Page 142 of Wicked Dares
He wanted to get my attention and fuck with my mind.
Soon.
The word circles my mind like a swarm of vultures.
Bastard.
I wish I’d never met him.
I wish I could have had the good sense to run away from the moment he looked at me.
If I had, I wouldn’t be in this mess now.
And sadly… I know I wouldn’t have met Levi.
Meeting Levi is the only thing that eases the pain, but that’s just it. The pain is still there.
A little knock sounds on the bedroom door.
I don’t have the strength to speak.
It opens. From the light footsteps, I can tell it’s Marie. She’s been checking on me all morning.
Earlier, she brought coffee and cake. She stops by the little table, and her face falls when she sees I haven’t eaten or drunk anything. In her hands is more coffee and cake.
The last two days have been the same: she brought food to me, hot and delicious, and took it back cold and untouched.
She sets the new tray down next to the old one and looks me over.
“Piper, you have to eat something.”
I simply nod and offer a kind smile. “I will.”
“Just try and nibble on some of the bread or pastries.”
I nod again to humor her.
Levi appears at the door and walks in. Marie straightens and regards him with concern.
“Please, try to get her to eat something,” Marie says, glancing toward me. “I’m getting worried.”
“Thanks, Marie, I’ll do my best.”
Marie nods, picks up the old tray of food, and takes her leave.
Levi drags up a chair and sits before me. “Do you want to go out to eat?” He searches my eyes.
“No,” I rasp, my voice hoarse.
“I could take you out on the boat and we could get away for the day.”
I shake my head.
He stares at me a moment and bites the inside of his lip. “I spoke to Aunt Bess earlier. She’s worried about you. She wants to come see you sooner.”
I press a trembling hand to my head. “No. It’s too much. I… can’t.”
Aunt Bess is my rock, but I can’t see my family right now. It’s bad enough to have Alexis around looking at me like the world keeps ending. But thankfully, when she stops by, she doesn’t stay for too long.
