“Better to hate me and be alive then be dead,” he says shrugging.
“I need to think about this,” I tell him. I turn on my heel and leave his office without another word. Obviously, I'm gonna do it, but fuck I hate that he's done this to me, though there was probably nothing he could do about it. My father’s not a very forceful man. He wavers at the slightest provocation.
“You have until the end of the day,” he shouts after me and I know that I don’t really have a choice in the matter. I shudder thinking of the man my father has given me too.
Grabbing my purse off of the front table, I rip it open. Taking my cell phone out, I toss it on the table and grab the keys to the BMW. While not technically my car, I do have use of it. Though I am not supposed to leave Goran without my father, I am going to. I hate that whatever the hell this is all about has been placed firmly on my shoulders just because the old ass mayor of Goran, Sam Guest, technically my step grandfather, wants me. Wants me for what? That’s what scares me the most. Somehow, the gross fuck keeps getting elected even though everyone knows that what goes in his house isn’t exactly legal. Rumor has it, he’s into all kinds of disturbing sex things.
I was born in Atlanta and lived there until I was ten. After that I was raised in Goran, Alabama, about an hour outside of Birmingham. The things that go on in this town are corrupt for corruption’s sake. We have no police force, no fire department, no help at all and it’s residents like it that way.
Heading toward Birmingham, I use the car’s navigation system to find a hair salon. I am sick to death of this hair. My father used to tell me it was my pride and joy, but honestly, I hate it. It’s way too long. Too blonde. It’s a mess. I want a fresh start and everyone says that the best way to do that is to change your hair. The closest salon to my location is on Broad street, so I hang a right and drive down the street until I see it. It’s an old building with a charming French name, Cheveux Emmêlés which means tangled hair. My private tutors taught me a lot of languages, so that's something to be grateful for at least. I smile because the signage is so damn cute complete with a pair of giant scissors for the V in cheveaux. I parallel park in front of the store and get out of the car. I've never done anything like this before, so I'm a little nervous. I step inside the salon and it's nothing like I thought it would be. It's pretty, but AC/DC is loud on the speakers and there's no receptionist. I hit the little bell and you can't even hear it over the stereos volume.
Impatiently, I walk through the salon toward the back. There are no other customers or hairdressers anywhere to be seen. I reach a door that says office and raise my hand to knock, but it swings open quickly instead and my hand touches another type of solid mass… Holy hell, the muscles I'm touching have muscles. Like a big dummy, I'm feeling around his chest like a blind person.
Immediately, I can't help but notice the enticing scent of sandalwood and motor oil coming off of him. I look up at him as he looks down at me. His deep green eyes pierce mine. I'm hypnotized.
"We're closed," he says gruffly as his fingers wrap around my forearms, pulling me closer to him.
"I'm sorry. I'll go. I think I saw another salon down the street," I reply. I watch as his jaw ticks and his fingers tighten on my arms at the same time. The pain I feel is actually nice. What the hell is wrong with me? "Uh," I whisper. I should be scared that this huge leather clad dude is manhandling me, but oddly enough I'm not.
I'm thrilled that his hands are on me and I want more. I lean into him and breathe deeply. It's like I've been taken over by a wild animal and I don't even know his name. For some reason, that doesn't matter. The pull between us is almost electric.
Is it crazy that I want his hands, his lips, his tongue and more all over me?
Probably, but ask me if I care.Chapter ThreeLedgerI can't help staring at the beautiful girl in my arms. Her golden hair makes it seem like she has a permanent halo surrounding her. She's beyond beautiful and so young. Too young for a hardened man like me. Too young to be corrupted by me.