Sierra
Chapter twenty-nine
Gym was a nauseating nightmare. Anytime I caught a glance of Wesley, he was staring at me with a sadistic smile on his face.
He called me Lilac.
I’m a sweaty mess and I haven’t even done anything physical. My pulse is racing, and I’m shaking like I’m in the middle of the Arctic Tundra.
Run.
Right out the door and away from here.
I had to have misheard him. It’s the only logical answer. No one here knows I strip. I’m very good at keeping it a secret and no one from school is old enough to get into the club.
Tiger Tails has a strict policy prohibiting minors, and Rico enforces it.
When Coach Luck dismisses us to the dressing room, I speed off. I just need to change and get to the library. At least there I don’t have to see anyone but Wesley, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep busy and away from him.
All hopes of getting out of the locker room before any other girls show up are shot to hell as I’m pulling my shirt on.
“Well, if it isn’t the skank. What’cha rushing off to?” Savannah’s nasally voice echoes.
“Class, just like everyone else.” I don’t look her in the face as I sit down and pull on my sneakers, tying them.
“I bet.” She clucks her mouth as she steps closer, stopping in front of me and leaning down, jabbing me in the chest with her pencil-like finger that’s as sharp as a talon. “Stay away from Wes, slut. He’s mine and there’s no way I’m letting you corrupt him with that disease ridden cunt of yours.”
“You can have him. In no way do I want him.” I take hold of her finger and push it away, standing up so I can look her in the eyes.
It’s true, I don’t want Wesley Johnson. There was a time I did. A time when he was the only boy I ever had eyes for. Then he ruined everything.
I pick up my bag, but as I go to leave, she steps in front of me. Leaning in, she whispers, “I’d listen to what I said. If I catch you around my fucking man again, you’ll pay for it.”
Not wanting to listen to any more of her warped imagination, I bump her with my shoulder, knocking her out of my way and rush from the locker room. Why the fuck did I come back?
“I’d heed my warning, whore. Just remember, if you don’t, it won’t go well for you!” she yells at my back.
All her minions laugh like she just told the funniest joke. I just want to huddle in a corner with a blanket over my head and cry.
“Hey Sierra,” Wesley’s deep voice rings through the gym, as laughter follows.
I don’t stop, though; I keep going. One more class left, and today is done. The only bright light is that Cyrus is going to be out there waiting for me.
My mind drifts back to what he said about Rico coming to the school, but I haven’t seen him. I thought for sure I would’ve been called down to the office. But it never happened. Maybe they didn’t need me. I’m sure he probably has some type of paperwork from the courts.
I’ve barely stepped inside the door of the library when Mrs. Pearl notices me, a scowl firmly in place.
“Nice of you to come back, Sierra. Put your books down and meet me in my office.” Her words are sharp and cold as her nose scrunches in disdain.
I’ll never know what I did to make her hate me, especially when I work my ass off for her doing everything she asks. She turns and heads to her office and I fall in step behind her.
“Close the door behind you,” she orders as she takes a seat at her desk.
“Sierra, the year has barely started and you’ve been nothing but trouble and missing days.
I’ve asked the principal to remove you and put someone in your place who is more dedicated.
For whatever reason, he declined my request and I’m stuck with you.
Just know I will not be putting up with any more of your shenanigans.
” She goes on and on, belittling me long after the bell for class to start rings.
I just take small, deep breaths, trying my damndest to not let her words get to me. She’s just an evil, unhappy woman who wants everyone to be as miserable as her.
“Are you even listening to me?” she barks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Umm, yes ma’am. I will do better. I’m sorry I was sick and had family issues that prevented me from coming to school,” I snark. It’s not me, but damn, she’s being a bitch.
“Very well. I need you to re-shelve the books, and there’s a new shipment that needs to be scanned and put out as well. I expect it all to be done by the end of the class period.”
“Understood. May I be excused?” She waves her hand at me. I stand and rush from the room, shutting the door as I go, only to come face to face with Wesley.
My heart races at seeing him. The way he’s perusing my body with his eyes. Like he knows me. He did once. I even thought I knew him, but it was all a dream. This boy before me is not the one I knew as a kid, who I called my best friend.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite person,” he croons, but it’s not a happy voice, it’s one of pure evil.
“I’m not that anymore, if I ever was. I need to get to work, so I don’t have time for you.” I push past him, taking hold of the return cart and pulling it behind me.
I turn down an aisle, breathing a sigh of relief when I look over my shoulder and see he hasn’t followed me. Up and down the aisle I go, putting book after book away until I hit the last one, which is also the farthest from Mrs. Pearl’s office.
I’m bent over, sliding a book on the shelf when someone steps up behind me, pressing their hard body against mine.
“You like how my cock feels on your ass. Bet your panties are soaked, imagining me inside of you.” Wes’s voice is husky and full of need as he takes hold of my hips, gripping them tightly, as he pulls me back firmly against him.
Memories flash in front of my eyes. Sweat breaks out all over my body and I can’t breathe. It feels like the room is closing in and all I can hear is a deep voice telling me how he knows I want him.
I don’t, though!
I’m not going to let it happen again. I slam my head back into his and he jerks back. I pull away from him, but trip over my feet and land on the ground.
“You fucking bitch!” Wes’s angry voice shocks me back to the present.
He straddles my body as he takes hold of my hands, gripping them in his.
“Now that wasn’t nice.” He leans into me, pressing his lips on mine.
I wiggle underneath him, but he’s so much stronger than me and I can’t break his hold. The only thing I can do is bite his lips.
“Yeah baby, I like it rough.” He adjusts his hold on my hands, holding them firmly in one of his, as he wipes the blood from his mouth with the pad of his thumb.
“Get off of me, Wesley!” I plead with him, but he doesn’t. His eyes are filled with a void that scares me.
“I don’t think I will. You like it when people touch you. Watch you. Dancing for them. Don’t you, Lilac?”
All the air leaves my body at his words. I know without a shadow of a doubt he knows my secret, but how?
His hand slips down, cupping my tit as he strokes his finger over my nipple. The roughness of my bra pressing against it causes the peak to pebble. I don’t want him touching me, though. Why is my body reacting this way?
“You have the best tits. Your pussy is even better. The only drawback was the tiny piece of fabric you had covering it. I bet you know how to ride a cock by the way you worked that pole. It took everything in me not to tell you who I was.”
How? When? Fuck. He was the guy!
My eyes go wide with recognition. By the look on his face, he knows I’ve figured it out.
“That’s right, skank. I know your dirty secret. Does he? Is that why he wants you so bad? Was that night a one-time thing for you?”
His hand moves from my chest, and I sigh, but the relief is only temporary. Because he slips it down to my crotch as he rubs it vigorously through my jeans.
“Wesley, no, please don’t,” I cry, tears streaming down my face.
“Wes, baby, are you over here?” a feminine voice calls. Savannah.
“Get off me!” I buck my body up, fighting like hell to break his hold. I will not let him rape me.
“What the hell?!” Savannah screeches, but Wesley loosens his hold, giving me the chance to break free.
He quickly stands and adjusts his cock.
“Hey Savvy. Perfect timing. The whore threw herself at me and I couldn’t hold back.
You saved me from catching whatever disease she carries.
” Wesley takes the opportunity to leave when he hears Mrs. Pearl calling his name.
“Coming over after school?” She nods at his question, never taking her eyes off me.
I’m frozen in shock by what could’ve happened if she hadn’t shown up.
Slowly, I stand and wipe my tears, then straighten my shirt. I need to get out of here. As I go to rush past Savannah, she stretches her arm out and wraps her fingers around mine, gripping so tightly, I know there’ll be bruises.
She jerks me to her, baring her teeth like a rabid dog.
“I warned you to leave him alone, that he’s mine. Guess you didn’t listen to what I fucking told you. Hope you’re ready for it, bitch. What happens now is all your fault.” She lets go of me and turns, her long hair slapping my face.
What did she mean?
When I exit the aisle, she’s standing at the checkout desk with Wesley and Mrs. Pearl, all of them laughing at something. Most likely me.
Mrs. Pearl looks my way, and her smile disappears. “Ahh, there you are. Wes said you disappeared and from the looks of your disheveled clothing, it appears you were off somewhere sleeping. You’re needed in the office, so go ahead and take your stuff with you.”
I don’t ask questions. All I want to do is get out of here as quickly as I can. It’s not until I step into the office downstairs and see Rico waiting do I feel any sense of relief.
As I step into the office, Rico’s eyes lock onto mine, and I know he sees the change in my demeanor.
My rigid body, the way I wrap my arms around my chest, caving in on myself.
He doesn’t say anything. He shakes Principal Jensen’s hand before heading my way, just as the bell rings, signaling the end of class.
He places his hand on the small of my back and guides me out of the office. Not a word is spoken. All eyes are on me as we move down the hallway.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see everyone in the halls, leaning in whispering to each other. This is just adding fuel to the fire. Everyone knows I don’t have a dad, so I can only guess who they think Rico is.
My pimp or sugar daddy, most likely. Especially if they listen to Wesley.
Rico doesn’t say a word the entire time we’re walking, but as soon as we get in the car, he stares at the students leaving the school out the front windshield, and the questions fly.
“Why do you have that scared look on your face, Sierra?”
“I don’t.” Of course I play dumb.
“Don’t. I’ve watched you grow up from a distance, so I’ve learned every face you make. Then when you came to work at the club, I got to know you better. Something happened. Who the fuck am I killing?”
I blow out a breath of air. Not wanting to say anything, but knowing he won’t give up.
“It’s nothing, I’m just tired, first day back and all.
There was a lot to catch up on and then there’s the typical catty girl mentality going on.
That’s it. No one to kill.” Really, I’d love for him to kill all the people in there, starting with Savannah.
But it’s just a dream, nothing I want to act on.
He grips the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turn white before he turns his eyes to me. “Don’t lie. I’m not stupid. A part of that may be true, but the rest is bullshit.”
“Rico, please. I’m just tired and the rest is typical high school crap. Can we please go home? I’m hungry and tired.”
I turn my head, gazing out the window. Just a few years ago, my life was so different. What I’d give to go back in time. Not because Wesley and I would still be friends, but I would have my mom and Sam with me. I wouldn’t feel this emptiness in my heart.
The engine comes to life, rumbling underneath me, vibrating.
Rico and his muscle cars; you’d think he was trying out to be in that movie about the group of people who do all kinds of crazy things as they run from the law.
Sorry, but no way in hell am I parachuting out of the back of a plane in a car.
“I’ll drop it for now, but you’re going to give me answers, Sierra.” He shifts the car into gear and pulls away from the curb.
“Fine,” I mumble.
My biggest concern, other than Sam at the moment, is Wesley. He knows I’m Lilac and I know it’s not going to end well for me.
He’s going to use it to his advantage. But how?
“What do you want to eat? Tacos or burgers? Soup?” I glance over at Rico, smiling at him tapping his finger on the top of the steering wheel. I don’t know why, but for some reason, I wonder if my dad did that, too.
I don’t ask, though. Rico already told me he wasn’t a good man, and now that he’s dead, does it really matter?
“Sierra?”
“Oh, sorry. Tacos are fine, or whatever you want is good.”
“Tacos it is.” He smiles at me, and I give a forced one back.
We continue on in silence until he turns into the drive-through lane of El Cazador. He orders for both of us, getting a little of everything. I hope he has a big appetite because there’s no way I can even eat a quarter of what he’s ordering.
“So you and Cyrus?” he asks. “How’s that going?”
I roll my eyes. Is he seriously asking me that?
“Yes, and I don’t think you want the details, do you, Dad?” I can’t help but laugh as his whole body shudders.
“Not your dad, and of course, I’m asking. If he hurts you, I’m going to kill him.”
“You’re wanting to kill a lot of people lately. How do you plan to stay out of jail?”
“Don’t you worry about that, Sierra. I’ve got my connections. They’ll never find a trace of anyone I kill, so I’ll still be here to make sure you’re okay. I should’ve done a better job of it in the first place.” The last part comes out as a whisper, but I still hear it.
“If you say so.”
We pull up to the window and I drift back into my thoughts as he pays for the order.
I wonder what Cyrus is doing?