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‘He has evidence, Livy Video evidence’ He’s so calm There’s no panic or fear ‘If I don’t do what he wants, he’ll expose haround the room Miller will be thrown in prison Both of our lives will be over ‘Who?’ I ask, forcing ht sarcas list of flaws
‘That’s not iry, but I can’t seem to muster the fire inso calm questions I don’t want to believe that there’s an underlying reason foraway as far ason the floor of his flat, totally naked, looking at hi th
‘I don’t want to,’ he whispers, dropping his eyes ‘I don’t want to pollute your beautiful, pure mind with it, Livy I’ve promised myself so many times that I won’t tarnish you withhis eyes to mine Hebeen tarnished with dirt, and not just Miller’s There’s plenty of shit I’ve inflicted on myself, too ‘Tell me’
‘I can’t tell you,’ he breathes, shame now apparent on his cool face ‘But I can show you’ He slowly rises fro again, because my arm lifts of its own accord and I lay my hand in his I’m pulled to my feet and our naked bodiesme instantly I don’t pull away He doesn’t have a fir to stay His fingertip meets my chin and pulls my face up to his ‘I want you to promise me that what I show you won’t make you run But I know that’s not fair’
‘I proht or consideration, for reasons I may never know, but Miller’s small smile and then the tender kiss he places on my lips tells me he doesn’t believe me
‘You never cease to amaze me’ My hand is clasped and I’m led to the couch, unbothered byme to make myself comfortable while he wanders over to a cabinet and opens a drawer He pulls so out before he slowly strides towards the TV I can only watch in silence as he takes a DVD from a familiar envelope and loads it into the player Then my eyes follow his path back to me He hands me a remote control ‘Press play when you’re ready,’ he instructs ently until I take it ‘I’ll be into say that he couldn’t watch it again He shakes his head and dips, taking each side ofhis lips on top ofto siphon off enough of my scent and spirit to last him forever ‘I love you, Olivia Taylor Alill’ And with that, I watch the distance between us grow as he leaves me alone in the room
I want to scream for him to come back, to hold my hand, or just hold e to throw it across the roo The screen of the TV is blank A bit liketo spin the control inthe distance betweenworld into complete obliteration I know it Miller has confiret in er pushes down on the Play button, I only stop to wonder what the hell I’e of an eht process I frown and inch forward on the couch, taking in the plush space It’s boasting antique furniture at every corner, including the huge four-poster bed, and there’s no question that it’s all original Wood panelling dresses every wall, and detailed paintings of countryside landscapes are hanging randoilded frames It’s so posh and I can pretty much see the whole room, which tells me the camera is in a corner It’s empty, quiet, but when the door opposite the ca the remote control to the floor
‘Jesus!’ My startled heart is racing inunder control I don’t have to try for long, though, becausewhen a man appears in the doorway My pulse slows in my veins and my blood turns to ice The man is naked – naked except for a blindfold over his eyes His hands are also held behind his back, and it doesn’t take ure out why He’s restrained My poor eyes feel like they could bleed
He’s young, middle or late teens, perhaps There’s no lean , and his stomach is flat – no cut abdoht
Yet there’s noman is
Chapter 22
‘No!’ My eyes flood with tears and my hand covers my mouth ‘No, Miller No, no, no’ He’s pushed into the room and the door shut firmly behind him, and then he just stands there, still and silent There’s no sound whatsoever Not even when the door closes I try to force my eyes shut; I don’t want to see anyMy mind scrambles Find the remote control Turn it off Don’t watch!