Naked

Naked by Francine Pascal Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Naked by Francine Pascal Read Free Book Online
Authors: Francine Pascal
tell you everything. I need to tell you. I’m being blackmailed, and I’m not even sure who is doing it. Josh is working for them, and now I’m working for him. I don’t even know if I’m going to come out of this
    
    Gaia,
    I have to put an end to all of this, and I have to tell you everything. You have to meet me tonight. But if I have to leave, it’s only because they can’t see us together. If they see us together, you could be
    
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Time: 7:03 P.M.
    Re: Tonight
    Gaia,
    I’m sorry about this morning. I shouldn’t have surprised you like that. It was the wrong choice. Please agree to see me tonight. Say you will, even if you don’t want to. It’s urgent. And I wouldn’t say that if it weren’t true. I need to see you. Please write back as soon as you get this. I’ve tried calling you, and there’s no answer. I don’t know where you are, and I worry about you.
    I love you.
    Sam

bullshit smiles
    For the first time in weeks, he felt he could safely unload the enormous guilt he’d been carrying with him. He’d drop it like a sack of bricks.
    â€œDELIVERY!”
    Calculated Risk
    Josh Kendall now barged into Sam’s room at will. Sam jumped slightly but managed to click on the send command before Josh had a chance to see what he was doing. Not that it particularly mattered if Sam were caught. Whatever Josh missed, somebody else was sure to see. Sam now operated on the principle of “calculated risk.” It was something he’d learned from chess.
    At least there was an upside to the whole situation: he was able to put his long-standing paranoia to rest. He no longer had to wonder if “they” were watching his every move. He knew now that they were. He accepted it as just another part of his life—like homework, or labs, or classes. That was half the reason he’d been careful not to mention any specifics in his e-mail to Gaia. The other half was that he didn’t want to worry her until he could explain everything face-to-face.
    Josh exhaled with a grin. He dropped yet another brown paper package on Sam’s clothing-covered bed.
    â€œShit,” he said. “This has got to be delivered by six-thirty, Sammy, so you better get going now.”
    Sam turned to Josh, his jaw tightly set. He made no attempt to mask his hatred. There was no point.
    Josh clapped in front of Sam’s nose like some psychotic inspirational football coach.
    â€œCome on, Sammy, let’s move,
move.
“
    Sam shot out of his chair, knocking his shoulder into Josh’s chin as he stood up. Another calculated risk—and well worth it. Josh’s head snapped back, and his features contorted as he winced with pain.
    â€œHey, are you all right?” Sam asked, locking eyes with him. “You should be more careful around me. I can be really clumsy.”
    Josh massaged his jaw and shook his head slowly. He met Sam’s gaze with that Teflon smile still pasted back onto his perfect, handsome, evil face.
    â€œSam,” he said, oozing with condescension, “the thing you
don’t
want to do now is get cocky. That would be astronomically stupid.”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean,” Sam replied as he picked up the package.
    â€œWe’re almost there, Sam,” Josh said. “We’re so close. So what I strongly suggest you do. . . is
behave.
”
    Sam was already standing at the doorway of his room. “Josh,” he said, holding up the package, “I’ve got a
delivery,
man. You’re going to make me
late.
” Then he turned away and slammed the door behind him.
    ED STARED AT THE PHONE AS IF it had radioactive properties. As if it might burn through his hand if he actually picked up the receiver. He considered some of the things he’d rather do than call Heather and arrange a dinner for the sole purpose of letting her

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