The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared by Marissa Honeycutt Page B

your bun out,” Peter barked. “You look
like you’ve been fucking on a couch.”
    Anna brushed her hair out with her fingers
and stood looking nervously at Peter. He studied her face and then
reached out to touch the bruise on her cheek. “What happened?”
    “Devin was angry that I had upset you
yesterday. He...gave me an attitude adjustment.”
    “Do you see what he does to her?” Aaron
growled. “This is nothing compared to the things I’ve seen.”
    Peter held up his hand to Aaron and then
looked at him. “Keep your distance,” he said, but not unkindly.
    When she was dressed, Peter took her hand and
led her out of Aaron’s dressing room. “Why were you in Aaron’s
dressing room? I didn’t see you during rehearsal.”
    “Isaak sent me to sleep. I...didn’t sleep
last night and he knew it.”
    “Why didn’t you sleep?”
    “Because Devin came over.”
    “All night?”
    She shook her head. “But the injection didn’t
wear off until I got here this morning and I couldn’t sleep.”
    “Injection?”
    Anna shrugged. “He calls it nerve juice.
It...makes the lightest touch feel like razor blades.” She touched
her cheek. “This he gave me before he used the syringe.” She turned
to Peter. “I’m sorry I angered you yesterday. I...think the
apartment is very nice.”
    He stopped and looked at her. “He really hurt
you because of me?” he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
    “It’s okay. I can handle it.” She didn’t want
to make him feel bad.
    Peter sighed and looked troubled again. He
kissed her gently on the lips. “You should go warm up. I’ll see you
later.” He turned and walked away.

Chapter Fourteen
     
    Anna went to the dressing room and warmed up
in an empty corner. She worried about Aaron. Being with him again
had been incredible. But would Peter keep his word? Why wouldn’t he
tell Devin? He told Devin that she’d pissed him off yesterday, why
was this different? She’d never forgive herself if something
happened to Aaron.
    When she had warmed up sufficiently, she
began to get ready for the performance as the other girls were
doing. They ignored her for the most part, though she saw them
whispering and looking at her every once in a while. She lifted her
chin and put on her protective icy exterior again.
    “Does Peter know you’re a slut?” someone
asked as Anna was pulling her costume from the rack.
    Anna looked up to see Jackie giving her a
look of disdain. “What are you talking about?”
    “I saw you opening night. Going off with all
those men. You get off on fucking married men in public?”
    Anna felt tears coming to her eyes and shame
filling her.
    Stop it, Anna.
She was tired of
being a doormat. At least she could stand up to the dancers without
getting in trouble with Devin.
    She pushed away the shame and narrowed her
eyes at Jackie. “Do you want me to share them with you?” She
laughed and looked her up and down. “Though you’re probably too
skinny to hold their interest.”
    “I didn’t know fat girls were the rage these
days.”
    Anna gave her a wicked smile. “Your dad
seemed to enjoy my fat body. Though his cock was so tiny I
could hardly feel him.”
    Jackie’s eyes widened and she took a swing at
Anna, who ducked easily out of the way. “Don’t you dare talk about
my dad that way.”
    Anna laughed again. “Has he started comparing
your pathetic little body to mine? Jealous that he wants me instead
of you?”
    “Why you little bitch!” Jackie lunged at her,
pushing Anna to the ground. “My dad would never do that to me.”
    “Because you’re not worth it,” Anna snarled,
holding her hands up in front of her face to block the other girl’s
blows. She got a hold of one of Jackie’s wrists and twisted it like
Devin had done to her. Jackie fell to her knees. She studied
Jackie’s face. “Is your dad’s name Mel?”
    “How did you...?”
    Anna grinned menacingly. “I know your dad,”
she said softly, kneeling down in front of