Adam stood with his arm around Gillian's shoulders. He hadn't seen me. I continued to pretend not to know him.

"Why?" he growled. "Has something gone wrong with the fucking deal?"

"No, it's all set. I've got a little surprise for you," Brock said as he jerked his head in my direction.

Adam looked over his shoulder, took a breath and turned back to Brock. "What's she got to do with me?"

Brock laughed and dragged me into the centre of the room. "Maybe you can't see her properly in the dim light. Take another look."

Adam raised his eyebrows and laughed. "Yeah...she's the belly dancer girl. I've fucked her a couple of times." He shrugged. "I don't get the surprise thing."

Doubt spread across Brock's face. He peered at Ryan. "This is the girl?"

"She's the girl," Ryan said.

Adam shook his head. "What the fuck's going on, Brock? Have we got time for this shit?"

"You've been hiding stuff from me, my friend, and you know I don't like secrets. Stan says you met her on the train. Ryan says he nearly ran her over with his bike coming out of your house, and she just happens to be the stripper who rubbed herself all over me. I'm a clever man, Adam. I'd say that was for your benefit, not mine." He lifted his lip in a sneer. "It's a shame she got arrested the same night we did. But I'm glad she did, or I wouldn't have worked it out." He paused and laughed. "And I can guarantee she's the bitch who answered your phone."

Adam shook his head and laughed. "Like I said, I did her a few times."

Gillian slapped him hard across the face. "You bastard! You lied to me."

Adam grabbed her face. "I'll fuck who I want." He shoved her away and then faced Brock. "So, you've got the shits with me because I didn't tell you I did her more than once! Is that it? This is pathetic, Brock."

Brock punched him.

Adam retaliated. He seized Brock by the throat and forced him against the wall. "Don't you ever do that again, or I'll kill you."

Brock froze and then shoved Adam in the chest. "Hey...alright but there's not supposed to be any secrets between us and you've kept this bitch a secret. I don't like that. You keep one secret, you'll keep others."

Adam laughed and rubbed his hand up the back of his head. Everyone in the room watched him as he said, "Maybe I'm sick of you dipping your dick into every woman I touch! Maybe I'm sick of being your fucking babysitter."

"Are you challenging me, Croe?" Brock glared at Adam. "I'm in charge here! My rules. Not yours. What I say goes."

Adam stepped towards him again. "Maybe I am challenging you. Maybe I don't like some of your rules. After all, it's me who does the fucking dirty work! Rubs out the people you want rubbed out. How about I rub you out?"

Brock grinned and tilted his head towards the rest of the men. "And when do you think you'll get the chance to do that?"

Adam put his hands on his hips and laughed. "Yeah...alright, point taken but don't you ever fucking punch me again because you know who'll come out second best." He glanced at me and then looked back at Brock. "You're a dickhead. I haven't been near her in weeks. If she was at my place, I didn't see her." He looked across at Ryan. "When did you see her leaving my place?"

"The weekend you were in the lock-up, after the big raid."

Adam sneered and shook his head. "So how the hell was I fucking her if I was locked up, wanker?"

Brock roared with laughter. "Yeah, how do you figure that, Ryan?"

Ryan shrugged. "It means she knows where he lives."

My mind reeled. That was the weekend he came to Melody's party and took me to watch him play the drums.

"Jesus, Ryan! I take a lot of chicks to my house! Where do you fuck? On the back of your trail bike." Everyone laughed. Adam shook his head in disbelief and added, "Are we going to argue over this all night? We've got more important things going on."

Brock studied him suspiciously. "So, you're done with her?"

"Yeah, I'm done with her. Let the poor bitch go."

"Can't do that now that I've brought her here." Brock gripped my arm.

I jerked away.

His grip slipped, and he grabbed me again. "If you're finished with her, then you won't mind if I do her myself. We've got some time."

Adam closed his eyes and sighed. He sat on the nearest chair and held his palms out. "Go for it."

I cried out. "No...! Adam!"

Adam dragged in air and ran his hand down his face.

I struggled as Brock ripped my skirt and pushed me against the wall.

"Adam!" I shrieked. I couldn't believe all the times we'd had together meant nothing to him. I screamed and struggled, and then peed on the floor. The heat of it ran down my legs and into my shoes.

"Ah fuck!" Brock shoved me in the back and jumped away. "She's pissed herself!"

I scurried into the corner, tears streaming down my face.

Adam said, "What do you expect? You're scaring the shit out of her. No wonder you can't get a fuck of your own."

They all laughed except Brock.

Adam held my arm and steered me behind him. "Leave her alone." He picked up my torn skirt, wrapped it around my waist, tied it into a knot, then drew my shirt together as he focused on my eyes.

I looked away, scared, not knowing what was going to happen to me.

"So, you're not finished with her?" Brock growled. "Is that what you're saying now?"

Adam laughed, spun me around, and untied my hands. "That's right. I've changed my mind. I'm not finished with her. You're not going to touch her." Adam sat on the chair and sat me on his lap.

I shuddered in relief.

He cradled my head against his chest and wrapped his arm around me. "I'm sorry, honey. I won't let him hurt you."

I sobbed against him, he said, "You're a cockhead, Brock and you know what? After this deal is done, I'm gonna fucking kill you."

Gillian said, "Don't do this, Adam. I told you she would cause problems. You're going to ruin this for some stupid bitch."

"Gillian, keep your pants on unless you want to fuck Brock there. I'm not ruining anything. I've never let any of you down, especially him." Adam jabbed his finger through the air. "We're on the brink of a major score and he's pissed because he can't get a hard on unless I've been there. So, tell me who's got the bigger problem?"

Adam put me on my feet. He propelled me towards the far wall. "You stay over there," he ordered. He faced Brock and glanced at the others. "I'm done with this shit." With that, he swung his fist and caught Brock under the chin. Brock flew backwards and landed on his back; his head smashed against the wall. Adam turned on the others. "Does anyone else want to join Brock?" They shook their heads. He yelled, "Good! I'm in charge now. You do as I say! Get the shit ready, we've got two hours."

"You're an idiot, Adam. It's not going to work this way, He's fucking unconscious!" Gillian screamed.

"It'll work. What would you have me do?" Adam pointed at me and said, "Let him rape her?" He turned towards Stan. "Get me some water. The rest of you get out there and finish putting the boxes together."

They jumped into action. Stan came back into the room with a bucket of water. Adam threw it onto Brock's face. Brock coughed and spluttered.

Adam forced him to sit as he said, "Alright, Brock, here's the deal. We will finish this another time. There's more important shit going on. You got that?"

Brock sneered.

Adam continued, "That woman belongs to me. Your dick doesn't go anywhere near her. You understand me?" Brock glared but said nothing. Adam added. "And just so you know. I'm the boss. You do as I say or I'm gonna hunt you down when this is over and cut off your fucking fingers. You got that?"

At the sound of his words, a wave of nausea swept over me. I vomited on the floor. It splashed on my legs and over my shoes.

Stan looked over at me and shook his head. "Ah...for fuck's sake."

Adam hauled Brock to his feet. "Go and do what you gotta do. Stan, go with him and make sure he doesn't pull any shit until I get out there."

I vomited again. Adam came towards me. I backed into the corner, holding my hands up. "Stay away from me," I hissed. "Please stay away." I wanted nothing to do with him. If he touched me, I was sure I'd vomit again.

He ran his hand through his hair and let out a huge breath. His face was full of anger. "Jasmine, you have to stay here. If you leave this room, I will hit you. If you want to stay alive, you stay in this room. Do you understand me?"

I felt like I was staring at a stranger. I stared at him.

Because I didn't answer, he shook me and yelled in my face, "Do you understand me?"

I whimpered and nodded. When he let me go, I slid down the wall and wrapped my arms around my knees. The door slammed. I hid my face amongst the folds of my torn skirt and cried until exhaustion swept through me and I fell asleep on the floor.

Is Adam hero or villain?

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