All This Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

control.”
    Lifting
me roughly off the ground with his large hand squeezing my upper arm, Russ
counters, “We’ll be here Friday night.”
    I
would like to thank the academy for the honor of just being nominated for best
actress for my portrayal of a domineering policewoman pretending to be a
submissive druggie.

Chapter
Five
    By
Friday morning my bruised cheek is a work of art. The colors are bold and
demand attention. Returning back to Russ’ place the other night, I
intentionally didn’t put ice on the area where Lourdes and Russ hit me so that
it would continue to get worse. With Lourdes exhibiting her authority and Russ
his controlling hand over me, I am now nothing more than a forgotten nuisance.
This performance was necessary so that everyone in that room would accept me
without fearing that I am an undercover cop. This world is all about power and
Angel is absolutely powerless.
    “How’s
the cheek?” Russ asks, turning on the small kitchen television and sitting on the
barstool next to me.
    Chewing
on a strawberry, I lift an annoyed eyebrow. “I’ve told you three times already
that it’s fine. You hit like a girl Russ.”
    “You
think?” Laughing he snags a strawberry off my plate and pops it into his mouth.
“The shit Lourdes dealt out looked like it may have made you flinch a little.”
    “Oh,
psycho Barbie has a heck of a slap, I’ll give her that,” he chuckles, “My
acting skills are improving if you thought that strike hurt me.”
    “Mm,
hmm, so tonight…” he leads, waiting for me to answer.
    Sighing
heavily, I push my plate away. “I am to be seen and not heard.”
    “You
got it. We’ll have a steady flow of customers tonight with it being payday and
the first of the month. Everyone with a newly cashed government check will be
banging the door down to get their fix.”
    “Cool.
Will we see any under-covers buying?”
    “Possibly,”
Russ replies, taking my plate to the sink after popping the last strawberry in
his mouth. “Last count we have six agents in different levels of this
organization. I think the county has two, but they damn sure haven’t revealed
themselves to me. Not sure about feds.” Turning around he pierces me with a
serious look. “And I don’t care how chummy you get with anyone on the inside
don’t let them know your true identity.”
    “What
the fuck Russ?” I snap, tossing my napkin on the counter and standing up. “This
isn’t my first goddamn job, ya know? I may look like a fucking teenager, but
I’m far from it in experience with this world.”
    Cautiously,
he walks over to me and then places both hands on my shoulders to calm me. It
doesn’t. His hot hands warming through my shirt feels like kerosene added to a
struck match. I shrug them off and push against his chest with mine making him
stumble backward.
    “Easy,”
He smirks awkwardly, keeping his hands to himself as he demands my attention
with his head tilted down in front of me. “It was just a friendly reminder. You
know if someone catches wind of any of our true identities we are toast.”
    “Russ,
I’ve got this.” Mentally, I focus on the faces of my family briefly,
remembering why I do this job and find peace enough to calm down. Turning away
from him and stomping down the hallway, I add, “I appreciate your concern. No
one will know a damn thing about Sam Walker.”
    Changing
into my druggie attire, I choose something a little more demure tonight.
Getting into the group took me getting noticed and possibly even desired by one
of the other guys. But tonight’s performance won’t be the trashy girlfriend
role. Instead, I go in as Rad’s old lady, a term I fucking hate, so everyone
will know that I’ve learned my lesson and accept my place at his side.
    Pulling
my hair into a low ponytail, I adjust my off the shoulder, pale yellow top with
the silver camisole under it and expose the bruise I have from Lourdes slamming
me against the wall. I use much less make up, still dark and