I stop speaking, because I’m not sure I should even say it out loud.
Luke’s lips meet the top of my head, his hand wraps around the nape of my neck and he says, “Tell me, Sloan.”
“You’ll think bad of me.”
“I could never.”
I close my eyes, not knowing what Luke will think of my confession. But it feels good just getting it out-letting someone else know how much hatred I’m harboring. “Sometimes…I wish that just once, Asa would have to watch you fuck me. It’s the only thing that would kill what’s left of his soul. I sometimes wish he could be forced to watch you take what he thinks belongs to him…”
Luke doesn’t respond for a long time. I start to grow embarrassed that I admitted that out loud. I don’t want him to think I have this fantasy that involves Asa watching us for pleasure. It’s far from that. With everything Asa has put me through, I know that this would hurt him more than anything. That’s all that fantasy is-a way for me to get the ultimate revenge on him.
“Sloan,” Luke finally says. “He did a lot to you that you didn’t deserve. So much more than anyone should ever have to endure. It’s perfectly normal for you to want him to suffer. Don’t ever feel guilty about that. Ever.”
I sigh with relief at his words. He hugs me even tighter. “What would be your ultimate revenge?”
Luke laughs a little. “My only revenge would be watching you get your ultimate revenge. I just want to see you vindicated. Justified. So I want whatever it is that would get you that.”
I love him. I really do. So damn much. I pull my face away from his chest and say, “I love you, Luke.”
He cups my face and says, “I love you too, baby.” And then he kisses me.
But then he stops.
Banging.
Loud banging on the center of the apartment door. I immediately feel the terror, the chills all over my skin, the shaking return to my hands.
Luke is standing now. I don’t even know when he jumped off the couch. He throws me my t-shirt and motions for me to put it on. He’s across the living room, grabbing his gun off the counter.
More banging on the door.
He motions for me to stand up and come stand by him. I do.
“Who knows we’re here?” I ask him.
“Just Ryan,” he says, walking to the front door. I follow him. He leans forward and looks through the peephole. He pulls back and presses his back to the wall by the door.
“It’s Ryan,” he whispers.
I blow out a deep, pent up breath. “Thank God,” I whisper.
Luke doesn’t move. His gun is still drawn and his eyes are boring into mine.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper.
Luke inhales a quick breath, then releases it. “He’s not scratching his neck.”
***
LUKE
Sloan’s whole face drops. She knows mine and Ryan’s non-verbal signal for when everything is safe. And she realizes now that everything is not safe.
I glance out the peephole again, hoping I just missed the signal. But he’s still not scratching his neck. And it’s four o’clock in the morning. Why would he be here?
“Open the door, Luke,” Ryan says. “I know you’re in there.”
Ryan is looking straight into the peephole. But I know him well enough to know that he’s hoping I don’t open the door.
If Asa is behind this, why would Ryan lead him here?
I look out the peephole again and I can see Ryan looking to his left, like he’s listening to someone give him orders. Ryan inhales, then stares at the door again. “He took Tillie. If you don’t open the door, he’ll let them kill her. He’s the only one who knows where she is.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, dropping my head against the wall. “Fuck.”
I can’t believe Ryan would put Sloan in this situation. I can’t believe he would bring him here. There has to be something else to this. Ryan would put his own life in danger before he would risk anyone else’s.
I glance over at Sloan and tears are pouring down her cheeks. Her eyes are wide with fear.
I look out the door again, just as Asa walks into the frame, pointing a gun against Ryan’s head. “Don’t forget to tell him who else I have,” Asa says, loud enough for me to hear him through the door.
Ryan closes his eyes regretfully. “Luke,” he says. “He has someone parked outside my little sister’s house. I’m sorry, Luke. I’m so sorry.”
I close my eyes. Ryan’s little sister is the one thing he would protect more than anyone in this world. It makes sense now. And the fact that Asa was smart enough to pull that off makes me scared for Sloan’s life. I reach for my phone to dial 9-1-1.