Chapter 14
Gemma
Sasha:On the ground in Atlanta. You make it home okay after work?
Was this a thing now? Him checking up on me?
Sure, the sex was . . . I didn’t even have words for it because how did you describe having your soul ripped violently from your body on repeat?
But I realized when we laid down for his afternoon nap that I was getting too comfortable.
Hadn’t I learned this lesson already? That trusting what seemed like a “decent” guy could land me in a world of trouble? I was just digging myself out of the hole Joey had left me stranded in. I couldn’t afford to let history repeat itself.
He makes millions of dollars a year. He doesn’t need to steal from you or sell drugs.
I shook that thought away.
My whole life, I’d been under the thumb of men, seen as nothing more than a possession. It was finally my time to live my life howIwanted.
Sasha wanted babies and a future. At least, that’s what he’d said.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted. Other than my freedom.
Locked in a cage for most of my life, that had become my only focus. There wasn’t room for any other dreams. Now, I was faced with endless possibilities, and it was almost overwhelming. I had choices for the first time and didn’t know where to start.
But I knew one thing for sure: tying myself to another man wasn’t in line with the freedom I sought.
Staring at my phone, I debated whether I should respond at all. If I did, it would only encourage him.
Yeah, because putting out on the first date and then letting him come over for an afternoon cuddle session didn’t do that already.
Fuck it.
Yeah. Just got in. Busy night.
I set my phone down on the nightstand, willing myself to put him out of my mind. I was a mafia princess, not a fairytale one. We didn’t get happy endings. We were lucky enough to survive.
I made it two steps toward the bathroom to shower off the bar when the vibration of an incoming text against the wood sounded.
Curiosity won out, and I backtracked, grabbing the phone to peek at the screen.
Sasha:I miss you. Send me a selfie.
Was he serious right now?
It was two in the morning. I’d just finished a seven-hour shift tending bar. He wouldn’t be able to smell the stale beer stink on me, but my hair and makeup were a hot mess.
I’m tired. Really want to shower and go to bed.
There. Maybe he’d take the hint.
Yeah, because that’s his strong suit.
Sasha:Please, baby? I just need to see your face.
Did it make me insane for indulging him? Probably. But I couldn’t do this all night. The sooner I placated him, the sooner I could shower and slip into bed.
Sighing, I flipped my phone’s camera to the front screen, snapped a quick selfie of my tired, exhausted face, and hit send.
