I want to tell him to go fuck himself. I want to slam the phone down on his horrible, cruel words. His jealousy has always been difficult to deal with but this is taking things to a whole other level.
I don’t know what to say next. Nothing’s working. If reasonable words have failed, then lashing out in anger is only going to stoke his fury.
“Drew, please delete the pictures. I won’t tell anyone anything. I promise.”
His harsh laugh sends a shudder through me. “Everyone thinks you’re a whore anyway. The way you dress and carry yourself. I’ve already shown the pictures to most of my friends. They’ve seen exactly what kind of a slut you are.”
My heart sinks, hot blood creeping up my cheeks as I think about people looking at what he did to me. “You said you hadn’t shown anyone.”
His laugh sends fear skittering down my spine. “If you want, they all said they’ll fuck you too. They’ll give it to you exactly the way you like it.”
I can’t hold the tears in anymore. They spill over my hot cheeks, dripping onto the knees of my jeans. I know that no amount of begging will change his mind. There will be no reasoning with him now. He’s gone too far. Threats have now become a reality. From the moment I broke up with him, his revenge was decided. All the bullshit about us getting back together, that was never his intention. He just wanted to control me and find a way to humiliate me some more. He strung me along making me think I could convince him to delete the pictures. That he wouldn’t show anyone. But he never had any intention of deleting them. He’d probably already shown them to his friends before the party.
I end the call and sit staring at my phone, letting the full horror of my situation sink in. All his friends know. That’s his whole fraternity, most likely. And the football team. And his lame ass drinking buddies from the dive in town. Even if just one other person saw them, the rumors will circulate. Tremors shake my body as I finally let myself cry. If he’s let people see them, he’s probably sent them out too, and as soon as those photos hit the internet, my dreams of becoming a teacher will be ruined.
I have no choice. As much as I wanted to keep him out of this, Cory is the only person who might be able to help me now. I swipe the tears from my face, get my breathing under control and pick up my cell. With a trembling hand, I dial Cory’s number and hold my breath until he answers.
“Officer Carlisle.” He barks his name as though he’s pissed or in the middle of dealing with something unpleasant. Fuck. How the hell am I going to tell this man who’s a virtual stranger, all the shit I have going on in my life? I pause and the line at the other end is quiet.
“Hello,” he says impatiently. There’s rustling as though he’s looking at the phone screen to see if he recognizes the number.
I finally find my mouth but all I can think of to say is his name.
“Cory.”
“Allyson?” He’s not sure it’s me for a second. Maybe he wasn’t expecting me to call him so soon. Maybe my voice sounds different on the phone. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head, even though he can’t see it, and drag in another breath. I feel so damn tired; drained to the marrow of my bones. All I need is a shoulder to cry on or some arms to hold me. I need someone with a magic wand to conjure away my problems and leave me swirling with fairy dust. But Cory isn’t magic. There’s no one in my life who can help me. I shouldn’t have called so I can push all my worry onto him.
“I just wanted to call to say thanks, for the lift and being so kind.”
“Yeah?” he answers. He doesn’t believe me but that’s fine.
“Yeah, and to make sure you gave me your real number.”
“You think I would have given you a fake?”
“Nah, not really.”
He chuckles and I try to picture where he is in our city. Maybe sitting in his car, waiting for his next call? I don’t know what to say next but I don’t want to hang up. Hearing him this way has already calmed me.
I used to have one of those simple joke books when I was a kid and I still remember some silly ones. “What do you get if you cross a cop and a sleeping bag?”
“You called me to tell me jokes, Allyson?”
“You don’t like humor?”
He snorts and I can almost imagine what he looks like; eyes twinkling, a half-smirk. So damn sexy. “Tell me, pretty girl,” he says and my heart feels warm as though he cupped it in his hands and kissed it tenderly.
“A pig in a blanket.”
I wait for his response but the phone goes silent, then he roars with laughter.
“I’m gonna have to tell Simons that one,” he chuckles.
I wait for him to say something else but he doesn’t. I have so many thoughts jostling around in my head, so many questions.
“Why’d you kiss me, at the restaurant?” I ask him.
“Because you’re so damn sexy I couldn’t keep my hands off you.” His voice is low and dripping with sex. I press the phone closer to my ear, wanting to hear every breath and rustle he makes.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” My heart skips, as I remember the way his tongue slid against mine like the promise of something even more intimate. “Why’d you kiss me back,” he asks.
“I wanted to know if what I’d imagined was better than reality.”
“You imagined us kissing?”
“Something like that,” I chuckle. If he knew the half of it, he’d probably have an embolism.
“And was it better than your fantasy?” Cory’s voice is so hopeful that I find myself putting aside all the feelings of annoyance at his cockiness and sinking down onto my bed to talk to him more comfortably.
“Yeah, it was better.”
He makes a soft, happy sound. “That’s good. I wouldn’t want to fall short of my imaginary self.”
“You’ve got a lot to live up to,” I whisper, brushing my cheeks with the back of my hand and wiping away the last evidence of my tears. They have no place here. Here is somewhere happy and safe. I’ve closed my worries back in the box and Cory is holding it closed for me.
“I do, do I?”
“Yeah.”
“You wanna tell me?” I can hear how much he wants me to tell him, so much so that I think he’d beg if I said no.
“You tell me something first. Why’d you let me off the ticket?”
Cory sighs gently as if he’s reluctant to say. “Quid pro quo,” I say encouragingly, remembering the line from that freaky film Silence of the Lambs.
“You think it’s because I wanted to fuck you?” he asks and I feel the last two words like a surge of heat between my legs.
“Did you?” I want to hear him say yes so badly.
“A blind man would want to fuck you, Allyson. Have you not seen yourself?”
I sigh, thinking about all the critical things Drew told me about my appearance over the past few months; fat ass, how my thighs squish together in the middle, how one of my boobs is slightly bigger than the other. Even though I know he was saying them to hurt me and to try and steal my self-confidence, it doesn’t mean that I haven’t felt the truth of them. When I don’t answer I hear him sigh.
“You’re beautiful, Allyson, but that’s not why I let you off the ticket.”
“Why then?”
“Because I could sense you had something going on in your life that was making you scared and I didn’t want to make whatever was going on worse.”
I wasn’t expecting that answer at all and it hits me like an arrow in the heart. Fresh tears spill from my eyes, marking my temples and dripping into my hair.
“Are you okay?” he asks me again, but this time, I feel ready, to be honest. This time, I know his concern for me is genuine.
“I’m really not,” I say around a throat that’s closed and burning.
“What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Even though I don’t want to see the look on his face when I tell him about Drew, I can’t tell him over the phone either.
“I
think I need your help.”
10
ALLYSON
I pace my dorm room feeling antsy and exhausted, second guessing my call to Cory. When the police arrived at the party last night his shift had just started so now I’m waiting for him to get off work. As the hours have passed I’ve started to regret my call. It was a knee-jerk reaction to the panic I felt after I hung up on Drew.
Why had I said I needed his help?
I’m so torn, knowing that he’s a professional and will help me if I tell him what’s going on. But he’s too close to the situation now. In a few months, we’ll be family. Could he keep what I tell him from my mom? What if Drew’s just full of empty threats? If I tell Cory, there’ll be no going back.
And I really genuinely like him. For all his cockiness and teasing, I get the impression that he’s actually a good guy with a kind heart.
I stop my pacing and walk to the window, pulling the curtain aside to scan the street for him. About to check the clock on the microwave, I stop myself. I must have checked it ten times in the last five minutes. I’m starting to feel frantic, pumped up with adrenaline and no sleep. I smother a yawn and pad to the kitchen area of the room. I don’t usually make coffee here, preferring to grab a latte from the coffee shop. But I can’t face Cory like this, feeling all sleepy and shaky. I need caffeine to perk me up.
I pop a filter into the machine, measure out enough grinds for four cups, add water and hit the start button. The machine gurgles to life, filling the room with the rich scent of coffee. My eyes flutter closed briefly but if I leave them shut for too long I’m in danger of falling asleep standing up. I walk to the cupboard that houses my mugs; four of them just in case I have company. I pull out two and put them on the counter. No doubt Cory will be shattered after a long night shift.
When the coffee machine finishes I pour a mug, splash in some milk and two teaspoons of sugar. More than usual but I need the energy. I take a tentative sip, savoring the heat and bitterness. With my coffee cup in hand, I walk back over to the window to scan the front of the building again.
Cory should be off work by now. How long does it take to get from the station to the university? How much paperwork did he have? Would he have to finish that before leaving? Before I can come up with other excuses for him not being here yet his car pulls up in front of the hall. Butterflies launch in my stomach, fluttering around like mad, but it’s too late for second thoughts. He gets out and I’m surprised to see he’s still in his uniform.
Panic slices through me as he walks up the stairs to the lobby door. The buzzer in my room rings and I hit the button to disengage the front door lock.
Oh god, I’m not ready to tell him exactly what happened with Drew. Now he’s here and he’ll be mad if I tell him I called him for no reason. A lump of dread languishes in my stomach and the coffee makes my otherwise empty stomach churn. I have to tell him something, and I do need help. Maybe there’s a way to salvage this.
I take another sip of coffee then put the mug on the counter. Maybe once I start telling him the story my nerves will settle. Maybe getting my worries off my chest in some way will help me sleep tonight. Drew’s spiteful face fills my mind and I blink and shake my head to dislodge it.
It’s been ages since I’ve had anyone in my room and I do a quick once-over to make sure nothing embarrassing is lying on the floor or tossed over a chair. Since I’m usually studying in the library or out with Rachel, my room isn’t that much of a mess. I bolt to the bed and yank the covers up to cover the pillows. A made bed always makes a room look cleaner and I don’t want Cory to think I’m a slovenly student.
Though I’m expecting it, the soft knock on the door makes me jump. This is it. No turning back now. I yank the door open and a wave of relief cascades over me at the sight of him. He looks official and imposing in his uniform, which is good. I need the Cory with authority because casual Cory might make me tempted to tell the truth.
I step aside so he can come into my room. He looks genuinely worried about me, his eyes scanning the room for anything suspicious. I can’t help but find his furrowed brow and serious mouth touching.
“Did you want a drink? Coffee?” I ask, needing to break the silence and disturb the somber mood.
Cory looks surprised at my question but nods. “Sure, cream no sugar.”
I make myself busy in the kitchen pouring his coffee and checking the tiny fridge for cream.
“I only have milk, is that okay?”
“Sure.”
I watch him as he prowls the space in front of my desk. The dorm room is small with only a bed, a tiny kitchenette, bathroom and a sitting area. He turns the chair at my desk around and sits. His eyes are questioning but he doesn’t say anything. I’m thankful that he’s being patient, waiting for me to start the conversation. Direct questions would definitely have made me more nervous than I already am.
I bring his coffee over and hand it to him, hoping he doesn’t notice the shaking of my hand. “Careful, it’s hot.” Cory raises his eyebrows and I cringe at the lameness of my comment. I pad over to my bed, looking down at my bare legs and feet, feeling a little exposed.
Cory takes a small sip then puts the mug on the desk. “Thanks.” He turns his attention to me, then, his eyes bore into mine, waiting.
“How’s your dad?” I ask, searching for a distraction. I feel so awkward. I don’t know if I can do this.
“He’s fine. Still talking about your mom all the time.”
Cory smiles and I do too. They’re a cute couple and Jeff makes my mom happier than I’ve seen her in years. If I wasn’t going through all this shit right now, I’d be excited to go dress shopping and help out with the preparations for the big day.
“How are the wedding plans coming, do you know? I haven’t talked to my mom since the family dinner.”
“I guess they’re coming along fine. It’s not like my dad talks about that kinda stuff.”
“Aren’t you going to be his best man?”
“Yeah, but he’s a grown man. He’s sorting it all out. He’ll only tell me if he needs my help.”
“I’ll find out from mom when we go shopping. I’m sure things are going well. All she can talk about is the wedding and your dad when I talk to her.”
“Allyson.” Cory’s voice is serious as though he’s telling me to stop without using the word.”
“What?” I say, playing the innocent.
“Stop avoiding the issue. You said you needed my help. What’s going on?”
My pulse speeds and I drop my gaze to my hand, picking at the cuticles with my nails. It’s all there bubbling inside me, but I don’t know where to start. How do I tell him such private things? I thought it’d be easier. I thought because he’d given me his number and he’d seen what Drew was like, that I’d be able to open up. I thought because he’s a cop that this would be easier, but it isn’t.
I hear the scrape of the chair against the floor as Cory gets up. He kneels in front of me and puts his hand next to my leg on the bed. It feels like such an intimate thing to do and there’s genuine concern in his expression. I suck in a deep breath and look into his eyes. I’ve seen them flash with anger and darken with lust, but it’s the softness in them now breaks my heart. It’s his gentleness that finally frees the words trapped in my mouth.
“Okay, I’ll tell you but listen to the whole story before you say anything.”
“Of course.”
He’s still in cop mode, I realize. As a person, a friend or a stepbrother even, he’d probably react emotionally, but as an officer, he’ll listen to everything first, take it all in, analyze it before commenting. Feeling a little better, I nod.
“I have a friend who is having problems with a guy.”
I peer down to see his expression. He’s so good at keeping a neutral expression that I can’t tell if he believes if there really is a friend or not. “She broke up with her boyfriend because he was getting really jealous all the time. While they were going out thing
s seemed good in the beginning. So good that she let him take pictures of her that could hurt her if they got out.”
I wring my hands in my lap. My stomach churns and I suddenly wish I’d eaten some toast with my coffee. The silence hanging in the air is unnerving but I force myself not to fill it with idle chatter.
“And now he’s threatening to show the pictures?”
I purse my lips and nod. “He said everyone should know what a whore she is.” I stop and look at him again. He’s still listening, not judging, so I continue. “At first, he said if she doesn’t get back together with him he’ll send the pictures to all of his friends. Now he’s said he’s shown them to his friends already and will send them to her family and friends. My friend thinks he’ll post them online too.”
“Can you tell me anything else? More details about the guy? Name, address?”
His hand reaches to squeeze mine.
“I can’t. My friend doesn’t know I’m talking to you about it. I want to know what can happen in a situation like this. What can she do?”
Cory tenses. His knees must be hurting because he gets up to sit on the bed beside me.
“If he releases the pictures, he’ll be breaking the law, Allyson. There are new laws that cover this kind of thing. The first cases are going to trial now. If your friend has proof of the threats then the guy is more likely to be prosecuted. He needs to be questioned, Allyson.”
“I know. I told my friend that,” I lie.
Cory looks at me closely, as though he’s trying to work me out. I know I’m bad at lying but I hope this sounds plausible enough for me to get away with it.
“Anything that she can gather will help at trial. Tell her to keep track of everything this guy does, everything he says to her.”
“Okay. I will.”
“And if she wants to speak to me about it, you can give her my number. I’ll be able to put her in touch with someone who’s a specialist in this area.”
“Okay.”
Cory stands and I’m disappointed that he’s ready to leave already. What did I expect, though? That he’d want to stay and chit chat when he’s been working all night? I’m so tired I barely have the energy to get up to walk him to the door.
ARRESTED: A Stepbrother Cop Romance Page 7
