Page 51 of Wicked Me
We were alone in the entryway, far enough away for anyone to hear the warning alarms blaring inside my skull. Why did he insist on ruining my internship when it had barely begun?
“Have you found anything?” he murmured.
“I don’t know what you want me to find,” I hissed.
“I already told you. Anything incriminating against any of the Clearys.” He sauntered closer, and I backed against the wall. “And just to make sure you actually look, I have pictures,” he said, voice low and full of malice. “Of you.”
I recoiled away from him as if he’d just slapped me. “You...you were supposed to get rid of them,” I croaked, and I hated how weak I sounded.
Just one more picture, baby,he’d said.
You’ll burn them after?
Only if you keep your word.
Okay,I’d said, unbuttoning my shorts.I won’t tell a soul.
He smiled, and the arrogance inside it fisted my hands at my sides. He’d never mentioned he was married all those years ago. What could’ve possibly made me think he’d been telling the truth about disposing the pictures, too?
“I wonder what Janice would think of them.” He pulled a flash drive from his pants pocket. “Do you want to see them?”
Rage funneled through my veins, hot and fast, burning the backs of my eyes, but I refused to cry in front of him. Why was he doing this to me?
He leaned his head back as if to soak in the library’s history, his eyes closed in peaceful enjoyment because he thought he’d won. Maybe he had, but I couldn’t stand to hear another word pour out of his despicable face.
“This is blackmail,” I spat.
He nodded. “Welcome back to D.C.”
15
Sam
IF HILL WAS GOING TOkeep sending me to the corner of 131stand Chestnut, maybe I should think about renting a cardboard box with the words Drugz Mony Hear spray-painted in neon. Would the cops even notice? I’d been standing here for close to forty minutes and hadn’t seen a single cop car. Maybe they were at Alex the ladyman’s favorite donut shop standing in line for a pink tiara and sprinkles.
I half expected to see Alex, but the only thing keeping me company was the flickering streetlight over my head and some guy down the street yelling for Reggie. Even the flies had buzzed off because of the recent rain.
