Page 49

Playing with your food.

I flip the switch on the taser, and it crackles menacingly.

A flicker of uncertainty meets his eyes as he glances down at the taser. He must have some sense about him, as he raises his other hand in surrender as well.

“I just want to explain what’s going on.”

“What’s going on...Austin,” I spit, “isIkidnappedyou. I chainedyouup.I have a taser, which I’m going to use onyou.”

He has the audacity to grin. “Oh, I don’t doubt youcould, baby. I know you like it a little rough.”

The air is sucked out of the room as my body betrays me. My breath deepens, and the heat between my legs spreads to my belly. I’m on fucking fire right now, and I need a cool douse of water to calm down.

“This isn’t funny. This is my life.”

“And I’m telling you, your life is not in danger. Not from me.” A part of me wants to believe him. But that’s crazy, right? This whole situation is fucked-up.

“You’re a liar.”

“I’ve never lied to you. Not once.” He steps closer.

“I don’t trust you.”

“I’ve only ever been honest with you.”

“You stalked me.” I’m whispering now; the hurt laces my words, and he has the decency to look chagrined as he stares at my worn floorboards.

He hesitates, running a hand over the beard he hasn’t been able to shave in my basement.

“Technically, I only went where I knew you would end up. I never actively followed you anywhere,” he explains.

“That’s just semantics, you fucking psycho.” My words aim to hurt, but they lack the impact I’d imagined in my head.

His face softens more still.

“I only ever went to Squeeze the Day. I never followed you anywhere else.”

“I don’t believe you,” I whisper, my hand falling just slightly. “You let me take you, didn’t you?”

He takes another step forward until he’s so close he can reach out and touch me. I could jab the taser into his stomach right now if I wanted to. But I don’t. I don’t want to hurt him. The realization hits me all too hard, and I try to shake the thought. Have I lost all sense of self-preservation? I grip the lifeline in my hand tighter, steeling myself to go against my very nature.

“Olivia,” his voice steady, he says my name like an oath, like a promise.

I peek up at him through my lashes. He’s crowding me now, and half of me is screaming to run. He’s caging me in. It’s a trick. It’s a lie. But I don’t care. I deserve what he’s going to do.

“I promise you. If you could put down the taser, I’ll explain everything.”

My hand lowers again. I want to believe him. I want to be able to trust him.

He lunges quickly, grabbing my wrist. He shoves me hard against the wall, and my breath leaves my lungs, the back of the taser squishing into my stomach. With every bit of strength I have, I push the back of the taser with my hip and thrust into him. The crackling hits his bare stomach, and he convulses in front of me.

His body revolts, jumping away from me. I watch his head nod up and down rapidly, his jaw jutting out as the electricity vaults through him. I cover my mouth with my hand, trying not to laugh. I can’t move; I’m part scared of him killing me, part scared he’s going to taser me right back for laughing.

“Are you fucking laughing at me?” he groans once he regains control of his body. He’s keeled over still, hands on his thighs as he tries to compose himself.

“Yes, you look ridiculous.”

If I’m going to die, I’m going to die. At least I can make him feel like an idiot before I do.