Tillie
Pressing my earbuds into my ears, I stretch my neck out and watch as the sun peeks up behind the trees, burning the dark with its light. Fergie starts rapping about being hungry as I stretch my legs briefly. I have become dependent on exercise since being in Brantley’s house. Now I crave the burn that comes with pushing your body to the absolute limit. I slip my phone into my armband and start jogging at a slow pace until I find my stride. There’s nothing for at least six miles, nothing but the long driveway that leads you to the cabin, and I love it. I’ll run to the end, where the high wired gates are, and back again and that would be twelve miles. The perfect distance to get me hyped. My feet hit the road faster as I find my stride, the music blaring through my ears, distracting me from that stupid conversation last night. I see the gate at the end, but I haven’t had enough. Pushing it open and off the latch, I slip out and keep running. I don’t know where I’m going but I know I just need to run. My chest burns, my heart thrashing in my chest so fast that my throat feels raw. A dark Range Rover pulls up beside me and I freeze, my body instantly stilling. I tear the pods out of my ears as the tinted window slides down.
I tentatively tread toward it, peeking in. I stop when I see it’s the same Rebel I locked lips with. “Um…”
“Get in, baby.”
He nods his head toward the door, and I reach for it, climbing in. He obviously has something to say and call me fucking stupid but there’s also a part of me that knows I’m somewhat untouchable in this world. People won’t cross me.
I swipe at the sweat that’s dripping from my forehead. “I smell, I’m sorry.”
He chuckles, his eyes coming to mine. He’s wearing a perfectly tailored suit and again, I see all of his ink peeking out of places that the suit doesn’t cover. Like his hands, and his neck, and even a small cross underneath his eye.
“I kidnap you, and you apologize for sweating on my leather?”
I purse my lips. “You kidnapped me?”
He smirks. “Yeah, and you made it the easiest one to date.”
He turns to face me, his eyes dropping to my mouth as he takes his seatbelt off so he can turn to me completely. The car pulls away and I’m suddenly aware of what the fuck I’ve just done. I’ll blame it on the endorphins running unleashed. For fuck’s sake, Tillie.
He reaches for my hand. “I won’t hurt you.”
“How do I know that?” My body is convulsing as I come down from my runner’s high. “You just stole me.”
He chuckles, reaching for my hand and pulling me close to him. “You don’t know why I stole you yet, though, do you…”
I lick my lips, being so close to him. “I smell and I’m sweaty,” I say again.
His eyes drop to my neck and he draws his tongue out, licking me across my slick skin. “I don’t care,” he announces, coming up to look me back in the eye.
I clear my throat. “I gather that…”
“Do you know who I am?” he asks, kissing my lips softly. What is with this man and always wanting to touch me. Why do I like it?
I shake my head. “No.”
He grins, kissing my lips. “I’m something you should have found a long time ago.”
I pull back from him slightly. “You’re a Rebel.”
“Yes.” He sits back, lighting a cigarette. “I need to talk with you about something that is of importance.”
“Okay,” I whisper, wiping the sweat from my head. “And then will you drop me back?”
He grins around the stick of his smoke. “Maybe.” He lights up, inhaling. “Or maybe I will want to keep you.” He blows out the cloud.
“I’m not a woman who can be kept…”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
My runner’s high has completely disappeared now, and fatigue is replacing it. “Please tell me what you want.”
“My name’s Benny Vitiosis, Tillie.”
I tilt my head. “And?”
He smirks. “And I’m the one who is going to make sure you get the right options.”
“Okay, I don’t know what that means.”
Benny taps at the driver’s seat, and then brings his eyes back to me. “What are you hoping to do after Hector has been punished for his, maybe, sins?”
I laugh. “I don’t know. Why?”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Because there’s still the case of who is going to run Perdita.”
I shake my head. “Not me. Not right now.”
He leans forward, searching my eyes. “What has to happen for you to stay on that island for a couple of months?”
“Why!” I snap, throwing my arms up. “Why does everyone want to know that?”
Benny smirks, puffing on his smoke. I lean forward and snatch it from between his fingers, shocking him in the process. I wrap my lips around it and inhale.
He looks at me with new light. “Didn’t think fit chicks smoked?”
“This one does,” I say. “Especially when she gets kidnapped and questioned about shit she doesn’t want to address right now.”
“Benny shrugs. “I’ll come back after you’ve chased your revenge, but remember this, Stuprum…”
I wait, blowing out a cloud of smoke as the SUV pulls up to the cabin. I didn’t even notice we had turned back around.
“When it all comes crashing down, and his revenge is seeping from your fingers with nothing but your guilt there to keep you sane…. Call me.”
The door flies open and Nate is standing there, seething. “What the fuck, Benny!”
Benny winks at Nate. “Nathanial. When will you share this fine piece of ass with me?”
Nate’s lip curls. “I’ll rip your fucking face off before I ever let her touch you, Benny.”
I roll my eyes, patting Nate’s chest as I try to get out of the car.
He doesn’t
