Page 68 of The Loathing

“What do I owe the pleasure?”

Rage burns through my veins.

“Twenty-one.” I say through gritted teeth and I watch as one corner of his lip lifts slightly. “You told me she was twenty-one.”

“Did I?” he reaches for his glass of red wine, sitting back in his chair and lifting the glass to his lips before taken a mouthful. He hums in appreciation, licking his lips and placing his glass gently down on a coaster.

“You did.”

“What is the issue Titty?” his brows raise, “You’re still getting paid for your time, I don’t understand why you are pissed off about it.”

“Because you lied. Do you have a moral compass? Because I don’t think you do.” I rub my lips together and take another step forward. “I would have come regardless of her age, because you asked me and I know what it is like to be a father, not to mention how much you helped my friend with his girlfriend Connie.”

“So you felt indebted to me?” he links his fingers together, crossing one leg over the other

“Indebted? No.”

“I’ve helped a lot of people Titus, it’s my job. But you wanted to help if I remember rightly because yes, you have a daughter and I thought it would make sense for me to use someone who was in the same position as me. Young daughter, vulnerable…”

“Arizona isn’t vulnerable.”

“I wasn’t talking about Arizona,” his icy glare slices through me and I swallow. “Everything is finalized, your plane will leave tomorrow.”

“You said three days.”

“You leave tomorrow.”

“Where is Amora going?” I swallow, the lump is wedged in my throat and is burning like hot coal.

“Amora is not your concern anymore.”

“Amora is my priority.”

“Not anymore.”

“Xavier,” my voice cracks, “don’t give into them, please.”

“Who says I’ve given into them?”

“Let me stay, I’ll do whatever is needed… don’t send me home.”

“You’re going home Titty.”

“Push your feelings for me aside and think of your daughter…”

“I am thinking of Amora!” he snaps, interrupting me, standing from his desk and smashing his hands down into the desk.

“I don’t think you are,” I just about manage shaking my head from side to side, “but this is on you. I trust you know what you’re doing, but I don’t trust you. And neither will Amora after this.”

“You have no idea,” his eyes flare with anger, his breathing heavy and ragged.

“Sit down old man, you’ll give yourself a heart attack.”

I move closer to him, and he holds his hand up towards me, stopping me in my tracks.

“This isn’t right Xavier… whatever they have made you do…” he sits slowly, his eyes finding mine and I can see the pain that he is battling inside, the fight that he is slowly losing as each day goes on.

“I hired you to protect Amora, you have done that. Your services are no longer required, Titus.” He gives me a slow nod and I know there is no point even trying to argue with him.

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