Page 100 of The Destruction You Desire

"No!" I gasp, although I have no idea why I'm surprised, that girl would blow anything with a pulse. "I guess someone is gunning for a pay rise."

Bry chuckles. "She clearly wants something. You couldn't pay me enough to go near his infested cock."

"Amen," I say with a laugh but both of us soon shut up when the man in question appears from out the back.

"Bry, don't you have a job to do?"

"Sure do, boss." Bry salutes before turning around but not before I spot his dramatic eye roll.

"Peyton, a word."

My stomach turns the way it always does when I'm in his company. There's just something so… gross about him. He's like Slick on steroids and I will happily live without ever having to see him again.

I follow him through the staff-only door and toward his office. The place smells the way it always does but knowing that I no longer belong here means the stench of stale sweat and dampness now turns my stomach even more than it always did.

"Today's your lucky day, Peyton. There's someone very special here to see you."

My brows draw together as I try to figure out what he's talking about as I step into his office.

My head spins the second I lock eyes with the man standing in the middle of Julian's office wearing a sharp designer black suit as if he's some kind of upstanding citizen of the community.

I turn, ready to run out of there and forget all about the few things that are in my locker, but I'm too late. Julian slams the door behind me, flicking the lock to ensure I have nowhere to go.

"W-what are you doing here?" I stutter, looking at the man I never want to look at ever again. The man who has single-handedly destroyed the lives of everyone I love.

"Aw, has he still not told you, darlin'?" My brows pinch as I wait for whatever bullshit lies are about to fall from his deceitful mouth. "I own this place. I'm the one who's been signing your paychecks all this time."

"No," I cry. "No."

He takes a menacing step toward me and a shudder of fear races down my spine.

Backing away from the monster, I bump into another.

"I thought we were rid of you and your white trash family."

"You asshole," I scream, my arm flying out to slap him but he clearly hasn't lost his skills or speed because he has my arm in his grip before it moves toward him.

He steps forward again, pinning me between the two of them.

My fear freezes me in place, not that I think I stand any chance of fighting against them. They'll easily overpower me.

"W-what do you want?"

"Maybe I want to find out why my son has been so besotted with you all these years. I got rid of you so he could focus. It worked until you decided to step right into his path once more. You—" He lifts his hand and twirls a lock of my hair around his finger as bile swirls in my stomach and burns up my throat. "Are fucking everything up."

"You employed me," I spit. "You put me in his path."

"Julian employed you. Imagine my surprise when I saw your name pass through my files. My only regret is that I didn't get back here and get my hands on you sooner. I've waited years to find out if you're as compliant as your whore of a sister."

"Cunt." I spit in his face but instead of being put off, his eyes only darken as a snarl curls at his lips.

"You stupid whore," he hisses. I don't see his backhand coming and my head snaps to the side, pain burning through my cheek and down my neck, the taste of copper filling my mouth as hands touch me everywhere.

"No. No," I scream, trying as hard as I can to fight them off even though it's futile. "Help me. Bry."

"That little bitch won't come to your help, darlin'. You're ours for as long as we want to entertain you."

The sound of ripping fabric fills the room before cool air whips across my chest as my shirt is peeled away.