Page 42 of Tempted

He sighs heavily and pulls out a chair,motioning for me to sit. I do so tentatively, watching his everymove closely. He crouches before me, taking my hand in his.

“Janet was a friend of Ellen’s. She movedaway after high school but came back about two years ago. We messedaround for a while, but what she neglected to tell anyone was thatshe was running from an abusive ex.”

I stare into his eyes to try and catch anysign I can that he’s lying. He returns my stare with eyes coloredwith hurt but not deceit.

“The guy found her. Went ballistic when helearned about me and attacked her. He threatened to kill her if shedidn’t say it was me. I got her to change her story and, using sometransportation channels I have access to, I got her away safely…sether up somewhere else.”

“So, she’s alive?”

“Yes…and happy. She’s the old lady of anothercharter’s president. Last I heard, she was having a baby.”

“And the semen?”

“Dude got it from a used condom I left at herplace that night.”

I can’t believe I doubted him. He’s not arapist. We’ve been in so many situations where he could have easilyhurt me and he hasn’t. But now I understand why Renley has it infor him. What he must have gone through…

“Gage –”

“I should have told you before.”

“What about the boyfriend?”

“He was taken care of. She’s Rambo’s problemnow, not mine. You believe me, don’t you?”

“Yes. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have doubtedyou.”

He pulls out his phone, punches in a number,and places it at his ear.

“Rambo…yeah, everything’s good. Look, I needa favor…it’s going to sound strange…I need a picture of your oldlady…yeah…something like that.”

I listen to the one-sided conversation,admiring him even more for wanting to prove that he’s telling thetruth. A message comes in a minute after he hangs up. He turns thescreen toward me and I see Janet smiling, her palm resting on avery pregnant belly.

“I’m sorry,” I repeat. I feel like such adumbass.

“It’s okay. You have nothing to be sorryfor.”

“It’s just –”

“I’m not into raping or beating women –”

“Just the occasional spanking?”

He doesn’t even crack a smile.

“I would never hurt you, Raven, and I won’tlet anyone else hurt you, either.”

He straightens and moves over to the desk,leaning on it. I drop my gaze to the floor, thinking of Lonnie.

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“Of course I can. Once everybody around hereknows you’re mine, my name alone will protect you.”

“Why? Why would anyone care about who you’refucking?”

He tilts his head to the side and his eyespierce my soul.

“It’s become way more than that, Raven…andyou know it.”