Free Yellow Ghost: La Femme Selita Prequel by Lolah Lace Page A

me.
    He punched me hard in the face and the weight of his body pushed me to the floor. I struggled underneath him for a while. He punched me a few times as we wrestled around. I got a crucial blow into the bottom of his chin but he still was able to toss me across the room. I struggled to my feet and kicked him in the stomach. It only slowed him down. It didn’t stop him.
    As soon as he went for my throat I head-butted him and kneed him in the groin. It was over after that. He fell to his knees and I decided he had been beat and battered enough. I had been hit enough times my damn self. I needed more practice. I’m rusty. It didn’t matter. I was the victor. It wasn’t the easiest kill but I’m the one that’s still alive. That’s enough for me.
     

BACK TO BROOKLINE
     
     
    I was tired, exhausted really and very sore. Getting in this late wasn’t the plan. Father needed to be debriefed on my little kill mission. I tried to sound confident but he scolded me the way I knew he would. My father told me there would be serious repercussions for my careless actions. I had a way to get around my father’s control.
    I guess all fathers try to control their daughters. He has no idea what I’ve been up to at Harvard. He knows about my grades and all that legalese I learn and share with him.
    I believe my father is untouchable. I hope he never needs a legal defense. He has managed to stay out of jail for decades. I hope it stays that way. He had never been charged with a crime. Knock on wood. When problems arise he just removes the problem, kills the threat. I can respect that, self-preservation.
    I couldn’t really sleep on my flight back to Boston. I was too busy overthinking my time with Kyle Packer. I was replaying how I could have done things cleaner.
    I walked into my house in Brookline and Jeremy was at the door as soon as he heard the locks.
    “You’re back. I missed you.” His body embraced me and it felt so unbelievably good. He apparently missed me. I missed him too. Jeremy was the only man I had an intimate connection too. I cared deeply for him. I would deny that to anybody that inquired. I would never admit I cared for any man in that way. It’s a sign of weakness.
    I dropped my carryon bag and hugged him back. He took my face in his hands and kissed me deep. If I could love a man I would love him. He is lovable.
    “I missed you too.”
    “Sure you did.” He smirked. He doesn’t believe me. Maybe he’s joking. I’m not good at jokes.
    He started removing my coat and he gave me a quick once over the way he always does. He has a certain fascination with my breasts. They aren’t that big so I’m not sure why that is.
    “Selita, what happened to your face?”
    My makeup must have worn off from the long flight. I didn’t bother to look into a mirror since leaving LAX. Should I tell him the truth? No, of course not. He can’t handle it.
    “I fell and slammed my face hard into the corner of -- .”
    “Into someone’s fist? You have a fucking black eye.” He started pulling my clothes off. I stood there and let him do it. I’m not sure why I didn’t stop him. He wasn’t a threat so why would I ever forcibly stop him. He was unaware of my strength. I pretended to be weak around him.
    He unbuttoned my blouse. “Selita, your body is bruised. It looks like someone choked you? You are black and blue all over. I’m calling the police.” He rushed over to the phone that sat on the bureau by the front door.
    “No, don’t. Jeremy stop!”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I care about you and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    “What the fuck does that mean?”
    “I like you Jeremy. You have to know I’m not exactly who I seem to be.”
    “Well yes but what does that mean? You won’t tell me anything about you.”
    “I can’t tell you anything. You will not understand.”
    “Try me.”
    I thought about telling him my backstory, my front-story or just something to appease him but I