Page 2 of High Stakes
The words are taking a while to penetrate my slow, tired brain.
I look at Mr. Tremos, whose watching our interaction with interest. I put my head in my hands, the reality of what is happening making me feel nauseous. “My god Dad, just when I think you can’t possibly fuck up anymore,” I mutter quietly. “When you say sell, what do you mean exactly? For work?” I ask, looking directly at Mr. Tremos.
He glances at my dad; then back to me. “No Bella, your virginity.”
I freeze, open mouthed, looking from him to my dad. It’s like a story from one of those stupid books I’ve been reading.
People tell me it’s something I should be proud of, my virginity, but I’m not. It’s like a bad omen, always hanging over me. It brings me stress whenever I meet someone new and becomes some big deal, and then before I know it, everything becomes about that instead of me.
“I don’t know what I was thinking, Bells, I’m so sorry,” says dad, interrupting my thoughts.
When I look at him, really look, I see the desperately sad old man he’s become. I was kidding myself he’d change. “You need to go, Dad. This is the final straw,” I whisper, hurt evident in my voice. I’ve spent most of my life caring for this waste of space and he repays me with this.
He looks at me confused. “It's not safe for you to stay here, sweetheart, not on your own. What if these guys come looking for you?”
“And where the hell am I supposed to go?”
He rubs my arms, sheer panic on his face, “Go back to Carl, just for a bit.”
I shove him away and he falls back, landing on his backside. “Go back to Carl. Are you serious right now? You think I’m safer with that maniac. Have you forgotten what he did to me? I hate him, more than I hate you right now, and that’s saying something.”
“Bella, he’s a copper. He’ll keep you safe. Who’s going to come after a cop’s girl?” he asks, trying to convince himself more than me. “Besides, he’s expecting you.”
I glare at him. “You just went ahead and sorted that; you didn’t even talk to me about it?” I shake my head in annoyance, adding, “First you sell me, and then you dump me on the biggest arsehole you can find.”
“Well, when I realised what I’d done, Mr. Tremos suggested I find you somewhere safe to stop, I didn’t know where else was safe. I didn’t want to put Aria in any danger. I just thought Carl owes you one and he said he’d be happy to help out.”
Of course he would, he’s been trying to get in my knickers from the second he realised I was still a virgin.Creep.
Mr. Tremos stands, pulling my attention to him. He makes a show of refolding his shirt sleeves. “I’m sorry we met like this Bella. Good luck with...” he pauses, glancing at me, “everything.”
I place my hands on my hips. “Really, that’s all you’ve got?”
He stops at the door and turns back to face me. “Sorry?” he asks, confused.
“You come in here with that scary gorilla out there and you get all like;‘Hey Bella your dads sold your ass to somedodgy bastards’and then you just get up and go. I thought you were concerned for my safety.”
He gives a laugh. “I really don’t sound like that.”
“Did you buy me?”
He laughs again and shakes his head. “No, I turned the offer down.”
I arch a brow, folding my arms over my chest. “Why, am I not good enough?” I can’t believe I’ve just said that exact sentence out loud like some offended bitch, and I inwardly cringe.
He begins to walk towards the door again and I feel panic, like if he leaves, something bad will happen. Surely, I’m safer with him and his gorilla.
“What shall I do?” I ask.
He shrugs, pats the man mountain on the back and they leave. I stand there like a goldfish, my mouth opening and closing.
What the actual fuck just happened? This stuff doesn’t happen in real life, in MY life!
CHAPTER TWO
Aiden
I did the right thing. I went and told the girl what her dumbass dad was doing, but then he mentioned the damn copper and that was my cue to leave.