Page 26 of Hold Me
My hand is shaking when I ring Katherine’s doorbell later in the afternoon. I’m still angry with her and I want to look her in the eyes now that’s she hopefully sobered up so she can tell me what her deal with Caleb is. As I wait, I chew on the insides of my cheek and wonder if she’ll refuse to see me and just pretend she isn’t home, but finally the door opens and Katherine meets my gaze, her lips pressed together into a tight line.
“Hey,” she says. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“Yeah, well, some things can’t wait.”
She steps aside and lets me in. Her apartment is not that different from mine, but it’s slightly smaller and the colors that prevail are different shades of blue. She isn’t wearing any makeup, her hair is tied up in a loose ponytail, and she’s dressed in her favorite black sweatsuit. I plop onto the black leather couch and cross my legs.
“I’m waiting,” I say as she sits on the sofa across from me.
“For what?” she asks, crossing her arms.
“For an explanation. You assaulted Caleb in my kitchen! I want to know why.” I glare at her.
“I’m sorry about that.” She chews on her lip. “I was... in a bad place.”
“Yeah, I could see that, but that still doesn’t explain any of your actions.”
“Look,” she runs a hand over her face, sighing, “I’m truly sorry for what I did. It won’t happen again.”
“Of course it won’t. Because Caleb actually told me he didn’t want to see me again!” I raise my voice, feeling a vein pulsing in my neck. Katherine leans back in the sofa, her shoulders relaxing, which only angers me more.
“Good,” she says.
“Why?”
“Oh come on. Your obsession with him is unhealthy,” she says, trailing her finger across the armrest. “You’re paying him a lot of money just to fuck him. How is that okay?”
“I can do with my life and my money whatever the fuck I want, just like you can do with yours. I’m not judging you for going off with a different guy every night, even if that doesn’t always make you happy, but I know it’s your choice. I respect that. And now I do something you don’t approve of, and you actually decide to ruin things for me! Why shouldn’t I just walk up to the guy you’re dancing with next time and tell him to get his fucking hands off you because I don’t think he’s the right one for you?”
She bites on her lower lip. “I know it looked bad, but I had good intentions.”
“Well, so would I, but you know good intentions don’t mean shit. Just tell me. What’s up with you and Caleb?” I give her a pleading look. “Help me understand. Maybe I’ll actually agree with you. Just please tell me what’s up. I know you’re not just upset about the whole paying for sex thing. Please tell me. What do you know about him?”
“I can’t.” She sighs, rubbing her forehead. “Caleb’s connected with some really bad people and you don’t want to get involved with that. Trust me.”
“What kind of bad?” I’m on the edge of my seat, my nails digging into the leather of the couch.
“The kind that could get you killed.” She looks up at me and her face is completely serious.
My breath catches in my throat. “What do you mean get killed? How do you know that?” I remember Prescott’s death, but I push the thought away. I shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions.
“Can’t you just trust me? We’ve been friends for a long time.” She stares down at her hands.
“And why can’t you just tell me the whole truth?”
“Because I don’t want to get you involved in this. The less you know, the better. Just cut your ties to Caleb and those people.”
“What people? Alessandra? She’s the one who introduced me to Caleb in the first place.” I frown.
“Well, she didn’t tell you the truth. It’s for a reason.” Katherine bares her teeth. “Honestly, I don’t know how she can do it. Set you up with Caleb despite knowing everything.”
“Are you going to tell me or are you just going to keep feeding me bits and pieces that don’t make any sense to me? You know me, Katherine. I won’t tell anyone if you just tell me truth. No one has to know, especially if it’s something so important. You can trust me. And you know that if you don’t tell me, I’m going to drive myself crazy with wondering and then I’ll end up doing all the things you don’t want me to just because I want to find out.”
Her shoulders sag forward. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but please don’t freak out.”
I nod.
“Caleb is a sex slave,” she says, and I gape at her, then burst into nervous laughter.