I bite down on the inside of my cheek.Blood adds to the anger coating my tongue.Even though I don’t love the sight of it, I strangely don’t mind the taste.I’m weird that way.
“How about this?If I get into trouble, I won’t call you.Okay?I know you think I do stupid things, so how about we agree my stupid things are none of your business?”
“I’m protecting you from your fucking self, kid.It’s my business as long as I’m the one paying for your education.”
Asshole.Once I get the money from the auction, he won’t be able to hold my education over my head.I’ll hopefully be able to pay my own way for everything.Not at BAU, obviously.It’s a good school and all, but you pay a premium for the fact that Belle Argo is a beach town.I’ll go someplace with a cheaper cost of living.
And no Liam.
I squeeze the orange tucked against my palm enough to squish it a little.
“Nobody asked you to do that,” I say quietly.“You announced it was happening with zero discussion.Like everything else.”
“It’s part of taking care of you,” Liam says, almost as quietly.He makes me the most nervous when he’s quiet, honestly.When he’s quiet, I get the feeling of being in the den of a sleeping dragon.The eye of a hurricane.
I lift my chin, refusing to let him intimidate me.Okay, well, the way my heart is hammering is hard to get past, but I refuse to let him see.
There’s this former escort I know.Simon.He’s not awkward or worried about inconveniencing people the way I always am.He’s sassy and unapologetically himself.Simon wouldn’t let anyone make him nervous, least of all Liam.
So what would Simon do right now?
Straightening my back, I march up to him.He’s too tall for me to get right in his face usually, but I can now when he’s sitting on a kitchen stool.So I do.
When I lean in I can smell his aftershave.The earthy scent has me salivating more than the nearby bag of food.
“I don’t need you to take care of me, Liam.I don’t even want you to.You’re not my parent.”I give him a bold once-over.“But you could be my daddy if you wanted.”
The subtle noise he makes, almost like a quiet cough, feels like victory.Ha.Bet that rattled him.I ignore the shiver that runs down my spine.The way my blood rushes south, maybe it rattled me, too.
Take that, Liam.
Vibrating with adrenaline, I take my food and race upstairs.When I get to my room, I lock the door.
Then I eat my sandwich, send a text to the escorts’ group chat, and shove open the window.
Carefully, quietly, I grab my backpack and slide out onto the roof that covers the downstairs barbecue area.I may be an adult, but I know what will happen if I try to leave tonight.So, listening for any sign of footsteps, I hold my breath as I slide down one of the support posts and tiptoe to my car parked around the side of the house.
I don’t breathe again until I’m on the road.
Fuck you, Liam.
Chapter Four
Liam
Ravi has left home.
Jesus fucking Christ.“Goddamn kid never learns.”
“What was that, boss?”
I’m cleaning up the kitchen.Putting away the food I bought for an ungrateful little shit who wouldn’t even eat it.
I reach over and mute the speakerphone, letting out a string of expletives.I swear to God this kid tries my patience at every turn.
With a deep breath, I unmute the call.“Sorry about that, Sal.Ravi’s been getting into some scrapes lately.”To put it mildly.“I have a feeling he’s about to get into another one.”
“Something you need help with?”