to her knees. “What do you want, more computer time?”
“No, I want to leave.”
“After I come, okay?” She licked the tip of my cock. “Then you can go wherever.”
“I mean, leave leave. I need you to help me leave Cunningham’s.”
She stopped mid-inhale and looked up at me.“You want to...”
“Escape,” I finished her sentence. “And you’re going to help me.”
“I am?” She pulled her mouth away from my cock and stood.
I nodded slowly. “You are.”
“But we’re gonna have sex before?”
I fought back the eye roll. I swear, this one was the mostcock-crazy out of all of the ones I’d bedded so far. If rolling on a condom and plunging inside her for fifteen minutes while I thought of Laney got me out of here, I’d do it. I smiled and pressed my hand to her cheek.
“We are.”
Rule 46 -Delaney
Learn to lie.
Michael gave me something to dull my headache and then left me to rest. I slept most of the day, missing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I just made it out of bed and downstairs to find Annie, Juniper, and Tristan at the bar, huddled together and talking. They looked up and stopped when I came over.
