Page 8 of The Bitterness of Venom

I would wonder what made Desmond so cold if I gave half a fuck. But I don’t. And the reason is petty, but it doesn’t change my heart’s feelings on the matter.

When I was sixteen, I stole my foster parents’ car and wallets when my newfatherthought I was free game to touch. He learned the hard way with my knee to his junk. He toppled over in pain, and I got the fuck out of there.

I drove for an hour to reach Desmond. It had been a year and I needed my safe place. My heart longed for the boy who patched me up and held me while I slept. But once I reached his house, I saw he had a girl, one I knew very well.

Krystal was a bully. The worst of her kind, and I was her favorite target. But he had his tongue shoved down her throat as he pressed her body into someone’s car.

I saw red, but luckily, I stopped myself before I could do something stupid. And in a blind rage, I tried to outrun the cops, only to have the tires deflated by a spike strip. But hey, at least I didn’t have to go back to that foster home.

I shake the thoughts away, pushing my reading glasses up and trying to focus on the words in front of me. I shouldn’t have to focus, I know this story by heart and yet, I can’t seem to get past the same three lines.

A knock on my door is an unpleasant but welcomed relief. “Come in.”

I should probably ask who it is, considering where I live and with whom, but my mind is at ease when Jasper appears.

“Holy shit.”

I raise my eyebrows, waiting for an explanation for his outburst.

He waves his hands over my form as if that explains it all. “You wear glasses and have the most adorable freckles.”

“Eww.” I scrunch up my nose at him. “Go away if you’re going to talk that way.”

He laughs, planting his ass on my bed as if he belongs there. “Come on. Who knew you were so cute under that mask you wear?”

“It’s not a mask, I’m seriously this unpleasant. Always.”

He points to my book. “But you read romance.”

I shrug. “I watch anime too, but I know that’s fake, just like this nonsense. I’m not soft, don’t get the wrong idea because of a few freckles.”

He looks to the door as if lost in thought.

“What did you come in here for, anyway?”

He turns to look down at me. “Back-to-school party. There is one at the Kappa house tomorrow.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “You in?”

I let out a deep sigh. The last thing I need is to go to a party. I should be pestering places for a job… but maybe letting loose for one night won’t hurt. “Fine.”

Jasper’s face breaks out into this breathtaking smile that I know would melt the panties off the right girl. Probably most. But I don’t like golden retrievers. “You’re going to love it.”

He stands, walking to my door.

“Highly unlikely,” I mumble.

My phone buzzes then, distracting me from Jasper’s departure.

Unknown: Once upon a time, my doll went to a party and waited for my instructions.

My eyes narrow at my phone. This fucking bastard.

Blaise: New phone. Who’s this?

I snicker as I change his name toB.M.The possibilities are endless. Bad Manners. Big Mouth. Bite Me. Bowel Movement. But I personally enjoy Bitch Made.

B.M.: The master who pulls your strings. I can’t wait to be entertained.

There is a sinking feeling in my stomach as I turn off my phone. There are endless possibilities of things he could ask of me. I could say no, since my fees have already been paid, but can he revoke the payment? I don’t know. It’s better to just go along with his games… for now. A couple of weeks, at least.

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