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Then he opens the door to Uncle Jerm’s office, I walk in and he closes it behind me I take the CD out of my purse and sit on the sofa I lean h

I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment

My eyes flutter open and I see Uncle Jer to the side with a hand over his eyes

The CD I brought with one I jerk and Uncle Jerm looks up

He doesn’t look happy Not that I thought he would be happy about od sake!

I begin to speak but Uncle Jerm cuts me off with a firm, "Damn fool of a wo

He continues, "Do you realize the danger you’ve put yourself in? Nik is going to be livid I as you could’ve done, this was the dumbest"

And that’s when I burst into tears

My body shakes with sobs and I croak, "He wants to kill you, Jermaine He wants Nik to hurt I--I--I didn’t knohat else to do I heard Nik say you needed evidence that O!" I shake and whisper, "Please do so I can’t lose Nik" I cover my face with my hands and weep

Uncle Jerm pulls my hands from my face and kneels before me He wipes tears from my cheeks and assures, "Omarr isn’t a concern anymore, child" My body sluo, Omarr has a price on his head"

Oh, no!

I staet him some help!" My face pales and I whisper shout "I didn’t want him dead, Jermaine!"

He shakes his head slowly and answers ht Think of it this way, it’s you and Nik or it’s him And be warned, he will coirl I know you had good intentions but it was crazy Straightjackets, padded rooms, out of your damn mind, crazy You feel me?"

If I pale any more I’ll be transparent

What have I done?

Uncle Jerot a set of balls on you" Then he sobers and says, "We got to tell Nik about this"

I nod

That should be fun

The CD Uncle Jerm had expressed to The White Rabbit plays on my computer I sit at my desk and listen

My insides dip

I’

"Sure, just so we both knoe are dealing with I continue to work Nik and once I’m paid, I’m yours But you have to back off I can’t be distracted You want Nik hurt and I’ll hurt hi it That’s irl

It can’t be

No

No

Fuck no

This can’t be happening

Chapter Twenty-Six

The greatof 2013

Uncle Jerm wouldn’t let me leave the warehouse he calls the factory until I had solad he persuaded me I probably would’ve passed out half way to The White Rabbit fro, Uncle Jer and toldIf you need anything froives me his business card and I slip it into s us to now I stand out front of The White Rabbit

My heart races andto have to tell Nik everything And he is not going to like it My previous experiences tell me I should be honest with Nik but I aht be I close my eyes and breathe deep

Nik will understand He has to

I compose myself as et there I’ Max He puts his hand up and says, "Don’t go in there, Tina"

My feet stoently, "Don’t try to stop ht now I don’t care if he’s busy and hiding out This is priority It’s ie into Nik’s office

Nik sits behind his desk staring into nothing I approach and he stands up Half way there I smile and say, "Hey, honey"

His eyes turn cold and he says, "Nik lovesI want I just have to hook him a little more"

My face pales and my heart clenches

He’s already heard the CD Which in, "I…"

But Nik cuts me off with a quiet, "Stop" He looks hurt I never wanted to hurt hiht I had to do this

He continues just as quietly, "Never thought I’d be one of those sch myself from women like you" There is a fist around oes on, "But you…You really got in there With my fahs acidly "Who the fuck sends candy to a guy?!"

I do

My heart is breaking Nik thinks I played him

I try to explain, "Please, Nik Let me exp…"

He cuts me off with a hard, "No"

My face bunches and I start crying I hyperventilate, cover my cheeks with my hands and yell, "Let me explain!"

He shakes his head and I croak a desperate, "It’s just a , baby"

Nik’s face steels and he whispers viciously, "Don’t say another fucking word" He looks down and says, "You wereYou really had ht I’d end up with a woman like you I loved you Never believed I deserved you But now that I know the real you, I don’t want you So this works out okay Another lesson learned"

Sobbing, I walk up to him and choke, "I love you, Nik"

He doesn’t look at me when he replies coldly, "Yeah, well, I don’t love you"

My heart shatters I feel extreht headed

What have I done?

Nikshoulder In e feels more like a push I stumble back and my heel catches I fall My back, shoulder and head hit the corner of his desk Hard

I sit on the floor a moment andMax walks in He takes in my weak forets right in his face and yells, "What the fuck is wrong with you? Get it under control, Nik"

I take this as et the hell out of there Max continues to yell into Nik’s face

I crawl forward a few steps, stand unsteadily, and catch one