Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
I stalk through the stacks first, slowly. My approach sends a few people scurrying out of my way, which is fine. No one catches my eye, and I slow my pace so I don't miss him between a row of shelves.
Once I reach the far side of the library, I move to the other side and begin searching the little study nooks dotting the area. A group of tittering girls spots me in the distance, and I can hear their chatter as they dare each other to come and speak to me. I ignore their existence.
A few other people are spread around, and a professor tucked up into a glass cage in the back. No scrawny little nerd in sight, though. My patience is growing thinner by the second. If he doesn’t want me to murder him, he’ll make an appearance soon.
Frustrated, I tug my cell phone out of my pocket and shoot off a quick text. It only takes a second to hear the ding in the mostly quiet space. A smile tugs at my lips.
Gotcha, you little fuck.
I scan the space where I heard the sound until I spot him. He's staring at his screen, looking appropriately scared. Good. He should be scared. I stalk around the backside of the stacks and come up behind him.
It takes seconds to grab him by the scruff of his sweater and drag him between the shelves. "Hello, Mark. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re avoiding me. Because you forgot to send me something today?"
He sputters, his phone slipping from his hand to clatter on the worn carpet. Whirling around, he appears baffled. "No, no. I was… I’m not avoiding you. I’m just proofreading your essay. I didn't forget to send it."
"I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be delivered this morning. When I give you a deadline, I expect it to be met. Now, I have to worry about getting my assignment in on time. Which isn't something I should have to worry about, especially when I've already fucking paid you."
I give him a hard shove into the stack of books. He whimpers and turns his head to the side, likely hoping to protect his face.
“I’d love to let you go without any consequences, but that would set a terrible precedent for any future nerds I hire.” Minding the distance of the shelf behind me, I jerk back to deliver a punch in the gut when I hear a gasp to my right from deeper in the stacks.
It's loud enough to make me pause. I can be as depraved as I like, but I can't risk getting cut from the football team or making my father look bad. It would be unlikely, but I don't need to invite the question, especially not during the season.
It’s hard to see what I’m looking at in the dim lighting, but I focus my gaze on a spot hidden in the dark. The gasp came from a little thing in a worn oversized hoodie. Her blond hair is tied up in a knot on top of her head. It’s bright blond, a beacon of light in the dim space. She’s very pretty.
Something dark and sinister swirls in my gut. I can't look away from her. Not for a second.
She steps closer, tentatively, and places a hand on the nearest shelf. "Is everything okay here?" She doesn't sound sure of herself. Not like she's afraid per se… But she hasn’t raised her voice at all.
I release my hold on the nerd and let him sink back to his feet. "Yup, everything is peachy.”
“It doesn’t look like it. If you let him go, I can pretend I didn’t hear what you said. No one has to know what you’re doing.”
I’m a bit shocked at her gall. Is she dating this little nerd? Is that why she’s protective of him? The kid doesn’t appear to know who she is, not in the least bit, so it can’t be that.
“You don’t look like the type to blackmail, so what will you give me in return for releasing this little weasel? He's stolen from me. He took five hundred dollars in exchange for services performed, and he's yet to provide his end of the deal. So...where does that leave me?"
She waves at Mark. "If you hurt him, he can't do the work, can he? Think about it that way. Plus, like I said, if you let him go, then I won’t have to say anything."
The warning in her words should alert me, but it doesn’t. I’m not scared. I lean in and crook my finger. Instead, I’m curious. Who is this girl? I need to get a better look at her. To see the color of her eyes, the shape of her lips, and the slope of her neck. "Come closer."