Page 82 of Strings
“Fuck you!” I snarl at him.
He spins me around and pushes me against the wall so my cheek is pressed against the glass. I drop my phone and my notebook as he twists one of my arms behind my back. “Or maybe I’ll justfuck youinstead. You owe me for this job, princess. You seem to have forgotten.”
I feel his dirty hand slide up my legs and in between my thighs. He presses my face harder into the glass. As soon as his fingers reach the lace of my underwear, I bend my free arm and stab my elbow into his stomach. Hard.
He gasps and grips his waist. I immediately start the elevator again. I face him, prepared to punch him in the face if he moves even an inch in my direction. I bend slowly and pick up my phone, watching him the entire time. As the chime pings, announcing our arrival on the third floor, I feel the heat on my face from my impending tears. I’m prepared to run.
I spin as the doors open and Bella is staring back at me. Her eyes move from my face to Mercer, who is now slumped down on the floor. Her mouth drops and her face turns white. “Daddy, are you okay?”
Daddy?
Bella rushes over to him and gets on her hands and knees next to him. Her eyes lift to mine. “Oh my God, Talia! What did you do?”
“Did you say Daddy?” Did I hear her correctly?
“It’s okay, princess. I’m okay.”
Princess. Ugh.He calls his daughter princess? He called me that a second ago as he assaulted me. He’s a bigger douchebag than I thought. This day keeps getting worse.
Bella cries out, “Can I get some help in here? Someone call an ambulance. My father’s been assaulted!”
She helps her father stand and a crowd starts rushing toward the elevator doors. I slowly step out and around everyone and head for the stairwell. I feel ill. How dare he touch me? He has no right. I was only protecting myself. And Mercer is Bella’s father? How is that possible? They don’t have the same last name. Bella is some kind of cherry or something. Oh my God. What am I going to do now? Is he going to tell everyone about me? Does Bella know? Has she known all this time?
The tears come as I rush down the stairs. Before I know it, I’m standing in the middle of the street outside the building. I have to get out of here and fast.
My hands are shaking and I’m still clutching my phone. I don’t know what to do. I call the only person I can think of. It might be my biggest mistake yet.
The phone rings three times and then a familiar voice permeates my ears. It’s like déjà vu. I’ve done this one other time before, and it’s why I had to run to begin with. What other choice do I have now?
“Hello?”
The hello is muffled and faint, but I’ve heard it before. Has been that long? It doesn’t sound like her but I’m so out of it, I don’t even care. I want it to be. I swallow hard and I barely say the words through my trembling lips. “Mom? I’m in trouble. Please help me.”
I never liked Summer. The heat is too much for me.
“Summer? Where the fuck are you?”
That’s not my mother’s voice, but it’s just as familiar.
“This is Bobby. Your parents are in jail as you well know. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
I gaze down at my phone and end the call. Dropping it to the ground, I crush it with the heel of my shoe. What was I thinking? My mother is the last person I should have called. I should have known she’d still be in jail. How did Bobby Bullseye get her phone? I panic and start to pace, holding my arms like I’m trying to hug myself. I glance down at the crushed screen of my phone. Could he have traced the call? I bend down and start to remove the SIM card. When I’m holding it in my fingers, I stare at it for a moment before I snap it in half.
What do I do now?
I start walking toward the bus, but I don’t have my purse, or my wallet, or even a phone anymore.Shit shit shit!What have I done?
How many miles would it be if I walked? Could I walk it? I have to get my purse. I need money. I need to get on a plane. I need to get out of L.A.
I decide I’ll sneak back inside, rush up the stairs to my office, grab my things, and bolt. I’ll be out of town before they even know what happened.
Right as I reach out to open the main door, an ambulance arrives. I watch them pull out a stretcher and rush toward the building. I’m certain it’s for Mercer. I hold the door for the paramedics and then lean against the wall. The tears start again.
I can’t go back. They’ll be looking for me. They probably already called the police. I need to go home and pack. I can steal a car. Or maybe they’ll let me get on the bus for free today. They should know me by now. I’ll beg. I’ll plead. I’ll… What else would I be willing to do? God, I am a slut. Mercer is right.
Someone touches my shoulder and I spin around with my fist in the air.
“Talia? Are you alright? What’s going on?”
