Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I unlocked the door and walked inside. I heard noises coming from the kitchen. Cautiously, I moved in that direction. When I was nearly there, I saw the source. Tommy was fucking the hell out of Martin, one of the guys I worked with and someone I thought was at least a casual friend. Apparently, he just wanted to get to know me so he could get under Tommy.
Martin was sprawled over the counter as Tommy stood, pistoning him with rough strokes. Martin was crying out, squirming, thrashing. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to get away or if he was begging for more. When he saw me, he tried to push Tommy away as he yelled, “Laurie’s home.”
Tommy looked over his shoulder and fucking smiled.
“What’s going on?” I hated myself for saying the words as soon as they were out.
Martin struggled, trying to free himself, but Tommy pinned him down, gripping his hips so tight his knuckles went white. “Don’t you dare move.”
“But Tommy, he—”
“Shut up.” Tommy turned to me. “I left work early. You were supposed to be home. When you weren’t here to do your duty, I found someone who would. If I can’t get what I need from you, I’ll have to replace you, and then where will you be?”
Had that been an option all along? I wanted to pack my things before I left, but I knew my best chance of getting out was to just go. I hadn’t been stupid enough to keep my cash reserves in the house. I’d slipped away one day during my lunch break and opened a bank account on my own. I’d also set up a safe deposit box for a few important documents, and I kept a gym bag with a change of clothes and a few essentials in my car. I had my ID and my phone on me. Most of the clothes I had were ones Tommy decided to dress me in. I could live without all the things in this house, and I could sure as hell live without Tommy, no matter what he thought.
I looked at Martin. “He’s all yours.”
When I turned to leave, Tommy yelled, “You can’t just walk out on me like that.”
“If you’re replacing me, then there’s no need for me to stay.”
“I hope you realize you’re not getting shit from me. Don’t you even try asking. If you walk out, you’re not ever coming back.”
I nodded. There was so much I wanted to say, but I wouldn’t take that risk. He could change his mind any second. The best thing for me to do was to get as far away as I could before he did. I opened the door, then slammed it behind me as I ran to my car. I started the engine, threw it in reverse, and backed out so fast my tires squealed. I was finally going to get away.
Later that night, I sat on the bed in a cheap motel room eating a pack of crackers I’d gotten from the vending machine. What the fuck was I going to do now? Walking out had felt good. I was glad Tommy had fucking cheated on me. I was glad I’d walked in on him and Martin because I don’t know how else I would have managed to escape. But I was terrified to go back to work. Would he come after me, or was it really over?
Call Beck.
I wasn’t sure if I could. We’d met at the University of St. Louis and become close friends before I’d had to drop out because I couldn’t work enough to pay tuition and keep my grades decent. I’d always intended to go back, but when I ended up with Tommy, he told me it was a waste of money. Why had I ever listened to a word he said?
Because he was gorgeous, because at first, he treated you so well, and because he’s a damn good manipulator.
And I was a damn good doormat.
Beck had more money than God, and I knew he could fix every one of my problems. He’d offered to pay my tuition, but I’d told him no. He swore I’d given him far more by being a true friend, but I hadn’t done that expecting anything in return, certainly not thousands of dollars. I didn’t want to be indebted to him. Clearly, I was a fool. I’d refused to let him give me anything, then turned around and accepted gifts from Tommy until I became beholden to him.
Even then, Beck had offered to help me. He’d told me he considered anything he did for me a gift. The money he spent would have meant little to him, but I’d never been comfortable with our wealth disparity. I started talking to him less and less, especially once I was completely under Tommy’s thumb.