Page 29 of The Dirty Saint

I don’t know what makes men think that they can refer to a woman in a negative way and that every other man will say it is okay. Believe me, I am no saint, but claiming a woman as a bitch is fucking childish.

Killian spits a broken tooth out. “Why the fuck are you defending her, Joey? Ezra Maya is the enemy, not the prize.”

His question catches me off guard, even though he’s right.

It’s just that the way he talks about her sends a fluttering of disgust into my stomach, and I can’t explain it. The way he degrades her…

“Anyway,” Killian snaps, “Why the fuck would I answer to you?”

“Because,” I twirl the knife around inside him, and he growls. “Because right now, I’m the one with the power, and your life is in my hands.”

I’ve discarded plenty of dead bodies.

I’m not opposed to cleaning up another one.

Killian bares his teeth. “You think everyone’s afraid of you, Joey, but they’re not. You aren’t as intimidating as you believe yourself to be.”

I get in his face, making sure he can feel every word that exits my mouth. “Then tell me why there’s a puddle of piss collecting at your feet?”

Rapists are nothing but cowards who hide behind the fact that no one has ever willingly wanted to engage in sexual fantasies with them. They think it makes them powerful when, in reality, it just makes them weak.

“I bet you the whole time you were inside of her, she was cringing. However, you kept going because you’re a sick piece of shit who got off on her pain while you were too busy trying to ignore your own.”

“She didn’t finish, if that’s what you were wondering!”

I flare out my nostrils. “You piece of shit!”

“I even put on a show for the Maya family.” Killian smirks. “That was quite the FaceTime call. I screen-recorded it, so you’re willing to take a look if you’d like.”

I rub my hands over my eyes until they grow watery and in pain. It takes a great deal of strength I didn’t know I had not to shoot him right then and there.

Dropping my tone into almost a whisper, I ask, “Did you hurt her?”

He smiles.

“If by hurting her you mean pleasuring her, then yes. I did. And I enjoyed every minute of it.”

7

Chapter Seven

After

EZRA

“Don’t give me that look. I needed to hit something.”

“So you decided I’mthe something?”

“Well, when you say it like that, I sound horrible.” I take a sip of water.

Nathan scoffs.

“They’re going to let you back in, Maya. There’s no point in worrying.”

I bow my head in acknowledgment.

“God, I hope not.”

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