So why then? Why did you leave?


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 18, 8:48 PM

subject: Truth


I was afraid.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to:purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 18, 11:24 PM

subject: Truth is good


Of what?


from:purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 19, 2:03 AM

subject: It can be…


Of getting close.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 19, 7:48 AM

subject: Re: It can be…


Don’t be afraid.


from:purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 19, 11:19 AM

subject: Re: Re: It can be…


But I am…


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 19, 5:59 PM

subject: Promise


I won’t hurt you.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 19, 10:03 PM

subject: Promises, Promises


That’s easy to promise. Hard to deliver.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 19, 11:08 PM

subject: Question


Are you going to let the fear control you?


Good question.

Was she going to let Charlie control every aspect of her life? Right now, from his perch at the back table in Mr. Pong’s, he stared at her like she was a gnat on the bottom of his shoe after she gave him his money. The stack was flimsier than usual, but at least she’d won some.

“Get out of here,” Charlie said to her in a cold, calculating voice. “You tire me because you take too long.”

“I won for you tonight,” she pointed out, but then what was the point? Charlie was in a nasty mood, and maybe it had to do with her, or maybe it had to do with another one of his pawns underperforming.

“Hardly. This is hardly enough,” he said, fanning out the thin stack in her face, smacking her on the nose with the bills. She flinched, surprised that money could wound that much.

As she left the Chinese restaurant, nearly bumping into a man with a well-lined face and sad eyes who stared longingly at the sign for Mr. Pong’s, she pondered all the fear in her life. She was afraid of Charlie, of the veiled threats of hurting her, hurting Kim, and taking more and more of his business until he was satisfied. Though men like him never had their fill, did they? She was scared for her sister and wanted desperately to protect McKenna’s hard-won happiness with Chris. Most of all she was terrified of screwing up. What if she couldn’t win the rest of the money? Would be in Charlie’s clutches forever? Time was running out, and she pictured him snapping chains on her forever somehow, so she’d never ever escape from him.

She didn’t know what would happen.

All she knew for sure was this fear sucked. This emptiness stung. And the only thing that had felt remotely good and real in her life was opening up to Clay. She’d been living in a cocoon of her own necessary lies for so many months, that the sliver of truths she could share with him was freeing.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 20, 2:02 AM

subject: Good question


I don’t know…I don’t want it to…but I can’t stop wanting you either.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 20, 7:32 AM

subject: New side of you


Don’t stop wanting me. This is the most open I think you’ve been.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 20, 9:52 AM

subject: Blame it on email


Do you like it?


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 20, 3:22 PM

subject: Love it…


I like nearly everything about you except when you run from me.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 20, 11:08 PM

subject: Run the other way?


Would you rather I run to you?


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 21, 6:03 AM

subject: Yes I would


I would like you on your knees for that smart ass comment.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 21, 9:32 AM

subject: Love that Position


I would get on my knees for you. You know that. I would get on my knees and take you in my mouth. Under your desk. While you were in a meeting. I love tasting you. So. Much.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 21, 3:43 PM

subject: You’re killing me.


I would be stone-faced and not let on.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 21, 4:04 PM

subject: Relentless


I would do everything I could to break you.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 21, 4:14 PM

subject: I know, believe me, I know


I bet you would. I have excellent control.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 21, 7:17 PM

subject: Shifting gears…


That’s why you’re such a good lawyer. By the way, I hear you’re Chris’ attorney now. Thank you for taking care of him.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 21, 7:43 PM

subject: From blow jobs to business…


Thank you for the introduction. I’m gonna make him an even richer mofo.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 21, 11:23 PM

subject: Cocky, and I like it


I bet you are. I wish I had a reason to be in entertainment and have you be my lawyer.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 22, 5:55 AM

subject: If I were


I’d fight for you, Julia. I’d get you everything you wanted. I’d give you everything you wanted.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 22, 10:09 AM

subject: You would…


What about you? What do you want?


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 22, 5:12 PM

subject: One word


You.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 22, 8:29 PM

subject: Re: One Word


The same. I want the same.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 11:10 AM

subject: You ok?


Still there?


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 3:53 PM

subject: Hi


Hey…you’ve been quiet…everything OK? Don’t make me call you :)


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 9:01 PM

subject: Should I be worried?


Was it something I said?


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 23, 9:40 PM

subject:It was something you said…


What are you wearing?


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 9:52 PM

subject: Not working tonight so the answer is…


Shirt. Stockings. Thong. Heels.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 23, 10:04 PM

subject: Hard…


Truth?


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 10:15 PM

subject: Full truth.


I swear.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 23, 10:22 PM

subject: Better be


Are you sure?


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 10:30 PM

subject: 100%


Yes.


from: cnichols@gmail.com

to: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

date: April 23, 10:37 PM

subject: This is not a request


Take off the underwear.


from: purplesnowglobe@gmail.com

to: cnichols@gmail.com

date: April 23, 10:40 PM

subject: Your wish is my command


Done.


Julia startled when she heard a loud knock on her door. What the hell? It was eleven o’clock at night. Cold dread rushed through her veins. There could only be one person banging hard at this hour. Charlie, or his men. She took off her heels, padded quietly to the door, and peered through the keyhole.

Chapter Eighteen