Page 9 of Twisted Lies

His gaze never leaves mine as he massages her breasts and licks a long stroke down her neck. The girl giggles, moving around on his lap and making a show of it. I cringe, thinking about what happened in Wyatt’s bathroom, but I can’t look away. My gaze is caught on what he’s doing so openly. Pierce slips a strap off the girl’s shoulders, exposing her breast. She pushes his hand away and tries to pull it back up, but he shakes her head. She glances over to see who’s watching, and I quickly look away, pretending I didn’t notice a thing.

“You want to get on the list?” Pierce asks the question loudly, and he has my attention again.

I watch him over my shoulder, and his eyes lock on mine again. The girl nods and lets him pull down her strap again, exposing her breast. Pierce watches me as his tongue touches the tip of her hard nipple and flicks it. A few more times and the girl forgets to be embarrassed or that she can be seen by anyone underneath who looks up.

Quickly, I glance over at Grinder. By the way he’s standing stiffly in the opposite direction, I can tell he knows what’s going on. His jaw moves under his skin, and it’s obvious he’s fed up with their rude shit. But what’s he going to do for a job? Write on his online profile that he worked at an illegal fight club since he was a teenager?

The girl moans, and the sound grabs my awareness. Pierce watches me intently as he sucks her nipple into his mouth. She moans louder, spreading her thighs open across his lap, enjoying how she feels in his mouth. Finally, Pierce makes eye contact with her and then looks at the floor. The floor isn’t solid; it’s metal grating, and it’s not meant to be kneeled on. Wide-eyed, the girl hesitates, and Pierce starts to push her off his lap. She yelps, catching herself before she falls over. And then it gets worse.

She begs. “I’ll do it but not here.”

Pierce pulls out his phone, and she grabs his wrist. The bastard is threatening to delete her name from the roster. She looks down at the grating and slowly gets on the floor between his knees. Watching me, Pierce unzips his fly. The girl reaches for his hard cock, bringing the tip to her lips. Moaning, he keeps watching me as his eyelids lower, and she works him up and down with her mouth. He gazes into my eyes and then licks his lips with the tip of his pink tongue.

I stare at him, mesmerized though my head is screaming, “Look away!” He grabs the back of her head, and she jerks a little, trying to pull back. He continues to watch me, and I can’t stop watching him. I’m ashamed of the thoughts I’m thinking.

“That feels good, Astrid.” He moans again. “Go deeper and swallow it, sweet Astrid.”

The girl wipes her eyes and gasps for a breath. “My name’s Carly.”

Pierce doesn’t care as he watches me until his eyelashes flutter and his head drops back. She doesn’t have a choice, but I do. I hurry down the catwalk, pushing the bouncer out of my way. He hardly budges, but it feels good to let even a little rage out. I rush outside, taking in big gulps of air. My knees feel weak as I lean against the building. That boy gives no fucks about anyone, not even himself.

From the corner of my eye, a large form approaches me. “Astrid, you okay?” asks Teeny.

“You’re still talking to me?” I do my best to recover swiftly. I refuse to look weak, especially here.

Teeny looks confused. “Why? Did you do something wrong?”

“Where’s Nova?” I ask, getting off the subject.

Teeny frowns as he shakes his head once. He glances at the closed door, but anyone who’s showing up tonight is already inside. “She’s not coming here anymore,” he speaks softly, “She’s at the other place.” Behind him, the metal door creaks open, and Teeny walks back to his post.

Pierce is an asshole, and I don’t want to look at him. He’s not cornering me in the dark. “I gotta go!” I yell to Teeny and take off running.

I hear my name called as I run toward the empty street. My arms pump as my nails bite into the palm of my hands. My heart pounds against my heaving chest, forcing tears down my face. I never would’ve done that with Pierce, but I almost did. They almost tricked me. And they would have if Wyatt hadn’t walked in and seen me topless on the floor. The shame burns my skin as I pick up speed.

Several blocks away, I lean against a building and hold my side as I catch my breath. The pain in my ribs from not stretching digs into muscles, and I don’t even care. I want to feel this pain, so I don’t feel anything else. How could I be so stupid and let myself be tricked by a bunch of spoiled-rotten rich boys?

“Astrid?”

I look down the dark street as Wyatt runs across the empty intersection toward me. I wipe my face fast and bite down on my lip to trap my ragged breaths in my throat.

“Jesus, you do run fast.” He leans forward, pressing his hands into his knees. “I was calling you.”

I start to walk away. “I didn’t hear you.”

“I saw you leaving the warehouse,” he says, “You looked upset.”

I stop walking, though we’re not in the safest part of town. The pavement is littered with broken beer bottles and used condoms. A syringe is probably in the mix as a hidden addict takes a hit in a shady corner. I check around us and decide to start walking again.

“Did you know that I was already in the Investors Club?” I ask him. “Did you know I didn’t have to do those tasks?”

Wyatt hesitates, and I wish he hadn’t. I start walking faster, but Wyatt grabs my arm before I can sprint away. “It’s not that simple,” he says, “Sure, you could’ve picked a few stocks, but the real money’s not in that. We knew that wasn’t what you wanted.”

I spin around to face him. “What did I want, Wyatt? To be used?” I can’t hide my tears any longer. And it’s going to be an ugly cry. He reaches for my shoulders, but I shake him off. “I was used like a clueless idiot. I’m not stupid. Is it because I’m poor? Well, I’m not poor anymore. And now, my legit friends don’t want me either.” For a moment, a sob cuts me off. “I wish my dad had left me alone. I wish he never sent me to Stonehaven. I wish he had left me where I belong.”

Wyatt holds me as I shudder with giant, bone-shaking sobs. My tears soak his shoulder while my nose snots my face. Wyatt opens his jacket and lifts the corner of his T-shirt, but I shake my head. Instead, I half-ass wipe my face with my cold hands. He takes off his jacket, pulls off his T-shirt, and hands his shirt to me. Sheepishly, I take it and blow my nose hard.

“I feel like a jerk,” I mumble, wiping my face dry.

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