Page 35 of Dare
“I’malways careful. I promise I’ll come and visit soon, okay?”
“You’dbetter. Don’t make me come up there.”
“Igotta go. Love ya.”
“Loveyou.” I barely have the words out and she’s already hung up. A smile stretchesacross my face. She’s having fun, living her life and enjoying herself. It’severything I wanted for her, and hearing how happy she is makes my time behindbars worth it.
Idrag my ass out of bed, stopping to see if Ayda’s car is parked outside beforejumping in the shower. She’s gone again. For a woman who works at home, shesure is gone a lot lately. Is she trying to avoid me, or is it justcoincidence?
It’slate afternoon when I meet the guys back at ISH, and I find everyone in abetter mood than last night. Someone messaged Justus through the gaming sitewith the link of the new forum, so apparently we weren’t the threat they wereworried about. He has also gathered some information for me.
“Thisguy is a real dickhole,” he says. “And he gets it honestly. His father is justas bad. I called in a favor and managed to get the senator’s private email, andI was able to get into his personal computer. It’s full of porn, but most of itis man on man, and some may be underage. He has some amateur stuff featuringhim and two boys who look a little young for eighteen. Even if they are legal,this guy is a republican and campaigns with an anti-gay platform.”
“You’rethinking the best thing to do is go public? Splash it all over the tabloids?”We’ve never gone that direction before.
“It’sa start.”
“It’smore than a start. I got the senator’s bank records and Talbot’s. Talbot hasbeen charged four times in the past ten years. Twice for sexual assault, andtwice for aggravated assault. All four times, Judge Dalton has been assignedthe case. Four times the charges have been dismissed for lack of evidence. Afew days before each charge, a hundred grand was transferred into the judge’saccount. The first three were sent from the senator’s account, the last onefrom Talbot’s. There’s no doubt they’ve been paying him off.”
“Theyweren’t very smart about it,” Justus snorts. “Give me a few days to try totrack the porn. If the boys are underage, we may want to handle itdifferently.”
Ofcourse, we don’t want to publicize video of underage kids. If that turns out tobe the case, that much will be turned over to authorities. “I won’t do anythingfor now, but I don’t want to wait long. This asshole has gotten away with toomuch for too long. We can try them in the court of public opinion first, but Iwant the father and son behind bars. If we can’t manage that, I can’t promise Iwon’t feed Talbot to the pigs.”
Justusgrins and slaps me on the back. “I get it, man.”
It’sthe middle of the night when I get home again, and Ayda’s apartment is quiet.One way or another, I’m getting in touch with her tomorrow. These days aparthave done nothing to make me forget her. Just the opposite, I want her now morethan ever.
Assoon as my eyes pop open the next morning, I hear Ayda’s shower running.Finally, I’m going over there and she’s going to explain why the hell she’sbeen ignoring me. I’m dressed and at her door a few minutes after the sound ofher shower stops.
Myknock on her door goes unanswered, but I can sense her standing just on theother side. I swear, I’m doomed to have all our conversations through a damnwall. “Ayda, I know you’re there. Just open up and talk to me.”
Aftera few seconds of silence, I add, “I’m not going away. I’ll wait right hereuntil you come out.”
Thedoor is jerked open and her glare nearly cuts me in half. “What do you want?”She’s standing there in a pair of form fitting jeans and a clingy sweater, andI want to throw her over my shoulder, march her back to the bedroom and remindher why we’re good together. The look on her face screamsdon’t touch me,so I settle for walking just inside the door so she can’t lock me out before Ifigure out what pissed her off.
“Whyhave you been ignoring my calls?”
Shecrosses her arms and takes a step back. “I’ve been busy.”
“Bullshit.You’re pissed. Tell me why,” I demand.
Herears turn pink and she presses her lips together so hard they nearly disappear.“Un-fucking-believable,” she hisses.
“Ithought we had a good time Friday night. So, what has changed since then?”
“Fridaynight was a mistake. It never should’ve happened and it sure as hell won’thappen again.”
Myfingers wrap around her wrist when she starts to walk away. “It wasn’t afucking mistake.” I’m struggling to control my anger.
Shetakes a deep breath. “Yes, it was, because I’m not one of these needy bitcheswho’s going to follow you around and lick your balls, hoping you’ll choose me.I have no desire to try to compete with whatever trash you dragged homeSaturday night.”
Silencefills the room as I stand there, stunned. “I was in Ohio Saturday night.”
Herstare is incredulous. “Do you think I’m fucking stupid? I heard you! You know Ican hear you! And I got the message just fine when she was screaming your name.I’m done. Now, get out!” She raises her voice and shoves at me, which would bekind of cute if I weren’t so pissed. She can’t weigh one fifteen soaking wetand her head only comes to my chest.
Inotice another neighbor watching, a young woman with her little boy. The waryexpression on her face says she’s ready to intervene. Shit. I don’t need copsshowing up over an argument. When Ayda shoves me again, I take a step back ontothe landing. “We’re not done, Ayda,” I warn, before she slams the door.
Whatthe hell just happened? Confused and pissed off, I stalk back to my apartment,my mind running in overdrive. I dealt with some of the worst human beings alivewhen I was locked up, men bigger and more brutal than me, but this little scrapof a woman has me pulling my hair out.
