Chapter 8
JENNA
Over the past three days, it’s felt like I’m stuck in a trance. I’m jumpy and startle every time I hear a sound or someone comes into the store.
Mr. Cahoon only closed long enough for us to clean up the mess. He wouldn’t even give me a day off to recover from the robbery.
The ATM was replaced today, and having strange men in the store only made my anxiety worse.
And to top it off, I haven’t seen Mr. Oliveira since the night of the robbery.
When the police questioned me, I wrote down everything except for the part that I know who killed the men. I lied and said the person wore a ski mask and that he was short. I also added that he was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and had no tattoos on his arms.
I’m hoping it will help keep Mr. Oliveira safe.
Yes, he killed four men, which is scary, but he did it to help me and has only shown me kindness.
I feel torn in two about the lie I wrote down for the police.
I’ve just started my shift and already wish it were over. The gas station is the last place I want to be right now.
When an SUV pulls up, my heart sets off at a crazy pace, and I stare at the tinted windows. But then a woman climbs out, and when I look at the back door, I don’t see any dents.
Shoot.
She comes into the store, carrying an envelope, and looking at me, a smile forms on her beautiful face.
I love the dress she’s wearing. It makes her look glamorous. Her light brown hair is styled in soft curls, and her makeup looks like it’s been done by a professional.
Feeling self-conscious, I bow my head and fist my hands in my lap.
“Hi, Jenna,” she says, her tone friendly. “My name is Cassia.”
I nod and peek at her from under my bangs.
“I heard about the robbery. I’m sorry you had to experience that.”
I lift my head slightly, wondering who she is and why she’s talking to me.
“I have a job offer for you.” She opens the envelope and pulls out a piece of paper. “I’ll wait while you read through it. Take your time.”
With a frown forming on my forehead, I don’t touch the document but lean forward so I can read what it says.
It’s a position as a housekeeper for a recluse who lives in Tower. The town is even smaller than Aurora.
There’s a photo of what can only be described as a mansion, and the details say it’s a four-bedroom.
Then my eyes lock on the pay being offered, and I let out a squeak because it’s more money than I’ve ever hoped to make.
Ten thousand dollars. This has to be a joke.
Pulling back, I duck my head lower.
“What’s wrong?” Cassia asks.
I push the paper away from me and point at the amount.
“Your income can be negotiated.”
Frowning again, I look at her face.
“How much do you want?” she asks. When I don’t respond, she continues, “Twenty thousand?”
I hate being teased, and after the awful few days I’ve just been through, it really gets to me.
I shove the page off the counter and point at the door, indicating for her to leave.
Cassia tilts her head, and when a compassionate expression softens her features, it fills me with confusion.
“I’m not here to upset you, Jenna. I was here the day of the robbery and saw you sitting in the back of the ambulance. You don’t belong in a place like this and working for…my partner will be a much safer environment for you where you don’t have to deal with people at all.”
I press a button on the card machine so it spits out a piece of blank paper, and tearing it off, I write a quick note.
Why is the pay so much?
“Oh, well, that’s because you’ll have to move into the house and take care of it around the clock.”
Cassia crouches down and picks up the document. She places it on the counter again and points at the section that outlines my duties, which consist of keeping the house clean and accepting deliveries.
I write on the blank cash receipt again.
The pay is still too much.
Cassia lets out a chuckle. “You’re the first person I’ve met who’s complaining about the income being too high. Would you feel more comfortable if we lowered the amount?”
Oh my God, she’s being serious. This isn’t a prank someone’s playing on me.
My mouth drops open, and I reread the offer, then I scribble on my piece of paper again.
Is this for real?
“Yes, but there is a catch.”
My shoulders slump, and I let out a sigh.
“You’re expected to start right now. If you accept, I’ll drive you to your house and wait while you pack your clothes before taking you to Tower.”
My eyebrows draw together, and I glance around the store. Mr. Cahoon will be furious if I just up and leave.
As if Cassia can read my thoughts, she says, “The owner of this gas station doesn’t care about you, Jenna. The job I’m offering you is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t pass it by because of misplaced loyalty.”
There’s no misplaced loyalty. I hate working here.
I write on the paper again.
What if I leave with you and you change your mind? My boss won’t take me back.
Cassia holds up a finger and walks out of the store. She opens the SUV’s passenger door and comes back inside with a beautiful black handbag. It must cost more than everything in the store.
She sets the bag down in front of me. “This is for you. Whether you take the job or not.”
My eyes widen, and I hesitate before I pull the handbag closer.
God, if I’m sure I can sell it for at least five hundred dollars. Then I look inside and I start blinking fast because it’s filled with money.
Holy crap on a cracker!
My eyes dart to Cassia before I write a question again.
Is this for real?
Emotion washes over her face, then she nods while reaching across the counter and placing her hand on my forearm. “This is very real, Jenna. Take the job. I promise you, you will not regret it. You’ll be safe and well cared for.”
I don’t know what it is about her, but I believe her.
Realizing the miracle I’ve been praying for is happening right now, my eyes flood with tears, and one emotion after another pours into my chest.
There’s a dotted line at the bottom of the document where my name is printed, and grabbing the pen from beside the cash register, I quickly scribble my signature.
“Good decision,” Cassia says. “Would you like me to call the owner of the gas station on your behalf so he can come take over from you?”
I nod and scribble down Mr. Cahoon’s name and number for her.
While she enters the number into her phone, I pick up the handbag and pull the zipper closed before I grab my backpack. I squash them both to my chest to keep them safe.
“Evening, Mr. Cahoon. This is Cassia, Jenna’s cousin.” She winks at me. “Jenna will no longer be working for you. We’re leaving in ten minutes, so I suggest you send someone over to take care of the store.”
Not waiting for his response, she ends the call. “We’re leaving now. I’ll have one of my guards wait for Mr. Cahoon.”
Wow. Cassia must be important if she has bodyguards.
I rush around the counter, and when I step out of the store, I pause to glance over my shoulder at the place where I’ve worked every night for the past eight years.
Even though I hated the work, I’ve spent so much time here, and it makes me feel nostalgic.
Then it dawns on me I won’t have to interact with people. Derek, Wayne, and Kirk won’t be able to come to my place of work anymore.
The thought is the only push I need to turn my back on the store. Then I see my bicycle and I walk to it and take hold of the bars.
I notice five men standing around. I look at Cassia, who’s standing by the back door of her SUV, and notice there’s another one parked by one of the pumps.
Shoot, how do I tell her I want to take my bicycle home with me without talking?
“We can load it into the guard's SUV, and they can bring it to the house,” she says.
When one of the men moves in my direction, I quickly let go of my bicycle and step out of the way.
“Come, Jenna.” Cassia gestures for me to get into the back seat, and after I do as I’m told, she climbs in beside me.
Two men climb into the front seats, and when the driver starts the engine, he asks, “Where to, ma’am?”
Crap. My address.
When Cassia gives them my address, my eyes fly to her face, and it has her explaining, “I did a search on you to make sure you’re a good fit for my business partner.”
I have so many questions, but I swallow them all as we drive away from the gas station.
I turn in the seat and look out the back window, and I see the guards loading my bicycle into their SUV.
God, is this really happening? Am I making a mistake?
As if Cassia can read my thoughts, she says, “Like I said earlier, you made the right decision, Jenna. I guarantee you’ll be safe and well cared for.”
I hope so. If I’m walking into a trap and she ends up hunting my butt through the woods, like I’ve seen in a horror movie, I deserve to die.
I look at the gorgeous cream dress and high heels she’s wearing and almost let out a snort because there’s no way she’s chasing me through the woods in those shoes.
I’m used to it taking forty-five minutes to get home, so when we stop in front of my house, I’m surprised by how fast the drive went.
I clutch the two bags to my chest as I climb out, then hook the handbag over my shoulder so I can dig my keys out of my backpack. I struggle with the lock, and when the front door squeaks as I open it, my cheeks turn red with embarrassment.
Cassia is going to see that I live in a dump.
She stops on the porch and says, “I’ll wait out here for you so you have privacy. Take your time.”
I give her a thankful smile before I shut the front door behind me. As I walk through the house I moved into after Mom and Aunt Sherrie sold our previous home, I once again wonder if I’m doing the right thing.
You already left the gas station, so it’s too late now. Mr. Cahoon will shout your head off if you dare go back.
In my bedroom, I crouch down by the bed and pull my luggage out from under it. I only have the one bag, but it will be enough because I don’t have a lot of clothes.
Conscious of Cassia waiting outside, I pack everything I want to take with me. I even squeeze my pillow in on top of my clothes and shoes, then hurry to grab my toiletries. Once I have everything, I zip the bag shut before lugging it to the kitchen so I can grab my favorite coffee mug.
Just as I step out of the kitchen, I pause.
Maybe I should hide some money here in case something goes wrong.
Good idea!
I open the handbag and carefully count out two thousand dollars, then I glance around me.
Gosh, where’s the last place someone would look?
I peek at the front door that’s still shut, then quickly walk to the drawers in the kitchen and take out two bags and a tablespoon.
I put the money inside and double wrap it while I sneak out the back door.
As I dig a hole, nerves spin in my stomach.
Once it’s deep enough, I put the bag of cash inside and cover it up as fast as possible, patting the ground before standing up and stomping all over the spot so it doesn’t look like something is buried here.
That should do it.
Hurrying inside again, I lock the back door before I wash my hands. I’m out of breath by the time I drag my luggage to the front of the house.
When I open the door, Cassia glances at me, and a smile forms around her mouth. “Do you have everything you’ll need?”
I nod, and when one of the men comes to take my bag, I stumble backward to put space between us.
“Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he apologizes. “I’m just getting your bag.”
Surprised by the respectful way he speaks to me, I quickly bow my head and hug the handbag and backpack closer so he doesn’t get any ideas to take them from me.
“Let’s go,” Cassia murmurs, gesturing for me to walk to the car.
We climb into the back seat again, and as I’m driven away from my house, I once again wonder if I’m doing the right thing.
Only time will tell.
At least I have two thousand dollars buried in the back yard.
I should’ve hidden more.
How much is in the handbag?
I look down at the bag, which has a repeating pattern of LV embossed into the black leather. It’s too late to back out now. I signed the document, and I’ve accepted the money.
Glancing out of the window as we drive toward Tower, I send up a silent prayer that I’m not making a mistake.