Chapter 14: What Now?
(TYLER)
Chills crawl down my spine and dread takes the best of me. It is now or never. If I dare to reject Sasha's offer, it will mean war. War that I'll never win. Going to war with someone in the mafia will certainly bring me to my knees, to my ruin, or my death even.
I have no power over him like he has over me, and I can't even fathom how I'll win that war.
He isn't even pretending that the outcome might play out differently. He was very clear on what to expect if I turned him down.
I am hesitant, but I know for sure that I'm not stepping outside this bathroom before I call Sasha. My fingers hover around the green button.
My body still aches from the beating I took today. I have bruises and contusions all over, but at least I still have my pride.
Pride.
I laugh at myself and I can feel the mocking in my laughter. Right. I have so much pride standing here helpless in the tiny bathroom that reeks of bleach and piss. I have been stripped of the things I had yesterday. Sasha made sure to take even the little I had. I have been desperate for my entire life, but not like this. This is what makes him happy.
12:01. I'm stifling the urge to scream my lungs out now. My heart is beating like crazy and it's the sound I'm hearing in my head as I press the green button and the phone starts to ring. Tears burn my eyes and I'm frustrated because I have no other option. Unless I want to wave my life goodbye, I have to accept the offer.