“This may sound crazy to you, but you will come to understand that you are my responsibility. And for me to take care of you, I always need to know what you are thinking. You need to be truthful with me, so I can help you and make sure you are safe.”
“Okay.” Her eyes light up, but there’s still doubt there. “I went for a job interview for a hostess position at a restaurant. The guy that was there wanted more than just an interview. When he started to unzip…” She shrugs and smiles uncomfortably, playing with the ends of her hair, and rage engulfs me as I realize where she’s going with this.
I’ve killed before. It’s not something I’m proud of, but nor is it something I’m ashamed of. At that moment it was what needed to be done. But right now, knowing someone thought she was their toy to intimidate?
The nine circles of hell would be a pleasure compared to what I want to do to whoever did this to her.
“I feel fine about it, though. I mean, I got out. Wasn’t like he was forcing me, was just sort of like…this is what needs to happen if you want the job. I just got scared. I could have just left, I’m sure. Truth is…” She gives me a shrug. “I don’t really want to talk about it. I feel stupid for acting like a crazy person.”
“There’s nothing to feel stupid about. I’m glad you ran. I’m not glad you got hurt, but I am glad you ran because you ran right into me.”
She looks so young sitting like that, leaning back against the couch, her face fresh and her eyes wide. There’s something growing inside of me that feels new. Something paternal, like she’s somehow always belonged to me, and I want everything good and wonderful in the world for her.
I want details but decide to wait. She said it was a restaurant. I know all the bars and restaurants around there. In fact, most of them are on our payroll for some level of protection, and I can tell you as soon as I find out who did this, they are going to get the beatdown of their life.
Everything in time. Right now I want her comfortable with me, and pushing her and showing her the rage that is bubbling inside me doesn’t feel like the right move.
“Me, too,” she whispers and licks her plump, pink lips, making my cock jerk.
“You know, I want to know everything about you.” I release one of her hands from mine and place it on her cheek for a split second, then stroke her hair, feeling the silky strands under my fingers before I trace them down her neck to hold her softly there. “I want to know everything.”
I feel her swallow under my palm, and her pulse races under my fingertips.
“It’s kinda hard to tell someone everything…but I’ll give you a synopsis,” she starts. “I just turned twenty. I just finished my first year at the University of Michigan. I’m taking a few online summer classes because I want to graduate early, then go on to law school. I worked as a waitress in a diner all year in addition to taking a full load of classes. I like to decorate, too. I eat too much junk, especially the pink Hostess Sno Balls and Kit Kats. I eat waffles every morning for breakfast, it’s the only thing I can cook. I have a cat named Oscar and a dog named Lemon that both live with my parents. I grew up in Greenbriar, that’s like two hours north, small little town—there were seventy-eight in my graduating class, if that tells you anything. Umm…I don’t know what else to tell you.” Her cheeks burn pink, and I wonder if she’s wet. “Oh, I don’t drive. I’m scared to death to drive, and I don’t know why. Okay, I’m babbling now.”
“What were your grades last year?” I ask, locking my eyes to hers.
Her lips turn upward. “My GPA is 3.95. I have a full-ride scholarship. Thank goodness.”
“That makes me very proud. What made you want to be an attorney? Money?” I want to support her, be there for her. I also want her to know she will never have to do anything just for money again.
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. I want to be something, you know? Something important, special.” She smiles. “At first, I wanted to be a prosecutor, but now maybe injury law. I don’t know, I guess I just know I want to be successful. Sounds dull to you, I’m sure…”
“Not at all. You know what you want. That’s very attractive.”
“Well, I think I do.” There’s a moment of hesitation. “I’ve always been creative, as well. When I was little I used to design whole houses for my dolls. My parents bought me a few at garage sales and thrift stores, and I couldn’t ever complete all of them because the pieces are expensive, but I still loved doing the designing, even when I was little like that. Only thing is, how do you combine creativity with the law?”