Faceless [H.S]

Pretty When You Cry. 05

CHAPTER FIVE

His words hung in the air for a moment and I took in a deep breath. Use me? For what?

"Liam has just made a couple people angry, is'all," his voice cut through the silence. I sucked in a breath. What did that have to do with me? And what did he do that made people that mad?

"I... I don't really care," I admitted, "whatever happens to him, I don't care."

"So me and you are on the same page."

"I wouldn't say that," I knitted my eyebrows together in annoyance. No, nothing about me and this man was similar. We did not have the same thoughts. Ideals. Morals. We were not on the same page. He wanted to kill me--I wanted to be alive. He had no remorse. He didn't care. I still didn't know who he was.

"Why me? He could've went to the club to watch anyone. He could've been a random man, you don't know if I even knew who he was," I mentioned. What if Liam was just trying to go ahead and gawk at women? He did it when we were together, and I doubt he changed.

"Valerie--I know everything about everything."

Hearing my name made my entire body run cold. I didn't even want to ask how he knew it. All I knew was, everything about this night was calculated. Whoever he was, who ever he worked for--he was important. Bigger than me. It was quiet again. I never knew how silent it could get inside the private room when no music was playing.

"You want to know why, don't you?" He asked. "Why you?"

He paused for a brief moment.

"Truth is, I don't know. I don't know why you. You're just a regular old stripper. But, apparently, you have some importance to Liam. So I'm here to figure it out. You're not important, really."

His words cut like the knife in his pocket. I sucked my teeth and rose to my feet. All of the fear turned into embarrassment, and anger. I'm shocked he let me stand up.

"Are we done here? You've humiliated me enough, you've disrespected me, can I get back to my life? My job?" I asked, gesturing toward the pole. "You probably don't think it's a real job, but it is to me. And luckily, your little Irish friend over there gave me something worth my time. I just want to get back to my life: that stage. You had no reason to bring that gun to me, if you would've been smart you would've known I would've gladly killed him myself if I fucking could have."

His eyebrows raised, and he gave a small nod, standing as well. We stared at each other. It was violently silent.

"Are you still looking for that apology?" he suddenly asked, cockily. That was the final trigger.

"Oh, fuck you," I hissed, "take your apology and shove it up your fucking ass! I don't give a fuck about what you do to him! Kill him, leave me the fuck out of it. Or kill me, I don't care. You-you know everything about everything, right? You could've figured out everything you needed to know, you-you own this god damn place right?" I was starting up and I couldn't feel it stopping anytime soon. I wasn't mad, I was livid. My anger was rushing in like a wave. He stood there, listening to me scream at him.

"You could've figured out our connection. You could've asked me, simply--flat out, no, to make up for your fucking issues and fucking need to be this strong macho man you just.. ugh!" My words were getting jumbled, I wanted to punch him right in his smug face. I could see dimples in his cheeks from the smile creeping on his lips.

"Fuck you, I have no issue going to the fucking cops. You can work on your fucking issues somewhere, go bring that to someone else. I don't know what love your parents didn't give you but you need some fucking help--"

My words were cut off when he broke the distance in between us, grabbing my neck and slamming me back down to the couch. My body reached the surface with a hard thud. I started squirming and flailing my arms, kicking frantically. That's when he opened my legs violently with his own legs, shoving his knee right at my vagina and keeping it there, whilst putting his other leg at the side of the couch where my leg dangled, keeping me stuck right in this vulnerable position. His fingers laced around my throat and I squeaked.

"What'd you say?" he growled. "Test my fucking patience, Valerie, test me."

He tightened even more, my vision going cloudy. He held it for a moment until I was on the brink of fainting before letting go. I gasped and sputtered for air and he grabbed my cheeks roughly to keep me looking at him, although I struggled to open my eyes. There was ringing in my ears and my stomach was tight. He pushed his knee further up against my vagina, and I jumped up. His choking kept me in place. I could feel something sliding across my stomach. Sharp.

Oh, no.

"You just couldn't shut the fuck up, huh?" he spat. His words were venomous. "You just kept fucking talking, huh? Go on, say what you have to say, say it while I push this fucking knife into your stomach."

I felt my eyes filling with tears.

"Oh, you're gonna cry now, huh? What happened to you?" he taunted, eyes aflame. "You were so tough, right... punching me. Screaming at me. I was going to let you go, no, no... you, you are going to be a fucking problem to me." He let out a deep growl of frustration. "You're going to work my nerves, aren't you?"

I tried to regulate my breathing, tears falling down my cheeks.

"You look so pretty when you cry," he rasped. "I almost feel bad."

I closed my eyes and began to sob. I don't know how I got here. I felt so fucking stupid. I should've shut the fuck up. He brought the knife up to my face, bringing it up to my mouth. He leaned forward to my face, his lips practically against my own.

"You're going to go back out there, make your fucking money, and shut the fuck up. If you speak, I'll find out. Trust me Valerie, you don't want to test your god damn luck."

I know I looked a mess, mascara running. My nose was full of snot and my skin was hot to the touch.

"That pretty face of yours. You should've stayed quiet, you'd be even prettier." He finally got up, leaving me sprawled on the couch. He grabbed his gun and fixed his shirt, glaring at me behind furrowed eyebrows. I could feel the panic attack settling in, causing my body to shake and tremble without me controlling it. I began to hyperventilate. Going into his pocket, he took out a wallet and tossed a couple hundreds at me.

"When I need you, I'll find you."

I looked up at him as he walked out the room, leaving me behind on the dark blue couch.