Page 28 of Forbidden Deviant Games

“I am letting you have this freedom, baby,” he says, reaching up as his fingers touch the corner of my mouth. “But make no mistake, if I wanted to, I could have you locked up and no one would be able to stop me. No one would even know you went missing.”

My heart hammers inside my chest wildly, like a bird finally realizing it’s well and truly trapped. “I…” I have no words. No idea what to say to that. It’s hot and yet, at the same time, frightening.

Something clicks inside the door and Viks pulls back. Only then do I realize that his other hand is on the button to unlock the doors. “Go,” he orders. “I’ll be here to pick you up later. Keep your phone on.”

“You didn’t have to give me a new phone,” I mutter.

He shoots me a dark look and I sigh. “Fine.”

“Get to class,” he orders.

Unable to do anything else, I nod and open the door, hopping out onto the sidewalk. Sunshine hits me in the face and I take a step back away from the vehicle.Should I … run?I wonder.Can I even get away?

As if he can read my mind, Viks rolls down the passenger side window after I’ve shut the door and leans across. “Don’t even think about it, baby,” he warns. “I’ll find you—wherever you go, I’ll find you.”

I stare back at him and hitch my backpack a little higher on my shoulder. “Goodbye, Viks,” I say before turning away and heading off.

His laughter slides through my ears, dark and low, as I stride down the sidewalk, heading into the crowd waiting to cross one of the crosswalks that leads to the row of classroom buildings. When I look back, it’s after I’ve already met up with them, and the SUV is gone. My confusion remains.

Three months ago, if someone were to have told me that I’d be in this kind of relationship with Mitchell Vikson, I would’ve told them they were insane. Now … well, I’m still having a difficult time coming to terms with it myself.

If he was going to be like this, why the hell did he ever torture me in the first place? All those late nights at the club when I really should have been in my dorm room, getting ready for my next art project. Those times he requested me only to have me at his beck and call for hours in a private lounge. The little snide comments. The irritating looks.Was he just riling me up because he knew I couldn’t stand him?

I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I don’t realize I’ve reached my classroom building until I’m standing in front of the steps and a familiar face is striding down the sidewalk, eyes completely focused on me. I groan internally. Of all days to deal with Josh, I was really hoping it wouldn’t be today.

“Is it true?” Josh demands as he stops in front of me, a scowl on his lips.

My brows shoot up in surprise at his tone. “Is what true?” I reply, frowning.

“Is it true that that fuckwad dropped you off at school today?”

“That fuckwad is my boss,” I remind him, “and it’s none of your business.” I turn to head into the building, but I’m stopped by a firm hand on my arm.

I blink and look down as Josh’s grip tightens and he pulls me back around to face him. “Don’t fuck with me, Haley,” he growls. “What the hell is going on with him? Are you fucking him?”

Shock courses through me. “What the fuck does it matter to you?” I demand.

“We’re—” he starts.

“Nothing,” I say, cutting him off. “I have never once wanted to go out with you, Josh. The answer has always been and always will be no. You keep asking and asking and I just don’t know how to say it in a way that you’ll understand. I’m not interested in you like that.”

Josh’s face darkens and as I pull my arm from his hand, his arms drop to his sides, his fingers balling up into fists. “But you’re interested inhim?”

I shake my head and instead of responding, I start up the steps and catch the door as someone else pops out and leaves. Josh’s footsteps follow me into the front hall. “Answer me, Haley,” he demands.

Gritting my teeth with irritation, I stop and whirl around to face him. “Why?” I snap. “Because you think you deserve an answer? News fucking flash, dick, you don’t.”

A whoosh of air rushes by my face as Josh suddenly punches the wall behind my head. His body moves closer and my jaw drops in shock as he presses me back. “I’ve been nice,” he says, his voice practically vibrating with anger. “I’ve tried to treat you right, convince you the good way, and this is how you repay my kindness?” Shock rockets through me. “You won’t give me the time of day, but you’ll be a whore for Carter’s right hand bitch? Fine. Stay in the mud. Fuck your gutter man. I could’ve given you so fucking much, but it seems like you weren’t worth it after all.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I demand. Gutter man?

Josh laughs, but it’s anything but amused. “You don’t even know?” His chuckles grate against my ear. “How funny … you don’t even know who you’re fucking.” He gestures to me. “You think you can hide it under make-up, but I see the bruises on you. He do that?”

Rage pounds through my system. I shove against his chest, pushing him back. “Viks would never fucking hit me,” I hiss. “Stop spouting bullshit.”

Josh shakes his head, the strands of his hair falling into his eyes. He shoves them back. “Yourboss,” he starts, sneering at the word, “is nothing but a gutter rat that Nicholas Carter raised up. He’s nothing. He’s never been anything and he willneverbe anything. You might think you’ve caught yourself a bigger fish than me, Haley, but he’ll drag you down. He’s nothing but a hired killer.”

I don’t realize I’ve moved until my knuckles are already against his cheek. Josh’s head snaps to the side with the punch and this time, I let my anger take control. I reach for his shirt and snatch up the fabric, using it in my hands to shove him back against the opposite wall.

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