Page 140 of A Million To Fall

“Shut the fuck up,” I say, taken aback. “Are you for real?”

“Yep. She’s fucking hot, dude. Nice…” He gestures vaguely around his chest. “Pretty sure she had them done, though.”

I chuckle, already heading down the hall. “Okay, well… have fun with that.”

“You bet your ass I will,” he shouts as I disappear into the guest room.

I change fast, eager to grab a bite before work.

“So, you’re leaving us?”

The voice freezes me mid-movement. I jerk around to find Mrs. Davis leaning in the doorway. I yank my shirt down, covering my torso.

“I overheard you and Jake,” she adds.

“Yeah. I found an apartment. I’m moving in tomorrow.”

“Oh my goodness, that’s great. Congratulations!” Her voice is syrupy, sticky, too enthusiastic, too… her.

“Thank you. I’m… excited.” Except right now a chill is crawling up my spine. Maybe the universe finally remembered it hasn’t screwed me yet today.

She nods, stepping into the room. “I guess I’ll need to get better at planning our get-togethers, then. Won’t be able to be as spontaneous with you anymore.”

Get-togethers?

I swallow. Hard.

No.

Our arrangement ends once I move out.

“Uh, I… I don’t understand,” I say, shoving my wallet and phone into my back pocket.

Mrs. Davis’s smile sharpens. “Did you think just because you’ll no longer be sleeping under my roof that I’m done requiring your… services?” Her voice drops, soft and venomous. “And what about my friends?”

She steps closer.

“No, I… We’re done,” I say, panic creeping in. That was the agreement. Right? I do this while I stay at Jake’s? God, I wish I had taken more time to think through her proposal. I should’ve set clearer rules. I was just so fucking desperate, so blinded by the prospect of fast cash and a roof over my head that I never stopped to figure out exactly what she’d expect of me in return.

I feel sick.

She giggles, low and breathy. “Boss, baby, I still don’t think you understand. I make the rules. I say when we’re done.” She lifts her hand to my chest, but I step back.

“No. I don’t want to do this anymore,” I say, voice shaking. “I shouldn’t have agreed to this. It’s… I can’t—”

Her expression ices over, her brow creasing as much as her Botox will allow. “Excuse me?”

“Mrs. Davis, I appreciate you letting me stay, and…” Well, that’s it, really. “I do. But I’m moving into my own place, and I’m trying to get custody of my siblings. I wouldn’t even know when to—”

“Do you really think a judge will give you custody?” she snaps. “If he finds out you’re having sex for money? That you’re a whore, Boston?”

My voice dies in my throat.

She begins swiping on her phone, then holds it out for me to see.

A picture. Of me and Rachel. Explicit, compromising. She swipes again. And again. One photo after another. Me and Rachel. Me with the others. All nude, X-rated, exploiting.

When the fuck were these taken? How?