Page 37 of Derek
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Me: Indy, please
Me: Indy, I need to talk to you
Me: INDY
Me: Goddamn it! I will find Luca’s address and come to you.
Me: You’re not at Luca’s, he said you haven’t been there in days.
Me: Okay, you’ve left me no choice. I’m calling Ash
Indy: Derek, stop.
I stareat the text message. I’ve been trying for hours to get her to respond. I had to track down Luca and threaten to beat his face in before he told me Indy said she had been staying with me again days ago. I’m emotionally fried; my stress level is through the roof, and she’s been staying somewhere that no one knows about, and she is telling me to stop? No. Absolutely fucking no.
Me: Where. Are. You.
Indy: In bed
Me: WHOSE bed brat?
Indy: Sunnyside Up
“The fucking by-the-hour motel!” I yell as I stop myself from throwing the fucking phone. I put my parked vehicle in drive and peel out of the parking lot of Luca’s apartment building before speeding down the road. Sunnyside… she is lying in a bed at the fucking Sunnyside.
I slip into the lot and slam my car in park as I watch the drug dealers and sex workers funneling in and out of the rooms. I’m going to kill her. She crochets hats and dresses in princess costumes for sick children, andthisis where she’s staying?
I’m so mad I can’t see straight. I walk into the filthy lobby that reeks of stale cigarettes and look at the greasy man sitting at the front counter.
“I’m looking for a girl,” I state, and the man snorts.
“I supply the rooms, not the whores.” I feel the violent shake run through my body. Beating his face in will not get me any closer to Indy.
“Short, blue eyes, black curly hair, slim,” I say through gritted teeth. The man smirks, and I get a front-row view of his rotting teeth.
“Ahhh… yeah, she’s a popular one. Or she would be if she’d give out her rates. Told her to let me know if she’d like to work out… other payment arrangements.” I’m killing him. I’m finding Indy, removing her from this cesspool, and after I’ve ensured all the grime is scrubbed from her body, I’m coming back here and killing this man.
“She’s in room 17. She insisted on the one with the purple door.” He gestures out the nicotine-stained window. I look out and see the purple door on the corner of the building and head out. I storm across the parking lot, ignoring the calls and whistles before walking to the door. A sickening thought enters my brain as I go to knock, I grip the doorknob, praying like hell that she didn’t leave it unlocked and letting out a relieved breath when I’m met with resistance.
“Occupied!” I blink at the wannabe manly voice coming from the other side of the room. Is…is she trying to sound intimidating? Because that was the worst impression of a man I’ve ever heard.
“Gonna have to try harder than that, Darlin’. Now, open this damn door.” I hear a “shit” before the door unlocks and opens. I stare down at Indy, and I feel the rage all over again. She’s too damn kind and naïve to be here. And I know this to be true because if she weren’t too naïve, she wouldn’t fucking be here.
“What did you bring with you?” I ask briskly as I walk in. The place is gross, and I see a sleeping bag on top of the mattress.
“Just my tote bag.” She shrugs. “I bought a sleeping bag–ah Derek! Put me down!” Her tiny fists beat on my back as I hoist her over my shoulder and grab her bag before exiting the room.
“I will once we are in my vehicle,” I grunt as I walk across the parking lot again. I tense and nearly fucking drop her as her fingers go into my armpits, and she starts wiggling them.
“Indy!” I bark. “S-Stop! I’ll drop your ass!”
“That’s the point!” She states, and I open the door to my Yukon and put her in it. Indy tries to get back out, and I’ve had enough. I grip her jaw with my hand. Not hard enough to hurt her, just enough to make sure she realizes I’m not playing.
I lean in and stare directly into her eyes. My voice is low and full of authority, “You are going to be a good fucking girl, sit your pretty ass in this goddamn seat and not fucking play with me. Do we understand each other?” I watch as her mouth parts and her pupils dilate, causing my cock to–Nope, fucking knock it off Rowe.
I feel her swallow against my hand as she nods slowly, putting her legs back into the vehicle. “That’s my girl,” I whisper as I let her go and shut the door before rounding the front and getting in.
