“Sass, he’s crazy for you. Everyone’s looking.”
She doesn’t look, but I do. And she’s right. Absolutely everyone’s looking her way, trying to figure out who she is. It makes me mad. My fists clench and Livia places her hand on my shoulder.
“Livia, did you hear about the girl who sold her virginity?” Robert asks Livia the same thing he previously spoke with me about.
“Of course, it was news. I’m pretty sure it was on TV and everything.”
“I’m thinking of doing it,” Barbie says.
We all look at her after her random outburst.
She shrugs her shoulders. “What? I have nothing to lose. It’s only sex.”
“No,” I state categorically, and everyone looks at me.
Livia moves her hand from my shoulder.
Robert’s mouth hangs open.
But it’s Barbie who isn’t fazed by my words.
“It isn’t for you to decide what I can and can’t do.” She reaches for her bag from the floor, stands and looks at Robert to join her.
I stand blocking her so she can’t pass me. “Don’t be stupid.”
She shakes her head at me.
“Are you two friends now?” Livia asks behind me.
I ignore her, but Barbie’s eyes skirt past me to Livia then back to me.
“I’m not stupid! It’s my body, and I can choose who I give it to.” She pushes past me, looking down as she holds onto Robert’s hand and I hear him whisper to her, “You aren’t serious… are you?”
I don’t hear her answer because when I turn around, I see Livia’s standing there watching me.
“You like her! How the hell didn’t I see that before?”
Shaking my head, I push past Livia and follow Barbie. I find her whispering to Robert just outside of the showers. Robert sees me approaching and takes a step back as I walk up to her.
I touch her arm and turn her, but she pulls it free, tucking it behind her back. “Don’t do it.”
“You have no right to tell me what to do.” She steps back. “I need the money. Some of us aren’t privileged and don’t come from money.”
“I’ll give you money.”
Saskia laughs at me. “You really are an entitled asshole.”
“Company,” Robert whispers.
I don’t turn, but she does.
Stiles walks up to us, stopping to look at me before he slides his hand around Saskia’s waist. She smiles, stepping away, so his hand has no choice but to remove itself.
“Goodbye, Ryken. Livia’s right behind you and wanting her date.” She turns to Stiles. “I’m off on mine.” Robert falls into step next to her as they all walk away.
“Why do you care, Ryken?”
Turning around, Livia is standing behind me. Did she hear it all?
“It’s a stupid thing to do. The last girl who did it got murdered.” Another lie that falls from my lips but Livia believes me anyway.
“And that’s the only reason? Because I can’t compete with her Ryken, not with Sass.”
Stepping forward, my hand touches her chin. She’s worried, it makes me want to comfort her. The same way she did for me when I needed someone. Anyone.
“Nothing to worry about.” At least I don’t think there is. Maybe. That’s a complete fucking lie. Saskia’s stuck under my skin, and I can’t escape her.
“Can I come to your place? Maybe we can hang out?” Her hurt is gone, and it’s replaced now with seduction. She drags her hand up my stomach until she reaches my shoulder. “Or not. We could do other things.”
My cell starts ringing just before I think about answering her. Quinn’s calling. What the fuck does he want? Pressing ignore, it starts again, instantly. Stepping back from Livia, I pull the cell up and press it to my ear.
“What the fuck, Quinn? You want another beating?”
“Your pretty little thing is on the internet. She was damn quick setting up that profile. She’s selling herself. Remember when he visited you, and your friend went missing?”
“Yeah.”
“Your father bought her to be sold to the highest bidder. Get her off the internet before he buys her.”
“How the fuck did you find out?”
“It’s my job to know all these things, Ryken, it’s why I’m second in command.”
“Can’t you block the site from him?” I ask, walking away, completely forgetting about Livia.
“For maybe a day before he realizes. He’s not stupid!”
“Fuck.” Hanging up, I wonder how the fuck she got that shit up there so fast.
“Is Robert good with computers?”
Livia nods her head. “He’s the best. Computer companies are screaming for him.”
Pulling out my cell, I send a message to Cane telling him I’m leaving.
I need to buy myself a virgin.
CONFESSION #3
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been a few weeks since my last confession.”
My eyes close and I think of how mad I am right now. How the blood is flowing so fast through my veins that I want to hurt someone.
“I’ve decided I need to bide my time. Work up to what I must do. Don’t you agree, Father? I mean, I can’t have everything at just the snap of my fingers. Killing isn’t a sport, it’s a lifestyle you must master.”