Page 28 of Neverland

“Am I understood?” he asked, again.

“Yes,” we replied at once but he wasn’t appeased. Something had him rattled.

Mrs. Sanchez looked ill, her face turning a sickening shade of gray. “Promise your father,” she said, her petite hand nervously rubbing her throat as if she could feel a hand strangling her.

“We promise,” we said again, both a little stunned over their unexpected reactions.

“And if you ever see him around, don’t ever let him anywhere near Lucy,” Mrs. Sanchez warned.

Rendered speechless, we both nodded. Appeased, Mr. Sanchez wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders and led her back to the living room, leaving Romeo and me in stunned silence, neither of us able to comprehend what had just happened.

“What the fuck was that?” he finally asked.

“I don’t know. I didn’t think your parents would even know him.”

“Me either,” he agreed. “But it sure does make me want to know more about him,” Romeo admitted quietly while he walked to the fridge and started collecting items for dinner. As he had his back turned, I pulled the cash from my bra which Mr. Salvatore had given me. Spotting Mrs. Sanchez’s purse, I quickly and quietly flicked in open and slid inside a one-hundred-dollar bill while folding the other and putting it into the back pocket of my shorts.

Since he’d obviously done them wrong in some way, he could at least contribute to paying their bills.

~~~

“Sweep all through the back,” Mr. Hopkins instructed. “And don’t just go around, go under.”

“Okay.”

“Then once the delivery comes in, start stacking the shelves.”

“Okay.”

“Once that’s done, get to bagging the candy for the front counter.”

“Okay.”

“And I don’t wanna see any sneakiness from you this time, or I will most certainly pay your parents a visit.”

I met his eyes. “Okay,” I agreed once more, keen to start work so I could meet Romeo afterward. This was my first day but the work seemed easy enough. When Mr. Hopkins left me to it, I started with the sweeping. Fifteen minutes later, a delivery truck arrived, and the men dumped what seemed like six dozen boxes onto the pavement. One by one I started carrying in the smaller boxes until they grew bigger in size, so big they blocked my front view and I was forced to look around it.

Navigating back inside, being careful not to trip over the concrete ledge, I placed the box on top of another.

“I see you’re repenting for your petty theft,” Dominic Salvatore mocked. I turned to find him silhouetted in the door, yet I could still make out his black eye and smiling face. My heart thudded. I was effectively trapped between two rows of boxes, a brick wall, and a Salvatore.

I was also sweaty, covered in dust, and in no mood to put up with his crass observations.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Many things but we can’t always have what we want.”

I stepped forward hoping he’d move but he didn’t even flinch. “I have work to do. Please move.” Dominic remained in place, his one good eye staring at my chest. Glancing down, I saw my white shirt was stretched from the big boxes and now was revealing plentiful cleavage. Embarrassed, I readjusted my top to how it should be, cursing under my breath.

“Now, get out of my way, please.”

Instead of moving back out the door, he advanced forward. With each step he took, I was forced to do the same, retreating us further between the stacks of boxes, the narrow aisle offering no escape. With my back against the wall, his warm breath tickled my skin. His chest was pressed against mine so much so, he’d be able to feel my thudding heart.

“I could think of a better punishment for you,” he murmured, voice husky with desire. “One that better fits the crime.”

His hand snaked up my dirty shirt and cupped my breasts, fingers painfully kneading.

“Get off me,” I ordered. I pushed his chest and slapped his arms and face, but nothing deterred him from taking what he wanted. He intercepted most and seemed unfazed by those which made contact. It was like he was desensitized to it. A sad fact we had in common. Growing tired of my antics, he pinned my hands over my head, allowing him a chance to explore wherever he wanted. I squirmed under him, but the more I did, the more he seemed aroused by my rejection. His breathing was heavy, his touch greedy, as he slipped his hands down my shorts.

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