Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (book club recommendations txt) 📗

These men were dangerous and evil and they would protect what they believe in to the end. And here I was, no, here we were, trying to put an end to their disgusting and depraved business. If I testified or helped the FBI any further, I could possibly get my family and myself hurt or killed. Josh and the FBI wouldn’t stop; of course, it was their job… they were certainly dead men.

This was infuriating me the more I kept thinking about it. The thought of it made my blood boil. These men were bullies! How dare they try and intimidate me! Not in my house! Not now, not ever! I looked in my nightstand for my pistol but it wasn’t there. Josh must still have it. I had to make sure and get it back. I decided to crawl into bed but I left my small reading lamp on and just lay there staring at the drapes. It had been a long, taxing day and I had a feeling tomorrow would be worse since my parents were coming. Josh walked in, jolting me from my introspection. I jumped, turned to look, realized it was him and grabbed my head, falling back onto my pillow. I was so angry and unnerved I wanted to scream. Josh climbed into bed with me and pulled me to his chest. We just laid in silence for a moment. He still had his t-shirt on but I could feel how incredibly warm he was regardless.

“Don’t worry, Isabel, we’ll take care of this,” he said, kissing my forehead. I could feel his warm breath on my forehead.

“I’m not worried. Not really anyway.”

“Oh?” he said baffled.

“I’m extremely pissed off,” I seethed. “These men are bullies and they’re trying to intimidate me. Whether I get killed or not, I am not going to let them do this to me. I’m not going to let them scare me…I can’t let them scare me. I will burn my house down before I let any one of those duplicitous men cross my threshold. I would rather die a thousand deaths before I let them intimidate me. These are godless men that fear nothing and no one, and that right there will be their downfall. One needs a healthy sense of fear, it’s what keeps one alive.” I exhaled, exasperated. “Maybe I should dye my hair red or blonde, maybe cut it short.” I was thinking out loud, forgetting that Josh was under me listening to everything I was saying. “Also, I think I should just get it over with and have sex. I may never get the chance if my days are numbered,” I mused. “I’ve always wanted to have sex…” Josh tensed under me, bringing me back to reality. Crap! Did I just say all that out loud?

He abruptly sat up. “Isabel Grace!” he said in low menacing voice. “You. Are. Doing. No. Such. Thing. You are not thinking straight. This is not what you want, I know it and you know it, so stop all the crazy talk.”

“Wow. Okay. Yes, sir!” I sat on my knees, not really knowing what to do while he eyed me with confusion. He reclined back against the pillows, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead. I could see he was worried.

“Um, could I have my gun back?” I asked shyly.

“Of course. I meant to put it back but just forgot. I’ll make sure to do that first thing tomorrow.”

“Also, do you mind staying here with me tonight? I am a little unnerved and I don’t want to take Samson away from my brother.”

He gave me his boyish smile. “Isabel, of course I will. You don’t have to ask.” He pulled me to his chest, kissing me on the lips. “Don’t cut or dye your beautiful hair, please. I love it the way it is.”

The man made my heart race and my breath hitch. He was simply irresistible and I didn’t trust myself around him. I gently kissed him on the lips. I stopped to gaze at him He just looked back at me. I kissed him again and stopped to look at him again. Should I go further? I asked myself. I kissed him again, filling his mouth with my tongue; I straddled him, pressing my breasts against his chest and running my fingers through his hair. I could feel his erection between my legs, pulsing and growing larger. Need hit me hard. He sat up with me. I was still straddling him when he flipped me onto my back, kissing me hard one last time and then placed the covers over me.

“Not tonight, Isabel,” he breathed. “Get your rest, baby.” He turned off my lamp and headed to the bathroom. I heard the shower start and Josh’s voice howling and grunting. I giggled; it must be a cold shower.

 

9

I opened my eyes and looked at the clock. It was nine-thirty in the morning. I groaned, rolling over, still feeling tired. Josh was gone. I looked around my room and in the direction of the bathroom but no sign of Josh. His PJs were on my bed so he must have gotten dressed and started his day. I exhaled: the life of an FBI agent, always on alert. I didn’t envy him. I laid in bed for a while longer, twirling my hair, thinking about last night and the card I’d received. I’m missing something. Why on earth would these vile men care so much about my testimony? I wasn’t not the prosecutor, I wasn’t not the DA; I was only subpoenaed because my victim told me about her sexual abuse. She never talked about any other girls or being sold for money. She only told me that the perpetrator was her mother’s boyfriend and what he did to her, nothing about Tori being her friend and wanting to come to the group therapy sessions.