VEGASPETE🔞+KILL FOR YOU

Chepter 10

PETE POV

Waking up, I move onto my back and immediately regret it as a dull pain radiates from my sides. My jaw is tight and achy. Reruns of last night play out in front of me, remembering Jake's fists and feet laying into me.

First, I take out my air pods, then, slowly and gently, I get myself into an upright position to stand from the bed. I take deep breaths before I push myself up to prepare for the pain. I feel dirty and bruised, and what I wouldn't give for a hot bath right now. But I don't have that luxury so a shower will have to suffice. If I can make it to the bathroom, that is, I need to piss.

As I gingerly move toward the bathroom, the door opens and Jake fills the space in front of me. His face is indifferent as if he didn’t beat the shit out of me yesterday. He remains eerily quiet, raking his eyes over the bruises that must be on my face, the way I grip my stomach, highlighting the damage he’s done. He barges past me without speaking as I make my way inside the bathroom. I hear a vibration as I go to close the door and notice that Jake has left his phone on the countertop.

Without thinking, I scan the message that has just appeared on the lock screen. It mentions a time and place from an unknown number.

Friday. Nine pm. Huh, that’s five days from now.

Just as the screen goes black, the door swings open nearly hitting me in the back, and I stumble. Jake strides in, grabs the phone off the counter, and looks at me.

His fiery gaze says, “Did you look?”

But I ignore him, turning to switch the shower on. As I try to take my top off, which isn’t easy, I realize he hasn't left the bathroom.

He’s staring at my back. I want to comment about his staring, but before anything can come out of my mouth, he leaves without a word, slamming the door behind him. Hobbling over as fast as I can in my state, I lock it. This is all getting too much, but now I have a lead. I can follow them and see who they’re meeting. Or should I contact Vegas and let him deal with it? I continue to ponder that question as I quickly wash myself, scrubbing away Jake’s touch like a stain on my body.

The warm water makes me feel a lot better. Having more movement in my joints is a relief, but I definitely need some pain meds to get through today. Thinking it over, I decide that it's best I go alone. I make the excuse that it's so I don't disturb Vegas, but the truth is, the thought of praise if I get any info to give to him outweighs the sane option.

So far, Vegas has found me annoying, weird, and has berated me like a brat. I want to experience some praise, see which I prefer best. For the first time in twenty-four hours, yep, my smile is back. Stepping out of the shower, I check over my face in the mirror, Jake got me good. My jaw is slightly tender and bruised. It hurts to open my mouth to brush my teeth, at least he didn't get me around my eyes–that would’ve been worse. My ribs are tender, but from experience, I know they are not broken so another small mercy. I just need to look after myself and rest plenty before Friday.

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For the next few days I keep myself mainly to my room, trying to stay out of the way, only leaving for food, drink, and bathroom breaks. It's now Friday and I feel a lot better. I can move without much pain and the bruising is starting to fade, only slightly tender to the touch. It looks worse than it is and I'm thankful. I need to be ready for tonight. Laying on my bed, I grab my switchblade and play with it in my hands as I try to plan out in my mind how to do this.

Jake is meeting whoever this other person is at an abandoned factory building on the outskirts of town. I recognized the address. I’ve been there before on larger dealings in the past. I can drive but Jake has never allowed me to have a car, another restriction. With no other choice, I book another Uber that can drop me off about a quarter of a mile away from the location. It’s all country back roads around the old factory site, and not a lot of cars use those roads, so I’ll need to walk it so I don't get noticed.