Chapter 7 #2
“Fine,” I bite out, thinking that if I don’t antagonize Heather about this, I can keep an eye on her and step in if she gets in trouble. “Go ahead; I’ll catch up in a second. All that tea has gone through me, and I need to use the bathroom after all.”
“See you later, then.” Heather walks out of the bathroom throwing a wink my way, and I walk into the second stall.
I read something once about never using the first stall in a public restroom because it’s the one everyone goes to first, and you’re much more likely to find a cleaner facility if you go to stall number two.
It’s become a habit for me, even though in all honesty the Country Club’s bathroom is spotless, so I doubt it matters which stall I use.
Zara
As I quickly take care of business, I make a decision.
I’m going to tell the guys about Heather’s plan to hook up with Cal’s brother. If anyone can protect our friend, it’s them.
A noise from outside my stall attracts my attention. Someone came in, and footsteps sound on the ceramic tiles of the floor coming toward me.
Rather than a pair of high heels I expected to see, whoever stops in front of my stall is in a pair of black men’s shoes. I try to remember what color Lev’s shoes were, but this could also be Chance, and I didn’t really pay attention to his footwear.
The person outside my stall is forced to take a step back when I open the door.
“Mason?” I gasp, frozen on the threshold. “What are you doing here? This is the women’s bathroom; you might want to go next door.”
His lips curl in a sardonic smile.
Mason Morelli has a tiny mole on the upper right corner of his plump lips. “I’m not here to use the facilities,” he chuckles. “I’m here to see you, Zara.”
My first instinct would be to retreat into the bathroom stall and lock the door, but Mason anticipates my move.
With a quick movement worthy of a hockey player, he grabs me, dragging me out of the stall and backing me against one of the sinks.
His fingers are digging into my biceps, his vise-like grip painful as he crowds my personal space.
“I usually don’t give warnings,” his voice is low and menacing as his hot breath fans over my ear. “If someone poses a problem, I dispose of them quickly and painfully… for them. So I hope you understand how lucky you are right now, and that is the only warning you’re going to get.”
I squirm against his hold, but he’s bigger and stronger than me, and he doesn’t budge. “You’re hurting me.”
His smile widens. “Good. I want you to think about this pain and multiply it by a hundred. Actually, no. Multiply it by a fucking million. That’s how much I’m going to make it hurt if your brother goes to the sheriff about the races.
You, your other brother and your boyfriend owe me money, and we have a deal.
There are only two ways out of it. You either pay me what you owe me, or you race for me like we agreed. ”
“Yes, of course.” I whimper as he tightens his hold on my arms.
“Good. So you’re going to tell your brother to keep his mouth shut with his boss.
If he says one word about the races to the sheriff, you’re all going to find out firsthand what happens when you try to fuck over a Morelli.
I’ll give you a spoiler alert, Zara. If they find any part of you, it’s usually not fit for an open casket funeral. Got it?”
He squeezes my arms so painfully that an involuntary tear slides down my face. The pain is so intense that all I can do is jerk my head into a nod, not trusting my voice.
“Awesome stuff.” Mason loosens his grip on my arms but doesn’t let me go. “But I want to hear you use your words and confirm that we reached an understanding.”
“Yes,” I utter, struggling to hide the fear in my voice. “I got it.”
Mason doesn’t let me go. “Good. Just remember, one word to Sheriff Pullin and you’re gonna wish that bike got you last night. Yes?”
“Yes, I swear. I’m going to speak to Ares. I didn’t agree with his plan anyway.” Something hits me all of a sudden. “Hold on a second. We talked about the idea of going to the sheriff this morning. The guys and I were the only ones in Lev’s house. How do you know?”
He lets go of my arms, but his hands land on either side of me on the white porcelain of the sink.
His body is effectively trapping me, and I have nowhere to go unless I want to try to overpower him.
“I had you guys followed. A good businessman keeps close tabs on his assets. And JJ Smith is a great asset, especially now that everyone knows he’s a girl.
I thought having the mayor’s son and his best friend racing for me was great, but having the mayor’s daughter too?
You’re gonna make me a fortune, Zara. Way beyond what you owe me. ”
The words escape my mouth before I can think better of it. “So, Ares was right. If I paid you the half million we owe you between us, you wouldn’t let us quit.”
“Your brother is smart for a cop. You and the other two were so cute, thinking that paying me would make us even. You’re worth much more to me on the racetrack.
And besides, for a smart girl, your math skills suck.
Half a million is your combined initial debt.
Since you didn’t pay me last night upon not completing the race, and Chance and Lev didn’t bring me JJ Smith, your debt attracts interest with every day that goes by. You now owe me six hundred thousand.”
Shit.
Ares was right. Mason doesn’t intend to let us go for as long as the races bring him a profit. “What kind of interest rate is that? You can’t add one hundred grand in one day.” I object.
He laughs. “Aww, you’re absolutely adorable, Zara.
Or do you prefer JJ? I’m not a bank and I don’t have to abide by any laws when I decide what kind of interest rate to apply.
Your debt isn’t even because of a loan. You and your brothers could have just entered the race without placing a bet, but you decided to do so when you didn’t have the cash to settle the bet in case you didn’t win.
I let you walk away on your own legs, and all I ask is for you to work off your debt. It’s more than fair, don’t you think?”
Mason Morelli wouldn’t know fair if it hit him in the face with a shovel.
A buzzing noise coming from my clutch bag that fell onto the floor when Mason pushed me against the sink attracts our attention.
“What the fuck is that?” he bites out.
“I’ve been here a while. It’s probably Heather or my mom looking for me. I should go.”
If I was hoping that Mason would move, I’m sorely disappointed.
“Not so fast, Zara. We’re still talking.”
“I don’t think we have anything else to say to each other.” I push against him, but he doesn’t retreat.
Instead, Mason leans closer to me. “You know, at this rate it’ll take you a very long time to pay off your debt. There’s always another way we can make good on what you owe me. And since I’m a good man, I’ll forgive Lev and Chance’s debt too.”
I have a feeling that I’m not gonna like whatever he wants in lieu of racing, but I ask anyway. “What’s that?”
“You’re a very pretty girl, Zara. Come to a few parties on my uncle’s yacht and we’ll call it even.”
If I remember correctly, Mason mentioned something about it last night. “What kind of parties?”
His voice goes down by an octave as he explains.
“The kind where you’re very friendly with my uncle and his rich friends.
Serve them drinks, watch them play cards and then provide one-on-one entertainment in their private cabins.
They will pay a lot for a young, pretty girl like you.
And my uncle will be happy with me for the recruitment, and that’s worth what you owe me.
Of course before I can agree to these terms, I need to sample what’s on offer so I’m sure it’s worth it. ”
He tucks one strand of hair behind my ear, tracing his fingers down my pulse point.
“What do you say?”
I fight the shudder that works its way down my spine. Mason Morelli is a predator, and the worst thing I can do right now is to show my fear.
“No, thank you. I don’t… I’d rather race.”
Mason’s reaction is as swift as it is violent.
His fingers close around my throat as he presses me harder against the sink.
“Why do you sound so disgusted, huh, little slut? You play this innocent act as the mayor’s perfect little daughter; but then you fuck his sons behind his back.
Or do you think I don’t know that your boyfriend and your younger brother like to share you?
You sure didn’t sound disgusted last night. ”
Terror grips my insides as his fingers tighten around my throat, restricting my air supply to the point that my vision begins to narrow as splotches of black begin forming on both sides of my peripheral sight.
Mason presses into me using his whole body, and I feel him hard against my thigh.
I could have died twice on the racetrack, but I didn’t. Maybe this is how I die.
When Mason unexpectedly loosens his grip on my throat, I inhale greedy, noisy gasps of air.
But he didn’t give me this very needy respite because he decided to let me go.
“Fine, little slut. Have it your way. You can repay your debt on the racetrack. But now I want a taste of that pussy if it’s so good that you have the mayor’s sons and Levin Reilly wrapped around your little finger.
It’s up to you how this is gonna go down.
You can be nice, and I’m gonna make sure to be gentle.
Or I can take what I want the hard way.”
His hands return to my throat before I can move out of his way, my chest still heaving and my vision still foggy from Mason’s earlier attack.
“No. I don’t want… no!”
My fingers close around his wrists, and I fight against his hold, but I know it’s futile.
I’m no match for him, especially in my current weakened state.
Mason keeps pressing on my windpipe with one hand as he frees the other to push the skirt of my dress up and expose my thighs.
That should lessen the amount of force he’s using on my throat, but for some reason his hold on me becomes even tighter.