Page 114 of Broken Romeo

A lot of money.

And fast.

It was the only reason.

Katherine needed money. I needed to help her. I needed to get her this money as soon as possible. But how?

Gulping, I send another quick email, trying to keep it casual and unthreatening.

If I had your venmo, I’d pay you right now. Would be easier than a locker, wouldn’t you say?

The tensest forty seconds of my life tick by until her response comes in.

Wouldn’t my venmo account reveal my identity? And yours?

I shook my head as I emailed her back.

You can create an account with any sort of handle you want and no photo. The only people who will know it’s you is someone you tell.

I wait, not pressuring her anymore than I already did. But it was no secret how badly I wanted her to create this account. If for no other reason than the fact that I can pay her right now.

Fuck me, what if she was in trouble?

I launched myself out of bed, pacing the bedroom when another email lights up my inbox. A QR code.

I breathed a sigh of relief. It may only be a small thing but if the only way I could take care of her was from behind the curtain of anonymity, then goddamn it that’s what I was going to do.

I smiled at her username. @AnyOtherRose.

She really wasn’t trying too hard to conceal her identity. Granted, lots of people loved Romeo and Juliet, but no one as much as Katherine.

I created a quick account for myself with another nod to Romeo and Juliet myself, certain that she’ll notice the reference. @LightBreaks90. I send the $1200 immediately and relax, lowering myself back onto my bed.

I hadn’t exactly planned to spend that kind of money tonight, but fuck, it was worth it. I couldn’t think of any better way to spend my trust fund. And it wasn’t like there wasn’t plenty in there. Hell, half of it was tied up in stocks and earning me even more every day. I didn’t even need to go to law school. The funds in there could coast me easily for the rest of my life.

A little green dot taunted me beside her avatar picture—a cartoon drawing of a red rose. She was on the app right now.

Through the app, I sent her a message.

@LightBreaks90:

Anytime… and I mean anytime you want to send me photos or videos, I’ll pay.

I meant it, too.

Because I would rather Kate come directly to me for this money and not some stranger. I might be a lying pervert, but at least I was a safe lying pervert.

@AnyOtherRose:

Really? Anytime?

I ignored the little thrill that busted through my chest like a firecracker at the fact that she messaged me back.

Or maybe it was more about the thrill that we were messaging in real time. That I knew she was laying on that gray comforter, laying in those wet fucking panties that she’d just finger fucked herself within.

It was my turn to groan aloud.

@LightBreaks90: