Page 96 of Ruthless King
“You sure?” She squeezes my hands between hers.
“Yeah.” I sniffle one last time and drag my finger under my eyes to wipe away the remaining traces of tears.
“Okay, but promise to come straight home so we can celebrate?”
“Deal,” I mumble. Grabbing my backpack, I force my feet out the front door of the studio, my chest a tiny bit lighter than before.
* * *
Two hours later, and I’m almost happy.I’m done! I’d officially finished all my pre-requisites and assuming I hadn’t failed any of my finals, I’d be the proud recipient of an associate degree from the Borough of Manhattan Community College. It sure as hell wasn’t NYU, but I’d take it. It was my ticket out of here.
Pulling out my phone, I shoot a quick text message to Rose.
Me: Finished! On my way home.
Rose: Congrats! Wine is chilled, and ice cream is waiting.
Me: You’re the best.
Rose: I know ;)
That dreaded weight on my shoulders doesn’t feel quite so heavy as I weave through the streets of lower Manhattan. I try to picture a new life for myself in sunny Gainesville, Florida. I’ve never been to the university, but the campus looks beautiful with ivy-covered red brick buildings nestled within the swamp. I’m not too sure how I feel about alligators, but they can’t be any worse than the rats. Or the Red Dragons.
My thoughts instantly zip to Luca.
The idea of being so far away from him unearths a surge of panic. My chest tightens and I slow, reaching for my inhaler. For a few glorious days, I thought he was my future. That the mob boss and I could actually have our happily ever after. But he’d lied.
And I didn’t have room for liars in my life. The men I’d grown up with had constantly hurt and disappointed me. Even Vinny, though of no fault of his own, had abandoned me. He’d been ripped away from me, but still. I didn’t know how to trust a man.
How could I ever trust Luca after all the lies?
And still, as I envision my bright shiny future in Florida, a hole burrows deeper into my heart at that future without him.
The shuffle of approaching footsteps sends my head swiveling over my shoulder. Two guys in dark hoodies quicken their step when I spot them. I lengthen my stride, my eyes on the subway station at West 14thStreet just ahead. The streets are quiet except for the slap of the males’ footfalls on the concrete and the increasing tempo of my heartbeat.
Shit. What now?
I finger the small cannister tucked into my other pocket. Not my inhaler. Since I moved into Rose’s place, I started carrying the pepper spray again. A girl can’t be too safe, right?
The blue line comes to view, and I rush down the steps onto the subway platform. Three guys in red t-shirts stand by a graffitied bench. A familiar toothy smile sends chills down my spine.Merda. Bo’s sneer only widens when he catches scent of my fear. I spin around to escape, but the two guys in hoodies block the exit. Feng, Bo’s cousin, and another guy I vaguely recognize.
“Where you going, Stella?” Bo calls out. “I’ve been looking for you, ya know?”
I wrap my arms across my chest and glare down at him. From my spot a few steps up on the staircase, at least I can look down on thebastardo. “What do you want?” I hiss out.
“I heard you and your guido boyfriend broke up. Which I assume means you’re fair game now?”
“I still wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.”
A couple of his buddies snicker, and his cocky sneer curls into a scowl. “From what I remember, you loved my cock.”
“That was before I had a real one.”
“Oooh.” More laughter echoes across the silent platform.
“You’ll pay for that, bitch.” Bo lunges and catches me around the waist before I can reach for the pepper spray. His friends close in around me.
I scream and pummel his chest with my fists as he squeezes me hard against him. He grinds his hips against mine, and his tiny erection brushes my belly. Nausea sneaks up my throat, but I swallow it down and force out a sharp laugh instead. “Your cock’s so small no wonder you never got me off. Not like Luca can.”
