As if I'd want to.
Like a dumb-ass, I jumped on the deal faster than you could say,"Get me the hell out of here."
On his way out, her dad turned back to say, "You're lucky you took the deal. And you wanna know why?"
When my only reply was a loose shrug, he said, "If you weren't pleading guilty tothis, you'd be facing charges substantially worse."
And someday, you'll be facing a fist to your face – or worse.But I didn't say it, because I wasn'tsodumb that I'd push the issue now, when I was on the verge of putting this whole clusterfuck behind me.
When I said nothing in response, he kept on talking. "'What kind of charges?' you ask." He shrugged. "Kidnapping, maybe statutory rape, and that's just for starters. So count yourself lucky."
Lucky, my ass.My jaw clenched as I stared at him, wondering what the fuck Anna had claimed.Rape? Shit, I'd barely touched her.Come to think of it, I hadn't touched her at all.
I couldn’t stop myself from saying, "That's a lie and you know it."
"Not according to Anna. And just so you know, this little deal? It's a favor toher, not you." He shook his head. "She's been through enough already."
And with that, he left.
I spent a few more hours in that shitty little room, contemplating everything he'd said. It wasn't hard to figure out what had happened. Obviously, Anna had been withsomeonelast night.
And when things had gone south, she'd pointed that manicured finger of hers straight at who?Me.
But it wasn't until everything played out over the next few days that I realized how truly screwed I was.
Instead of a slap on the wrist, I received nearly a year in juvie and no time off for good behavior – not that I'd been one to behave anyway.
As far as Anna Burke, I decided right then and there, I was going to get her for this – and her father, too, while I was at it.
And I had.
When Anna knew the full story, would she hatemelike I'd hated her?Not if I could help it.
Now in the restaurant, as I studied her from across the table, I had to wonder how things might've played out differently, if only that fucker hadn't done what he did.
What would've happened between me and Anna?
Nothing?
Or everything?
But that wasn't the question, was it?
The real question was,what would happen now?
