Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Is he like Plankton from SpongeBob?”
His nose wrinkled, and he cocked his head to the side.
“What in the… what the fuck are ya talkin’ about?”
“You know, Plankton. The little green guy? He’s always trying to get the secret crabby patty recipe from Mr. Crabs on the cartoon show, SpongeBob.” His facial expression remained the same: a gnarled-up ball of confusion. “You know the theme song, right? Ohhhhh! Who lives in pine-ap-ple un-der the sea?!”
“You’re either stupid or crazy. That man is responsible for shit you’ve only seen in the movies.” He pointed towards the building, but kept his eye on her. “And your life is on the line because I don’t give a fuck about you, your sick, worthless friend, your gotdamn family, or nothin’ you have anything to do with. You’re lucky I found somethin’ you can give me, or I would’ve gladly ended you on sight. You’ve got a smart fucking mouth. You’re in no position to be getting cheeky. You think you’re cuter than you actually are. You think you’re smarter than you actually are, too, and now you’re standing here talking to me about a stupid cartoon. Crackin’ jokes like you and I go way back… like we’re friends. I’m not your chum. Your buddy.”
“I didn’t say—”
“SHUT UP. I don’t know you. I don’t care about you. I don’t give a shit about you, woman. We’re not related to one another.” He pointed to her, then to himself. “We’re not forming something special so you can wear me down and get over. You think I’m stupid? Some fool? I see right through you! You don’t think what you said was funny, but you were hoping that I would. You’re just some shallow, pretentious bitch who got in my way and now, I am using you before I toss you out.”
“I can guarantee you that I don’t think you’re stupid, and I can assure you that I’m not stupid, either.” Her voice cracked. “You, uh, you asked initially if I was stupid or crazy, and I just want to make it clear that I’m not imprudent. In case you actually wanted the answer, or maybe that was rhetorical. You probably don’t know what rhetorical means, but… Ahhhh… AHHH!” He gripped the back of her neck and pinched it.
“Honey, do you think this is a fuckin’ game?”
“No, I don’t think it is a game.” Her eyes sheened from the pain. He was now twisting her skin, making her regret every word she’d said in an effort to make him lower his defenses. Damn, did it backfire… “I was just trying to—”
“Am I a clown to you? A funny man? Big red nose? A comedian tellin’ jokes on a stage?”
A vein in the center of his forehead protruded and throbbed like an alien trying to break free so it could rip out her eyes. He pressed his chest into hers so hard, her wind was almost knocked from her core. Her back flattened against the cold steel of his car as he pushed his entire body against her, and she could feel his hard, metal gun slipping and sliding against her thigh like an iron cock. When he released her neck, she groaned and hated how the pain still radiated from the spot, leaving her in a state of growing heat and discomfort.
“Now, listen. This is the spot. I want you to look at it. Take it in. Soon, I am going to teach you how to get inside. Lay low. Get what you need and be right out. I can’t do it, but you can. He knows me. He knows my guys. He knows their look. He doesn’t know who you are, though. He won’t recognize you. You’re perfect. You’re going to do exactly what you did to me when you came onto my property, only better.”
“I’m not a spy. I could be killed!”
“You could live and go home if you do what I say, or you and your little charity case could be killed by me, for not obeying. The final choice is you could be killed by him and trust me, he’ll turn your death into a spectacle. Bannon is a sick surgeon who likes to experiment on pretty women. He’d loooove to get his hands on you.” …But he just said that I think I’m cuter than I really am. Nevermind. “He’s gruesome like that. You’ll have to choose your poison. The Archer, or the demented doctor. Either way, it’s going down.”
She took a deep breath and nodded in understanding.
Moments later, he had her back in the car. It appeared that their little field trip was over. She delighted in the smell of the fresh air, in feeling wind on her skin. The things she took for granted, she prayed for and craved while under his heavy thumb. Okay, so I found out he’s pretty perceptive. This guy has not skated by on good luck. He’s really in tune with the world around him, and people’s motivations. Regardless, I’m determined to get out of this.