Page 90 of Alik

Even after I turn him in, he feels lust for me. Maybe it was always that way. At the time, I thought it was Damian whomanipulated me into doing what he wanted by sleeping with Creeper for free scores. But now, looking into his wanting eyes, I wonder if it was Creeper manipulating Damian all along. I wonder if it was his idea.

I wonder what it is about me that he likes so much. That I’m pathetic? Weak? Does he like me like this, on my knees, begging him?

I let out a sob, digging my hands into the gravel to fill them with rocks. “I was a coward. She told me not to do it, and I didn’t listen.”

He has to die. That’s the only way.

That’s what she’d said.

She was right.

He scoffs. “I should kill youright now. You’re so fucking lucky the Irish want you alive.”

I narrow my eyes. “What?”

“You deserve it.” He shakes his head at me but picks up a lock of my hair to run his fingers through. “Don’t you agree?”

“What do you mean the Irish want me alive?”

Creeper laughs and pulls his hand from my hair. His crooked side teeth show when he smiles wide. “Daddy didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head.

Creeper laughs again, his square head falling back with his amusement. I hate his laugh. It’s too loud. Too obnoxious.

The gravel in my hand digs into my palm, but I keep my clenched fists at my sides.

When Creeper looks at me, he holds sadistic pleasure in his smile. “Your dad has been in bed with the Irish for months now. No one was even concerned about your little video. Honestly, it was just confusing as to how you could be so stupid to think that would go anywhere. Your dad wentcrawlingto the boss to beg his forgiveness and to spare you.” Creeper taps my nose, and I jerk from his touch. “I can’t believe you don’t know this.”

Numb.

I wish I were numb.

Instead, nausea forms a ball in my stomach and grows until it pushes bile up my throat. My hold on the gravel loosens, but it doesn’t fall from my grasp.

It makes sense.

I couldn’t understand why my dad didn’t want me to turn Creeper in, but now… It was more than fear for my life. It was selfish.

He destroyed that evidence not for me, but for them.

He…

This can’t be real.

But it is.

My dad, my hero… Is a criminal.

Fuckinghypocrite.

“What else don’t I know?” I ask, my voice low and weak.

“Probably a lot, princess. But I don’t really owe you a god damn thing, now do I? Figure it the fuck out.”

“Creeper.” I let the rocks fall from my hands. “I know I hurt you, but we were friends once upon a time. Just tell me… Does my dad have any enemies? A specific organization that may want to hurt me in order to get to him?”

With his deadly eyes pinned to me, he slowly crouches. Goosebumps spread over my arms, and I yelp when he snatches my jaw and squeezes until it feels like it’ll crack. I scratch at his hands until it’s clear he has no intention of letting go, then I put them at my sides and try to breathe. His wide eyes look like they could strangle me without needing hands.

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