EXPLOITING AJ

by Tl Reeve

  At least the cuts aren’t too bad... The one over her eye still oozed blood, but since her lip had been busted more times than not over the years, it was already trying to close. It would be swollen for a few days, and her eye would blacken up too, again, not anything she wasn’t used to.

  She yanked a paper towel from the dispenser and wet it. She only had five minutes to clean herself up after being attacked once again by the vengeful three—Sasha, Valarie, and Marybeth. Those three were the bane of her existence. They’d made her life miserable before, but after her father...

  No.

  Bex closed her eyes and pushed back the memories and the agony. The sadistic look on her father’s face seconds before he took the ten-pound sledgehammer to her shin while Julian held her leg out straight with a leather strap. She gagged. Bile coated the back of her throat as she willed herself not to puke. Her hands trembled as she took shallow breaths to keep the visions of her battered body from her mind.

  Why me?

  It’d been the question she’d asked herself when she woke up in the hospital room. What had she done so wrong in a previous life, to deserve a father who hated her and a mother she’d never met? The only person who seemed to care at all was Mr. Aquino, her history teacher, and at that, he could only do so much for her.

  He couldn’t even stop the torture.

  When she was sure she would vomit her lunch, she dabbed her lip and eye. She hissed as the cut over her eye began to bleed again. She’d need stitches, something she’d hoped to avoid. Going to any doctor or clinic alerted her father and the minute he found out, he’d come back. At first when she was hurt at school, she thought his returning would be to care for her, instead, he beat her twice as bad. He reminded her she was an Iniguez and they protected themselves.

  It didn’t make sense to her. If Iniguezes’ took care of themselves, why did her father abuse her? And, why, when she’d hit puberty did it become worse? Again, she shoved the thought away. It wouldn’t do her any good. She was at school after all, and she still had three more hours before she could go home.

  Home was a small one-bedroom apartment in the shittiest part of the city. Until two years ago, she had someone her father called a niñera. What she’d been, Bex figured out on her own, was a piece of ass for the two bodyguards her father left behind. The woman didn’t give a shit about Bex because no one else did.

  Hell, the only thing her father did care about was Bex’s mathematics abilities. For as long as she could remember she’d been balancing the books for his business. It wasn’t until after he broke her leg that she figured out what she’d been doing, and after the state her father left her in, there’d been no way she could refuse the work. She knew if she ever did, she’d be expendable, too, just like everyone else. Her father would kill her or worse, sell her like he did with all those other people in Mexico.

  She found out about his clubs after listening to Julian and Rico talk about their experiences there. It disgusted Bex. She’d always known her father was an evil man but learning how depraved and malicious he could also be, rocked her. The worst part? She’d never be free of him. She’d thought about going to college and slipping away one night undetected by her guards and never come back, but last week, when her father called, all those hopes were dashed.

  So, Bex came up with a new plan.

  She focused on the sink instead of her reflection. If her father wouldn’t let her go, she’d let go of him. Sitting on her desk in her shitty apartment, was her letter to no one. Once she had everything in order, including the IP addresses of Sasha, Valerie, and Marybeth, along with a video outing Bex as bisexual, she was going to kill herself. It was easier after all. She’d feel no pain. She wouldn’t be a burden to anyone anymore. She’d be gone, and she’d be free.

  When she first thought about taking her life, she waited for the little voice in her head to tell her she had so much to live for, but even the little voice agreed with her. There was nothing left for her. There never had been. Her spirit hurt daily. Every inch of her physical body ached. Stuck in the fog of despair, she couldn’t come up with at least one good reason why she shouldn’t do it. However, she could come up with several reasons why she would and finally, she’d been at peace.

  “Damn, girl.” A toilet flushed behind her and a girl stepped out of the stall. “Looks painful.” She walked over to the sink next to Bex and turned on the water. “You should get that eye looked at. Someone as pretty as you shouldn’t have scars.”

  “W-w-what?” Bex stared at the girl. She’d never seen her before. She had full burgundy lips and piercing brown eyes. Her uniform shirt was a little tight and showed off her ample breasts.

  The girl frowned. “Your eye, chica. It’s bleeding.”

  “O-oh. Yeah. Happens. S-s-sorry.” Bex pressed the paper towel to the affected area.

  “Iliana.” The girl held her hand out to Bex.

  Bex stared at her. “B-B-Bex.”

  “Bex.” Iliana grinned and her whole face lit up, stealing Bex’s ability to breathe. “It’s good to meet you. I’m new here.”

  “F-f-figured.” She closed her eyes, and mentally kicked herself for stuttering so bad.

  “You’re adorable.” Iliana hooked her arm through Bex’s. “Let’s get you to the office, so you can have your eye looked at.”

  “I-It’s nothing. I-I-I can go back to class.” Bex struggled to control the nervous energy flowing through her. She’d never had anyone besides Mr. Aquino show her even an ounce of compassion.

  “Bex,” Iliana said. “If you don’t get that fixed, you’re going to bleed all over yourself.”

  True. She would. Still, she couldn’t force herself to move.

  “How about this,” Iliana started. “I’ll go grab some stuff to fix you up.”

  “Okay,” Bex agreed. How the girl would pull it off, Bex didn’t care. Wasn’t like they were best friends, or it would be any skin off her teeth. After next week, none of it would matter.

  “Perfecto.” Iliana squeezed Bex’s hand and heat raced up her arm and settled over her heart. “Don’t go anywhere and keep pressure on your eye.”

  Bex nodded, putting the wet square to her eye as Iliana walked out of the bathroom. Had that really happened? Had someone from the school talked to her? No. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. She didn’t have friends. No one cared about her. The warmth of Iliana’s touch evaporated and the cold, icy shell surrounding her thickened. She should go back to class and when anyone asked what happened or where she’d been, which was few and far between, she’d lie like she always did.

  With her mind made up, she started for the door and came to an abrupt halt when it swung opened, and Iliana entered the small space. Bex stumbled backwards, but Iliana was there grabbing her arm to keep her steady. Her heart pounded. When she was steady on her feet, she let go of Iliana and mumbled an apology.

  “You were going to leave,” Iliana accused her.

  Bex nodded. “W-What do you get out of this?”

  Iliana shrugged. “Nothing. I hate seeing people hurt and you’re hurting, Bex. I can help.” She pulled a couple of butterfly strips out of her pocket. “Have you used these before?”

  “Y-y-y-yes.” Bex swallowed hard.

  “Good.” She then pulled a small alcohol swab from her pocket and opened it. “This part is going to hurt like a bitch.”

  Bex wanted to laugh. Pain was relative to her. “G-g-go for it.”

  “Tough bitch.” Iliana grinned. “I like it. Hold still.”

  Bex didn’t even flinch when the alcohol touched her cut. Iliana took her time to make sure the whole area was clean before she placed the butterfly strip, closing the wound. She then took the damp square from Bex and dabbed the area around her eye where the blood had trickled down.

  “Should be right as rain in a few days.”

  “T-thank you.” Bex glanced at herself and frowned. In the fifteen minutes since she’d entered the bathroom, the blackened mark around her eye had
gotten darker. “I s-should go.”

  “I can walk you to class,” Iliana said. “I don’t mind.”

  She stared at the girl confused by her actions. What did Iliana want from her? Was she out to prank her? Use her? Worse, was she someone Bex’s father sent? The longer she stood there with the girl, the more she wanted to be away from her. “Nah, I’m good.”

  Before Iliana said another word, she hurried from the bathroom and hobbled down the hall toward her classroom. So weird. She pushed Iliana out of her mind and steeled herself before she entered Mr. Aquino’s history classroom. Sasha, Valerie, and Marybeth were in her class along with Kenner, Matthew, and Dawson. The All-Americans. The rich kids. The do-gooders.

  The biggest group of bullies the school had.

  She kept her head down and took her seat, hoping she didn’t cause too big of a distraction for her teacher. As she took her seat, the student beside her winked at her. She frowned. I’m dreaming. I have to be. I need to pinch myself and I’ll wake up. After placing her backpack on the floor, she tweaked the skin of her forearm and winced.

  Bex wasn’t dreaming. She cut her gaze to the right. The boy who winked at her didn’t pay her any mind. In fact, he appeared to be taking rigorous notes while listening to their teacher. Still, she studied his profile. He was Asian. He had an industrial piercing in his ear and a bolt at his brow. In the middle of his lip was another piercing. The palm of his hand had a Yakuza tattoo. Her eyes widened. Yakuza? How?

  The only reason she recognized it, was because her father a few years prior, had made her study all the different tattoos from different gangs or organized crime syndicates. It didn’t make sense why she needed to know about it, but it’d been fascinating, nonetheless. So, it begged the question, why was the Yakuza in Virginia Beach? It doesn’t matter, she chided herself. None of it did.

  She pulled her notebook from her bag and began playing catch up as the teacher continued to speak. Yes, come next week she wouldn’t have to deal with taking notes, nor would she have to worry about falling anymore or deal with the cut over her eye. It was, after all, for the best. This was her one chance at freedom, and she was going to take it.

  About the Author

  TL Reeve, a bestselling, multi-published author was born out of a love of family and a bond that became unbreakable. Living in Alabama, TL misses Los Angeles, and will one day return to the beaches of Southern California. When not writing something hot and sexy, TL can be found curled up with a good book or working on homework with a cute little pixie.

  You can sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/bv07fn or join TL’s and Michele’s group: www.facebook.come/groups/RandRravingreaders

  Michele Ryan is an author with Decadent Publishing, After Glows Publishing, and now Twisted Erotica Publishing. Michele embraced her creative passion and co-authored several books with fellow author and best friend TL Reeve. Michele has also published two solo novellas.

  Michele is a lifelong resident of the state of New Jersey, along with her husband and three children, whom she refers to as her hobbits. When Michele is not plotting or writing, she can be found either volunteering at her children’s school or reading.

  Also by TL Reeve & Michele Ryan

  Welcome to our Window Rock Universe

  Apache County Shifters

  http://www.apachecountyshifters.com/

  Kalkin: Apache County Shifters

  Twins (free read): Apache County Shifters (found in the back of Kalkin)

  Caden: Apache County Shifters

  Teacher (Free read): Apache County Shifters (found in the back of Caden)

  Rapier: Apache County Shifters

  TSU Series

  https://turnskin-university.blogspot.com/

  Unrequited Mate: TSU

  Sorority Row: TSU

  Bearing It All: TSU

  TSU After Dark

  https://tsuafterdark.blogspot.com/

  Radio Sass

  Revelations (BTS Halloween)

  Lupercalia (BTS Valentine’s Day)

  Martyrs (BTS Ruined)

  Psychic Retrieval Agency

  https://psychicretrievalagency.blogspot.com/

  Midnight (BAD Bad Alpha Dad)

  Misfits

  Leaving the Past Behind

  https://windowrockorphanage.blogspot.com/

  Unbreakable

  Entrapped

  Lost and Secrets

  Blackmailed

  Black Ops: Project R.O.O.T (Running Out of Time)

  https://blackopsprojectroot.blogspot.com/

  Rule Breaker

  Extracting Mateo

  Coming Soon

  Shattered Leaving the Past Behind

  Blackmail – Leaving the Past Behind (Novella)

  Jaqueline’s Quest – Black Ops: Project R.O.O.T

  There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com

  You can also visit our Amazon page at:

  http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha

  Special Forces: Operation Alpha World

  Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart

  Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold

  Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey

  Brynne Asher: Blackburn

  Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams

  Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine

  Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly

  Heather Blair: Rescue Me

  Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn

  Amy Briggs: Saving Sarah

  Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei

  Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage

  Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari

  Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast

  Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth

  Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven

  Sue Coletta: Hacked

  Melissa Combs: Gallant

  Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty

  KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina

  Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah

  Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds

  Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery

  Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost

  KL Donn: Unraveling Love

  Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia

  PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie

  Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria

  Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska

  EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh

  Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah

  Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor

  Silver James: Rescue Moon

  Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia

  Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava

  Heather Long: Securing Arizona

  Gennita Low: No Protection

  Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse

  Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck

  Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby

  KD Michaels: Saving Laura

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound

  Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi

  Mary B Moore: Force Protection

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly

  Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna

  MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty

  Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty

  Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel

  Anne L. Parks: Mason

  Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa

  Lainey Reese: Protecting New York

  TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo

  Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava

  Angela Rush: Charlotte

  Rose Smith: Saving Satin

  Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily

  Lynn St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire

  Dee Stewart: Conner

  Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy

  Jen Talty: Burning Desire

  Megan Vernon: Protecting Us

  Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World<
br />
  Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn

  KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen

  Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma

  Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla

  Barb Han: Kace

  CM Steele: Guarding Hope

  Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane

  Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright

  As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.

  SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series

  Securing Caite

  Securing Brenae (novella)

  Securing Sidney

  Securing Piper

  Securing Zoey

  Securing Avery (May 2020)

  Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)

  Delta Team Two Series

  Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)

  Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)

  Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)

  Shielding Riley (TBA)

  Shielding Devyn (TBA)

  Shielding Ember (TBA)

  Shielding Sierra (TBA)

  Delta Force Heroes Series

  Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)

  Rescuing Aimee (novella)

  Rescuing Emily

  Rescuing Harley

  Marrying Emily (novella)

  Rescuing Kassie

  Rescuing Bryn

  Rescuing Casey

  Rescuing Sadie (novella)

  Rescuing Wendy

  Rescuing Mary

  Rescuing Macie (Novella)

  Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series

  Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)

  Justice for Mickie

  Justice for Corrie

  Justice for Laine (novella)

  Shelter for Elizabeth

  Justice for Boone

  Shelter for Adeline

  Shelter for Sophie

  Justice for Erin

  Justice for Milena