by Kayla Myles
“W-what are you going to do?” she asked, and I hushed her, pushing her away from me. I looked over to Rebecca who was keeping post by the door.
“Guard the door, and make sure nothing happens to them,” I ordered, and she clenched her jaw, nodding.
“Be careful out there,” she said.
“No, Spence! Don't!” Georgiana cried, reaching out to clutch at my shirt. I pulled her hands away from my chest and kissed her forehead.
“I’ll come back for you. I swear it.”
I walked out of the room and waited in the middle of the corridor, my muscles tensing as I saw a figure approach from the darkness.
I shined my flashlight at him and he squinted, bringing his hands up to shield his face. Judging from the way he swayed as he walked, and the disoriented look on his face, it made me realize this fucking douchebag was on something. He was holding a revolver loosely in his hand and dragging his feet towards me.
He drunkenly raised his gun up, and I went to fire but my gun jammed. Shit! Without hesitation, and clearly noticing the state he was in, I was ten times faster, so I just rushed at him as hard as I could, and slammed him down to the floor. I smacked the gun away from his hand, punched him in the face, and then just sat on his chest, disabling him.
I heard Rebecca come out, and then Georgiana’s voice speaking over the phone telling the cops the shooter had been caught. Rebecca knelt by my side and helped me subdue the fucker, wrapping his arms up with his own jacket while we waited for the cops to get in.
“You know, I was actually hoping for more of a fight,” I admitted, and I felt a hand grip at my arm strongly, making me grimace in pain.
“Don’t say that! Something bad could’ve happened to you!” Georgiana cried. She quickly pulled away, her cheeks turning red.
She bit her lip and looked away from me, playing with her fingers nervously. My jaw tensed up, and I tilted her chin up with my finger.
“I’m really sorry about--,” I started to say but she cut me off.
“No, I’m sorry,” she insisted. “I shouldn’t have been so mad at you. I thought I would be able to take care of myself, and I failed to realize that you and Rebecca were just trying to help me.”
“I was planning to tell you,” I told her again. “That night in your room, I had already made a decision to tell you everything. I didn’t want to lie to you anymore, and I didn’t want you to think I was using you.”
“So, when you told me you loved me, you were…,” she trailed off.
“I was telling you the truth,” I said softly, my hand coming up to tuck away a stray hair behind her ear.
“She loves you too, you know,” Rebecca said, and I noticed Georgiana glare at her best friend, who shrugged nonchalantly. “What? You wouldn’t have gotten so mad at him if you didn’t care,” she said.
“Is that true?” I asked, teasing my girl. She rolled her eyes and tapped me on the nose playfully.
“It’s true,” she mumbled. I chuckled at her reluctant honesty, and placed my hands on her hips, squeezing lightly.
“Just make up and kiss already!” Rebecca shouted.
“I really hate your best friend,” I muttered, scowling. George giggled at me, coaxing a smile from me in return. “So, are you ready to give us another go?” I asked, a little worried of her answer.
“You have to promise me something,” she said, looking at me seriously. “No more lies.”
I nodded and leaned down to peck her on the lips.
“I promise, baby. All truths from here on out, I swear.” And I wasn’t just saying that to make her feel better. I knew that for this to work, my word was my bond, and I absolutely with all my heart was going to make good on that promise. I had fallen hard for Georgiana, and I truly loved this woman to my very core.
So I kissed her to seal the deal.
Epilogue
Georgiana
4 years later…
We threw our matriculation caps high into the air, signaling the end of our journey as college students, and the beginning of my life in the real world.
After that promise to always tell the truth, there were so many things that happened to Spencer and me.
There were periods where I crawled into Spencer’s arms because I wanted to give up on my studies, only for him to build me up again. There were other times where I came to him to deliver good news, and he’d always make sure I celebrated with everyone I valued. There were other moments where Spencer was the one who felt down, and it was up to me to pick him up again and make him happy.
Even on the days we clashed, and went without talking to each other, we always made up and later talked about what happened. Because we knew were always telling the truth, it made our relationship stronger. It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest, and that’s all I cared about.
Besides my love life, a lot of other things happened as well.
I made up with my parents after talking everything over, including Darcy’s past and my bodyguards. Although they weren’t too keen on Spencer being my boyfriend as well, they trusted me enough now to make my own decisions, especially when Spencer promised to always protect me and make sure I was okay.
My friendship with Rebecca remained intact, too. She officially resigned from being my bodyguard on my second year in UNC, and she graduated on her own a year before me. I heard she’s protecting a politician’s daughter now.
Spencer’s brother, Chase, had ordered Spencer to finish his college education, and to everybody’s surprise, he switched his course to Philosophy. He had also pledged under PGA not too long after the shootout, dragging Elliot with him, and Tyler and his crew welcomed both of them with open arms.
“Georgiana! Honey! Over here,” I shook my head as my parents strutted toward me, my mother tackling me with a big hug. “My daughter, a graduate! I am so proud of you!” my mother said, her eyes slightly teary with joy.
“You ready to move back in with us, kiddo?” Dad asked, handing me a beautiful bouquet of roses. I took the flowers from him and graced them all with a big smile.
“Oh, didn’t Darcy tell you?” I asked, mentally laughing as my parents’ faces morphed into worry. “I’m moving in with my boyfriend!”
As if on cue, I felt Spencer’s arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me against his chest before giving me a smack on the cheek. He nodded towards my parents politely.
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt,” he greeted. “If you don’t mind, I’ll need to steal your daughter away for a moment.”
Not bothering to wait for their reply, he took my hand and pulled me away from my parents with the crowd of students still gathered in the hall. He spun around and placed his hands on my hips again, leaning his forehead against mine with an exhausted sigh.
“What? Did my boyfriend get tired after giving a graduation speech?” I teased him.
“Ha. Actually, I can’t wait until we get to our new apartment,” he answered. “Have you told your parents already?”
I nodded.
“How did they take it?” he asked.
“You were able to pull me away before they can protest, so good job,” I said, praising his perfect timing. He chuckled and tipped an imaginary hat at me.
“I aim to please, my dear,” he replied. I reached up and gave him a kiss on the corner of his lips, and his eyes darkened. I knew that look. It’s the look he always got whenever he wanted to ravage me.
“I really want to christen every inch of our apartment now,” he whispered, making me bite my lip excitedly.
“Well then,” I murmured, lowering my voice into a soft purr that always seemed to drive him wild. “Maybe we should get a head start,” I said.
He didn’t need me to tell him twice.
The End
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Prologue
Angela
I never thought that this was how I was going to die.
My heart was hammering in my chest as I looked into his wild, wide hazel eyes. His jaw was taut, his nostrils flaring, but his gaze was steady and unwavering as he stared not into my own, but at the barrel of the gun that was pressing harder against my temple.
The arm holding me around my neck tightened and I couldn’t stop the tears from forming in the corners of my eyes. I could feel this crazed man’s breath against my scalp, could smell the alcohol and smoke from his mouth and it sent a chill down my spine.
“That’s right, big guy,” my captor said, taking a step back and dragging me with him, using my body as a shield. “If you try anything, I’m gonna blow her brains out.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down again as he swallowed before glancing at me. I looked at him in despair, hoping that my eyes translated everything I wanted to say to him.
I’m sorry I got you into this mess.
I’m sorry for letting you down.
I’m sorry for coming back into your life and ruining it for you.
I’m sorry for being me.
His expression didn’t change and so did his grip on his gun, keeping his arm straight and pointed at us.
I felt my captor’s breath change quickly and he adjusted his hold around me.
“I’m serious! Aren’t you going to put the gun down? I’m gonna kill her!” he exclaimed.
Daniel pulled at the safety off the gun before shaking his head.
“No.” he said curtly.
I closed my eyes.
And then a bang.
Chapter 1
Angela
I adjusted my hoodie over my head as I walked the few blocks back to my apartment, or the rubble I could barely afford after scraping up every last dollar I had left of my savings. Travelling and acquiring new IDs and documents had taken the brunt of my money, but there wasn’t much I could do about that.
I had to get out of that city. Staying would have led to my death.
I see a couple of people walking at the other side of the road and I keep my head down, trying to make myself as small as possible. I turned my head to the side and watched them turn the other way and I let out a small sigh. I was safe…for now.
The constant paranoia of someone following me and watching my every move was eating away at my remaining sanity, but it was too early for me to relax. Big Boss and his henchmen might not have figured out where I am now, but it was only a matter of time until he did figure out my whereabouts.
Granted, going back to my hometown here in Louisiana was probably not the best idea, but I counted on the Big Boss’s knowledge of my history to assume that I would never go back here. My parents were long gone and I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. My parents didn’t have any living relatives, either, or at least, not that I know of. And I definitely didn’t have any friends here, not since my only friend left and joined the Army. I didn’t even know if he was still alive.
I reached my building and decided to take the stairs instead. The building was old and rundown and I highly doubt the elevator was in a better condition. It would probably break into a stop in between floors and I’d get stuck inside for hours…yeah, not my idea of fun.
I turned towards my apartment door and quickly did the lock before heading inside and placing the bag of instant noodle packs on the kitchen counter. These could probably keep me full for a couple of days, but they weren’t going to last long. I had to find a job soon.
I went inside my room and fell back against the mattress, feeling the adrenaline leave my body and making way for exhaustion to take over. I was getting used to my body always on the alert, the hairs on my neck always raised up and my eyes darting left and right for any sign of danger until I got home and my mind had settled to the idea of safety it provided. I turned on my belly and sighed.
Where had my life started going downhill? What did I do in the past life to deserve this? Why did I choose to get out of the club that night and see what I had seen? If even the last thought hadn’t happened, my life would be so much different.
But if I hadn’t witnessed what happened that night…would I have stayed?
Maybe not. Maybe I still would’ve left LA, but probably after I had saved enough money, had more of a concrete plan than packing my bags and getting on the next train bound to anywhere…
After all, working as a stripper wasn’t exactly the dream job I had in mind.
My mind immediately went back to that fateful day, and I swear it was like I was back in the club again. The heady perfume of the other strippers and the blast of music from the stereo slowly filled my senses like I was actually there.
I had just finished my first set and was circling the tables for anyone wanting a lap dance when I saw the owner, Alfred, call me over from the VIP Booth. I winced a little at this. It was a bad decision on my part to succumb to his advances. Even at a place like this, a relationship between an employer and an employee was never a good idea. But Alfred was so aggressive and hot, it only took him a few weeks until my defenses crumbled.
It was good for a while, but his possessive yet secretive nature finally ate away at our relationship until I finally had to call it quits.
Yes, it was pretty ballsy of me to break it off with my boss, but it had to be done. I should be grateful I still have a job, no matter how humiliating it is.
But calling me over like this? It’s not helping.
I squared my shoulders and walked up the steps to the VIP Room, the two burly guards standing by the doors giving me a quick nod before moving to the side to let me in.
My eyes scanned the two gentlemen sitting adjacent Alfred and the other one occupying the solo sofa on the side. Judging from the suits they were wearing, they were probably here to discuss business with Alfred. Other than the club, I didn’t know what else Alfred occupied himself with, and the one time I asked him about other business dealings, the chilling look he gave me sent shivers down my spine that I dared not ask him again.
Alfred flicked his wrist over at me and I quickly sauntered over and sat on his lap, my arms wrapping around his shoulders daintily. He placed his hand on my hips and squeezed, hard enough to make me bite my lip to keep from crying out. The three men ogled and leered at me creepily, despite the fact that there were two other of my co-workers keeping them company.
“She’s quite a looker there, Alfred. Is she the one I’ve been hearing rumors about?” one of the men said, his eyes sweeping over my body and licking his lips like he was staring at a prime rib. Men like him made me feel worse about doing this job.
Alfred smirked and placed his hand on my back, rubbing it in circles. “Angel here is our best dancer. She’s frequently asked for by the clientele,” he boasted proudly, and I gave these assholes my best flirty smile. Just because I hate them doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to squeeze every last dollar I could get from them.
I could feel the glares coming from the other women and I rolled my eyes slightly at them. If they were pissed off that I could be getting a tip from their guys, then I don’t care. A girl’s got to make a living, after all. Besides, Alfred wouldn’t have called me over here if they were doing their jobs right.
“Do you mind if we have a turn with her?” one of them asked, and Alfred shook his head, still smiling.
“Nah, boys. I like keeping her to myself, if you know what I mean,” he said, raising his eyebrows meaningfully and making the men all roar with laughter.
That’s right. I’m just a trophy to show off for him.
I didn’t pay attention to what the men talk about next, and instead I busy myself with serving Alfred drinks or wiggling my ass in his lap once or twice, the way he likes it. I let my mind wander until he ordered me to leave, but before that, the men begged me for a dance on the pole a
t the corner. I looked to Alfred for approval, and he gave me a slight nod.
After my dance, I came out of the VIP Room with a wad of cash and a sigh of relief that with this amount of money I earned, I was done for the week.
I still had one more set to finish though, so I braced myself for the two hour wait before another round of dancing and stripping on stage.
I was feeling a bit parched after that, so I went over to the bar to get a drink. I saw Alfred and his company get out of the VIP Room and out by the back door, which was funny because only employees got to use that exit. I shrugged it off and had some wine before heading off to the dressing room to get out of my costume and into my clothes. I said my goodbyes to the rest of the folks, took out my pay, and headed out the back.
That was when I heard the sound of gunshots coming one after the other.
I woke up in my bed, my hair clinging to my face and neck because I was sweating. I slammed the heel of my palm down on my alarm clock, cursing it for startling me. I didn’t even realize that I had fallen asleep.
My stomach grumbled and I wiped the hair off of my face with the back of my hand before getting out of bed. I should cook up those noodles for dinner and try to forget about what happened for a bit.
