Page 86 of Degrading Her

She pinched my chin. “Such a sad little girl,” she said. “But at least you’re keeping it down this time.”

The world sloshed from side to side.Keep it down,like throwing up?I tried to think. When was the last time I had thrown up?

Had she been there the night I had puked at the nightclub?

She was there, wasn’t she?

She had given me my first shot.

The soda water last night.

I reached for my face. It was puffy and swollen, stung to the touch. I questioned Erica with my eyes.

“I might be small,” she said, “But the brass knuckles help. Trust me. You should get some if you make it out.”

Someone pounded on the front door.

“That must be him!” she said.

I tried to pull myself up, but my head fell back on the couch. Erica perked up, grabbing her gun and aiming it at me. I pressed my lips together.

Would she really kill me?

The door burst open. I tried to push myself up, to grab her gun, but I kept missing every time.

“Let me go,” I murmured.

“Aww, wish I could, but—” she pulled back the hammer, “—we’re in here, boss!”

Sawyer’s heavy footsteps came down the hallway. His blue-gray eyes looked ready to tear Erica apart.

“Sit down,” Erica said.

I sank into the cushions, trying to keep myself grounded. Once Sawyer was seated, he opened his palms, showing that they were empty.

“Put the gun down,” Sawyer commanded. “Fiona isn’t involved in this. I am.”

Erica wrinkled her nose. “Pockets. Holster.”

Sawyer exposed his pockets, pulling them inside out, then showed her his holster. He put the gun on the table next to her. But he had to have another weapon somewhere, right? He couldn’t be completely empty-handed.

Could he?

“Leave Fiona alone,” Sawyer repeated. “She isn’t a part of this.”

“Yeah, right. She’s been involved in this for how many years now?” Erica tapped her chin with the back of the gun. “Four years? Or is it five?”

How had I been a part of this scheme for years?

“We both know I don’t need a gun to kill you,” Sawyer said quietly.

“Which is precisely why I amnotgoing to give up my gun,” she said. “I’m not stupid. Come toward me, and Fiona is dead.”

“Why do you insist on holding Fiona? She’s nothing to me.”

“You are so bad at lying when it comes to her!” she laughed. “We’ve known for a long time that you were in denial about your feelings for Fiona. Which meant you wouldn’t have your head in the game when it came to her.”Erica reached over and squeezed my thigh. I cringed. “It was perfect.”

“What do you want, Erica?” he asked, his tone haunting.

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