Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
ANNIKA
Just as I’m about to step outside and feel sunlight hit my face for the first time in a while, Peri’s right hand grabs the back of my neck and he pulls me back against him.
His body is rock fucking hard.
“Remember one thing, doll,” he growls. “You’re wanted. Alive. Or dead. And I think alive is dead for you, isn’t it? Just think about what your father could have done to make his own Legion want you dead. Behind his fucking back.”
My entire body shakes. I have to trust that this evil man is going to keep me alive. Or maybe he’s walking me to my death.
No! That’s not true. I’m going to meet Molly. I’ve already texted her. She’s texted me. I told her I have an insane story to tell her.
I’m wearing a navy blue hoodie that’s huge on me. It smells like Peri and quite honestly, it makes my pussy wet to smell him. I can’t help what my body does anymore.
Peri pushes me forward out into the sunlight. There’s a moment or two where I wonder if I’ll burst into flames like I’m in some vampire story. I don’t burst into flames. Nobody jumps out of a dark corner and stabs me or shoots me. But I am absolutely scared to death.
I actually then wonder if any of it is true. Does my father actually miss me? Do people he’s secretly connected to want me dead? Or is this all part of the game that Perilous has been playing from the moment we met?
He’s fucking with my mind. He’s breaking me down. I hate him, yet at the same time…
I keep looking back to make sure he’s with me.
I don’t think I can survive this without him.
* * *
I can only imagine how I must look to Molly as I approach her. Wearing the oversized navy blue hoodie, with the hood up, plus a pair of big, black sunglasses on my face.
I stink like a man. Like an evil man. As though I’ve been rolling in the sheets with the devil himself.
Which maybe I have been.
Molly slowly stands up and her jaw slowly drops. It’s like she’s afraid to come near me. She’s just in complete shock.
I take the sunglasses off.
“Hey, Molly,” I say.
Did you enjoy your night? Did you enjoy fucking two guys at the same time? Did you have both men jam their dicks into your pussy at the same time? Huh? Nice and stretched out and all that?
“Annika,” she says.
Her eyes fill with tears and she blinks fast. Her mascara streaks down her cheeks like some kind of acid rain on a window.
“I’m fine,” I say, jumping right into the warm pool of lies waiting for me.
Of course nothing I’m about to tell her will be the truth. I can’t tell her the truth. I’ve been ordered to lie to my best friend. Obeying Peri seems to come so smoothly, which I don’t like.
Molly rushes toward me and all but jumps into my arms. I hug her with only one arm. My heart is racing and my emotions are scattered.
She steps back. “What happened to you?”
“Did you get us coffee?”
“Yes.”
“We’re definitely alone?”
“Yes. Why…”
She’s a little nervous.
Good.
I’m following the orders given by Peri. He told me to make sure Molly orders coffee before I arrive. And then we have to sit in one of the gardens. Out in the open but yet mostly hidden.
I sit down and the metal chair is cool and uncomfortable. It’s weird pattern digs into my butt. Nobody ever sits here on purpose and enjoys it. This table and chair set is for decoration.
“How was your night that night?” I ask Molly.
“Awful!” Molly cries out.
“Did you fuck those guys?”
Molly swallows hard. “Annika, are you mad at me? I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been…”
Her chin quivers. I reach across the table and smile at her. I touch her left hand.
“I sort of just vanished, didn’t I?” I ask.
“Yes. You said you were going to the bathroom and then…”
“When did you realize something was wrong? Don’t lie either.”
Molly looks down. “I’m not a good friend, Annika.”
“Maybe I’m not the good friend.”
She lifts her gaze. “What do you mean?”
“I left and never told you,” I say.
“You… left…” Molly blinks fast and wipes the corners of her eyes. “What happened? Annika, your father has been calling me like crazy. At first, I lied. Just in case. You know? But then…”
“Wait. My father is actually looking for me?”
“Yes! He’s scared out of his mind! The last time I talked to him he made a comment about you being murdered.”
“Murdered,” I whisper.
“Yes! This isn’t like you. You know that.”
I gently nod. “I was celebrating. Doing my own thing, I guess.”
“What does that mean?”
“Molly, is this my hoodie? Did you not smell the hoodie?”
It takes her a second or two.
“Wait a second,” she says. “All of this is because of a guy?”
“Maybe I was just following your lead, Molly. Isn’t that what you always do? Find a guy and just go for it? Why can’t I do that? I was out celebrating. It was supposed to be about me. Right?”
“That’s fair,” she whispers. “I just… you never… and then you…”
“What?” I ask with attitude.
“You never fuck around like that! You vanished into thin air. And I didn’t know because I was too busy with those two guys. They turned out to be roommates and that was their scam . The sex was okay.” She shakes her head. “Sorry, this isn’t about me. I didn’t know you were gone. And then I’ve been having horrible nightmares. What kind of person am I? What kind of friend am I?”
Still all about you, Molly.
“Anything else?” I ask.
“Yes. I want to know everything. What happened? It’s been days. You look… I don’t even known. You look tired yet rested. You look like you need a shower, yet you seem fine. You look like you’ve been fucked…” Molly leans against the table and almost spills her coffee. “You have been fucked. I know your fucked face . The face you make after you’ve had sex. It’s like you want everyone to know.”
I take the lid off my coffee and blow on the warm, roasted smelling, caffeinated heaven and then sip it. I sigh with relief.
“Molly, I met you to let you know I’m alive and well,” I say. “That’s about it.”
“ That’s about it ? What does that mean? Why did you use a weird tone?”
I shrug.
“Are you fleeing the country with some guy?”
“No,” I say.
Hey, I didn’t lie!
“Okay,” Molly says. “So you’re telling me you met some guy that night and you’ve been with him this entire time? Ignoring your phone? You have people scared.”
“Oh well,” I say. “I’m doing something for myself.”
“Annika, I have to ask this. Are you on drugs?”
I actually laugh. “Drugs? No, Molly. I’m not on drugs.”
“You’re different. Don’t lie to me. Something…”
Molly’s eyes suddenly go wide. Very wide. Filled with fear.
My heart jumps into my throat. I turn my head, wondering if someone is here to kill me.
Nope.
It’s just Peri.
Perilous.
Standing a few feet away from me. Black boots. Black jeans. Black T-shirt. Muscles pouring from the sleeves of his shirt. Hands flexed into tight fists, veins throbbing. His eyes narrowed like a snake about to strike, looking right at Molly.
I swallow hard and face Molly again. Her cheeks are red.
“Is that…?”
I nod.
“Annika…”
I see movement from the corner of my right eye. My lips part and I suck in a slow breath.
We’re not alone.
I turn my head. Molly does the same.
“Oh fuck,” she says.
She grabs the edge of the table. I don’t know why but I reach across the table and grab her wrists.
“They won’t hurt you,” I say, not knowing what the intentions are here.
We’re both looking at someone dressed in a black robe with a mask covering his face. The figure is big. Really big. As big as Peri. I slowly look to my left.
There’s another one!
I look at Molly and my eyes move beyond her. I feel my eyes growing wide, just like hers did when she saw Peri. Molly turns her head, sees the third man dressed in a black robe and mask, and she jumps up.
The figure behind her lifts his right hand up to his mouth. He puts up one finger.
Shh.
“Annika, what the fuck is this?”
Molly’s voice crackles.
“They’re protecting me,” I say. “Okay?”
“Protecting you? Why?” Molly looks at me. “What is happening here?”
I stand up. “It doesn’t matter. I wanted to see you, Molly. To show you I’m alive and well, okay?”
“What does that mean? You’re just going to leave now? With these guys? Everything is true, isn’t it? Things we’ve heard? These are…”
I walk around the table and close in on my best friend.
“Give me a second to process this,” Molly says. She looks scared. She smiles. “These guys are real. This is a lot to take in. That one behind you. That’s… I’ve heard of him. I’ve seen him before. He’s a fucking psycho.”
“Yes, he is,” I say, speaking another ounce of truth.
“He’s fucking you.”
“Yes, he is,” I repeat.
“And the other three…?”
“I’m alive and safe, Molly. You can’t say anything to anyone though. Okay? Just play it off. You heard from me. Whatever. Lie through your teeth. You have to lie.”
“This is crazy,” Molly says. “Now don’t get me wrong, being surrounded by three guys in robes and masks is right up my alley. But this is…”
I hear a click . Followed by two more clicks . The three men in robes and masks are all holding switchblade knives. Chills run throughout my body.
Molly sees the knives and she sucks in a breath.
Not into knife play? Thought you were super slutty and kinky?
“Time to go back, doll,” Peri’s deep voice rumbles from behind me.
“Don’t leave me alone with these psychos,” Molly pleads.
I look back at Peri. No offense to him or anyone but I am not leaving my best friend behind with three masked men holding knives. It would be one thing if Molly was turned on right now but she’s scared.
Peri slowly lifts his right pointer finger to his lips.
Shh.
“Molly,” I say as I turn my head to look at her again. “Do you get the message now?”
“This is too much. I feel like my best friend is threatening me.”
“No, I’m not threatening you. I’m warning you. Listen to me, Molly. I don’t understand everything right now, but I know these guys mean business. Everything is true. All you need to do now is lie.”
I’m not done talking but I feel Peri’s presence close to me. And it doesn’t help that Molly’s eyes widen once again. I feel Peri’s hand grab at the back of my neck, over the hoodie and my hair.
“We’re fucking leaving, right now,” he growls.
“Lie,” I say to Molly. “Fucking lie.”
Peri pulls at me and I stumble back from my best friend.
“Now go,” I call out.
Molly grabs her coffee off the table and hurries away. I look back and up at Peri.
All I can do right now is wonder when he’s finally going to kill me.