I opened my eyes, looking around the unfamiliar room. Where am I- oh. I stayed with Chris.

He was asleep next to me, one of his hands resting on my thigh and the other was under my head. He tried to turn to look at him but it was a weird angle and it kinda hurt my neck. I rolled over, trying my hardest not to wake him up.

I stared at his face. He looked nice when he was asleep. He wasn't scary. He can't be that bad.

Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of the weapons he put down last night. If he did kill someone, it was a bad person. He isn't that bad. He was nice to me last night. He was mean to me when I first met him, but now he's fine. He can't be as bad as everyone says.

Maybe Ash is wrong about him. Maybe she has him all wrong. Maybe he doesn't kill everyone he sleeps with. I don't want to die. I don't think he'll kill me. But if he doesn't kill his lovers, why do they keep turning up dead or going missing? Who would do that?

But what if he does want to kill me? Maybe he just used me. Maybe all he wanted was to fuck me so he could get me close enough to kill me.

"What're you looking at?" I heard him whisper.

I jumped. His eyes were still closed. How did he know I was looking at him? "N-Nothing."

"Mhm." He replied, rolling onto his back.

He opened his eyes and stretched his arms above his head. I took a moment to look at his body. I didn't get a good look last night. He was covered into tattoos. And under some of the tattoos were big raised scars. I wonder what those are from.

I saw him reach down. I watched him closely. Is he grabbing the gun from the drawer? Or the knives?

I don't wanna die.

He brought his hand back up quickly.

I gasped and jumped back, shielding my face with my hands.

"What-"

"I don't wanna die...Please." I whimpered.

"Die? What the fuck are you talking about?" He asked, sitting up.

His phone.

He was holding his phone.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. He was just grabbing his phone. He didn't grab a gun or a knife. He couldn't kill me with his phone. I think.

"Uh, I-I thought you were gonna...Um, kill me."

"Why would I do that?"

"Someone, um, m-my friend told me that you kill everyone you sleep with." I mumbled.

"Where did they get that idea?" He asked. "I've never killed anyone I've slept with."

"I-I don't really know. She just told me that."

He sighed. "It's that girl, isn't it? Ashley, I think her name is?"

I didn't respond. How did he know Ash?

"That girl has been the biggest thorn in my side for months."

"How?" I asked after a moment.

"Her friend and I were seeing each other. He died." He explained. "She blamed me and tried to connect me to the deaths of other people I've been with. There is an explanation for the deaths. I just don't see the need to go into to detail about it with people I don't trust."

"O-Oh. Okay."

So she does have him wrong. He's not gonna kill me. I hope.

I looked over at him. He seemed to be deep in thought. He was spaced out, staring at the wall.

I looked down at my arms, absentmindedly tracing the tattoos. I wonder if he wants me to leave. Maybe I should leave. I don't really have to go work today. With the money I've made from Chris, I don't have to work for at least a few days.

"What do you plan on doing today?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Nothing really. I don't really see the need to work today. I was just gonna go
home."

"Stay with me."

"Oh. Um, I guess. But I still have to go home. I need clothes. Mine are covered in blood."

"I'll give you something to wear." He told me.

"Alright."

What did I just get myself into?

He got up, stretching again. He's still naked. Oh shit, I'm still naked. There were bright red scratches going down his back. Oops.

"I'm gonna shower. You coming?"

"Okay." I got up and followed him across the room.

We entered the bathroom, and he caught sight of the scratches in the mirror.

"Sorry."

He looked at me. "Don't apologize. It's fine."

He started the shower and motioned for me to follow him.

"You want me to shower with you?" I asked.

"If you would like. You don't have to."

Oh.

I mean, it's just a shower.

He's not so bad.

What's the worst he could do? Drown me?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was talking to someone on the phone while I was sitting on his bed. He's found a pair of jeans for me to wear and one of his t-shirts.

I don't know if I really wanna stay here with him. I really should go home. I don't know him that well. I don't know what he plans on doing. I don't wanna get caught up in anything bad.

He came over and gestured for me to follow him. He left the bedroom and went downstairs, to his office. He was still in the phone. I'd tried not to listen to what he was saying, but my curiosity got the best of me.

"What time though?" He spoke. "I get that it's at the warehouse, but what time?"

I wonder who he's talking to.

"No. Time. As in 2, 3, 4, 10. What the fuck language are you even speaking?"

He seemed annoyed.

"How about you learn basic fucking english and then you call me back?" He yelled. "Fucking retard."

He hung up the phone and tossed it onto the desk. He sat in the chair, sighing loudly.

He smiled at me. "Sorry."

I just nodded. "So like, what do you do?"

"A lot of things. But I was planning on going to my club today."

I nodded again.

"How does that sound?"

"That's fine." I said. "But you got pissed off the last time I went to your club."

"It doesn't matter if I'm bringing you there. I just don't like when prostitutes take business away from me."

"I'm not really taking business away from you. If anything, I'm giving you a little bit of business."

He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Well, I go in there to find people to fuck, but while I'm waiting, I'm obviously gonna buy drinks. So you're selling more drinks. Or people will come looking for me or wanna meet me there, so they're gonna buy drinks." I explained.

He laughed. "Alright. Makes sense."

He stood up and came over to me. He leaned in and kissed me softly.

There was a knock on the door. He sighed before opening it. Ryan stood there. He looked worried.

"What is it?"

"I need to speak with you." He whispered, glancing at me. "Alone."

"I'll be right back." Chris said

I nodded.

He walked out of the room, shutting the door after him.

I looked around the room. Maybe I could take this few minutes to explore. I don't know if I can trust him yet.

I walked around his desk and sat in his chair. There wasn't much on the desk. A laptop, some papers, some pens.

I reached down and opened one of the drawers. There was nothing special inside, just office supplies. I don't really know what I expected though.

I opened the drawer under it. There was another gun, a small box and a photograph. I picked up the picture. It was of Chris and some guy. The guy had long black hair and probably the brightest blue eyes I've ever seen. He was pretty. They both looked happy.

I jumped when I felt a hand around my throat. "What are you doing?"

"I-I was, uh, I was just looking around. I wanted t-to know more about you."

"Well just ask next time."

He released me and took the picture from me. He stared at it for a moment. "Who's that?"

He stayed silent.

"Hello?"

"No one." He snapped. He put the picture away and slammed the drawer shut. "Let's go."

He took me by my arm and pulled me out of the room. He brought me downstairs and as we were leaving the house, Ryan handed him an envelope. He put it in his pocket and brought me out to his car.

"Get in."

He got in the drivers seat, after pushing me into the passenger seat. Why's he being so mean? I didn't mean to upset him. I didn't know the picture would make him so mad.

He drove down the road, in the direction of his club. He stayed silent for the car ride.

He drove right past his club. I looked at him but he didn't do anything. Where is he going?

He kept driving, taking a few turns. He stopped in front of my apartment building. He handed me the envelope. "Stay the fuck away from me. Stay the fuck away from Michael. Stay the fuck away from my club."

"What?" Whats he mean.

"Stay away."

"I'm sorry. I-If this is about the picture, I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to make you mad."

"It's not about the fucking picture. I need you to stay the fuck away." He said. "There's the money I promised and enough drugs to hold you over for a while. Now go."

I got out of the car. "I'm sorry."

He just shut the door and drove away.

What did I do?

——————

Why do y'all think he pushed Ricky away??

~xxLux