Nine

Chapter 6. I Hate You

I peek out and see both of the boys outside on the back patio. They’re in deep discussion about something. Trig’s face is hard. He doesn’t look happy at all. I lean in close to the door to hear them, but I can’t hear much. Trig looks toward the glass. I jump back so he can’t see me. I’m avoiding him at all cost. I haven’t spoken to Trig since yesterday. He’s given me space and even slept on the couch in this room, per my request. I spent all day and night thinking and struggling with what’s happening to me in this cabin. I don’t like it at all. Who the hell sleeps with their hostage taker? Me. Who the hell blurts out I love you in the midst of sex with their hostage taker? Me again. I need to be on meds or something, because this isn’t normal. I really just need to get back to my old life, where things make sense. At least I know who I am there.

I take this opportunity while the two of them are busy to make a run for it. I sneak past the window and into the living room. I search around for a phone and find nothing. I spot my car keys and snatch them off the counter. I run outside and jump in my Benz. I start up the engine and throw it into reverse. I can see Trig running out of the front door toward me. He pulls out his gun, and aims it at the car. I push the pedal down hard. Suddenly I feel a pop and the car’s weight shifts to one side.

“Son of a bitch,” I yell, as the vehicle skids to a stop.

I turn off the engine and put my head down on the steering wheel. I hear the car door open with force, and then an arm reaches in and pulls me out. I look down to see Trigs fingers wrapped around both of my arms.

“This is your plan. To run off in the same car from the gas station. Are you crazy?”

“You shot at me, you psycho.”

“I shot at your tire. I’m trying to keep you safe. Why can’t you see that?” he yells.

Bones runs over and looks at Trig and then to me. Trig points to my car.

“Run that shit into the lake now. Keys and all. We should have done that the moment we got here. ” Trig puts his hand out to me.

I roll my eyes, cross my arms and roughly hand him the keys.

“I’m protecting you, Nine.”

“I don’t need your protection,” I say, as I stride by him on my way back up to the cabin.

I march inside and basically stomp my way to the bedroom. Once inside I rush to the glass sliding door and watch Bones push, and then drive my beautiful car into the water. It’s shocking to see. The car floats for a little as the water fills it, and then it just disappears and that’s it. It’s gone.

“Goddamn it, Nine,” Trig comes in. “There are bad people out there masquerading as cops, and you’re ready to just drive your car all over town, straight into their arms.”

“I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone. I never have,” I yell.

“Are you so damaged that you can’t recognize when somebody is doing something nice for you.”

“You got what you wanted. What does it even matter anymore?”

“Is this about last night?” he asks.

I just stare at him as if he’s supposed to know already.

Trig looks at me. “Damn it. Why are you so difficult?”

Trig walks over to the door and calls for Bones.

“Yeah, what’s up?” Bones says, as he enters with beer in hand.

“We need a third party in here. You’re going to play therapist, because this chick needs it.”

My mouth drops open while I look at him in disgust.

“Sit down, Nine,” he barks out, while waving his gun around.

I plop down on the couch, boiling mad.

“Bones, would you please ask her what her problem is.”

Bones turns his head to the side and looks at me. He clears his throat and tries to sound older and more mature. “What seems to be the problem?”

I point to Trig. “This jackass right here.”

Bones looks at Trig.

“She says that she has an issue with your personality, Trig.”

Trig looks at me and then back to him.

“With me? I’m keeping her alive. Please ask her, what part of that is such an asshole move.”

I shoot up from the couch. We’re both standing there just mad-dogging each other.

“He shot at me,” I say to Bones.

“You tried to escape.”

“Yeah, I did. You’re holding me hostage.”

“I’m keeping you safe.”

“No. You’re driving me crazy,” I yell.

Bone’s eyes are jumping back and forth, as we yell at each other.

“I’m drivingyoucrazy? You’re drivingmecrazy,” Trig shouts.

“I’m not the one that walks around staring into my soul and handing out free orgasms.”

I look at Bones. His mouth drops. I stare back at Trig.

“No. You just walk around with all your pain bottled up, but baby, that shit is seeping from your pores. You’re just mad that I can crack you open, but you like it. You want me and you know it. One second you’re running from me and the next your running to me. I see you, Nine. You’re just a lost little girl who can’t recognize something good when it’s dead in front of her. So, fuck me if I find that beautiful, right?”

I’m breathing hard. Bones is just standing there in silence.

“I’m just gonna go get some coffee, maybe let you two hash this out by yourselves,” Bones says, as he turns and leaves the room. I hear the door close behind him.

“Who the hell do you think you are standing there dissecting me?” I shout.

“Apparently, I’m the soul-staring and handing-out-free-orgasms guy. You’ve been dissecting me since the moment we stepped into that elevator together, so don’t play that card.”

I shake my head.

“Oh, you think I didn’t notice you sizing me up. Were you trying to add me as a client? Do I make enough money for you, sweetheart?” He pauses. “A hired hitman makes more than enough just so you know, but I guess I need to be a doctor or lawyer, or maybe even some type of CEO to get your full attention.”

“Fuck you, Trig,”

“You already did,” he says.

I’m fuming.

“Ooooh, I hate you. I hate you so much it makes me sick.”

“No you don’t. You like how I make you feel. I can see it in your eyes. Your body reacts to my touch like you’ve been waiting for it for a long time.”

“I didn’t know you were a conceited douche bag on top of being an asshole.”

Trig puts his gun away and smirks.

“Are you mad, because I’m right, or are you mad because you like that I’m right?”

He steps forward and stares me down. I can feel his warm breath on my face. I’m so mad I attempt to smack him. He grabs my wrist. I try to smack him with the other hand. He grabs that wrist too. He releases me from his grip and continues to stare.

“Tell me I’m lying.”

He places his hands on my hips, and pulls me into him. I gasp from the firm movement. I’m pissed off and turned on, and I don’t want to feel this way, but I do. I grab the collar of his shirt and pull his head down so his lips meet mine.

“I hate you,” I mumble against his lips.

Our tongues crash against each other.

“You wish you did,” Trig mumbles back, as he kisses me hard.

His hands are now squeezing my ass.

“This is just sex. Nothing more,” I push out between kisses.

“Keep telling yourself that,” Trig responds.

He lifts me up and sets me down on the desktop. He leans over me as I lay back. We are now making out on this big old wooden desk. I can feel his erection dig into my hip as he plants kisses all over my neck.

“I don’t love you, Trig,” I mutter. “That was a brain glitch last night.”

One of his hands is on my thigh and another is rubbing my tit.

“I know,” he says, as his hands travel around my body. “But you want to.”

“You’re delusional. Do you know that?” I say, as my nails rake down his back.

He begins to dry hump the hell out of me.

“Am I?” he whispers into my ear, before he nibbles on it.

He places his thumb in my mouth. I instinctively suck on it.

“You can say what you want, but your actions speak louder.”

He grabs my thigh and pulls it up so that it rests against his hip.

“Love and sex are two different things, silly boy,” I say, breathless.

He runs his fingers down my chest and stomach. He then places his entire hand over my crotch.

“I think you want this to belong to somebody. Don’t tell me you don’t.”

“I sell it for a living. Nobody owns it but me,” I say against his cheek.

“I want it.” He bites his lip. “I want you. Make a decision. Tell me it’s mineoryou can tell me it’s not and I’ll get up from the desk and never touch you again.”

It’s hard to think straight with his hand on my vagina.

“It doesn’t…” I mumble.

“What? I can’t hear you,” he says, as he gives it a squeeze.

“It belongs…” I mumble again.

“It does or doesn’t. I’m confused, Nine.” He begins to slide his hand down my shorts.

I’m wetter than Florida during a summer hurricane. It’s just dirty talk, right?

“Fuck it. It’s yours.” I blurt out.

“I don’t believe you,” Trig says.

I take his hand and slide it inside my panties. He stays still.

“I’m still not convinced,” he says.

I roll my eyes.

“What do you want to hear? That I need you, because you make me feel a certain way. That every time you talk to me I can’t breathe. Maybe you want to hear that I hate myself for feeling this way. I know. You probably want to hear that when you look at me the way you do, I can’t even feel my face. Is that good enough?”

Suddenly the door swings open and Bones interrupts, which seems like something he’s pretty good at lately.

“Jesus, you two are all kinds of messed up. One moment you’re screaming at each other, and the next moment you’re about to bump fuzzies.”

Trig looks up, but doesn’t move off me. He just slides his hand out from my underwear.

“Is there something you want, Bones?” Trig says in irritation.

“I’m about to go get some Chinese food. I need the keys.”

Trig looks at me, and then back to Bones.

He pulls himself up off me, and then he grabs my hand and pulls me up to a sitting position.

Trig takes a bundle of keys out of his pants, and throws them to Bones.

“There’s another car here?” I ask.

I wonder where it’s hidden. I didn’t notice a garage or shed when we pulled up. It must be a small one, or maybe it’s hiding out there amongst the bushes and trees.

“Yeah. It’s in the garage. It was my brother’s car.” He looks at me hard. “Don’t get any funny ideas.”

I look down. There goes that thought.

“Cool. What do you guys want?” Bones asks.

“They don’t carry what I’m craving for,” Trig says as he looks at me.

“Yeah. Okay. I’m just gonna get whatever then. You two freaks can stay here and scream at each other or fuck each other numb. Either way, I don’t give a shit. See you in a while,” Bones says, as he turns to leave.

Trig walks over and positions his body between my legs.

“Were you serious about what you said, right now?” he asks.

I reluctantly nod. He runs his thumb over my bottom lip.

“Nine, I want you to go–”

We suddenly hear shots being fired, so we both jerk away. Trig pulls his gun out from behind him.

“Stay here,” he yells.

I watch as he pokes his head out of the room first. He slowly walks forward with his gun pointed ahead of him. Now it’s just me and I’m all alone. My heartbeat increases. I can no longer see or hear Trig. I’m pacing back and forth. I hear more shots being fired, and then Trig runs back into the room and grabs my hand.

“We have to go,” he shouts.

I can see worry in his eyes.

“What about Bones?” I ask.

Trig ignores me and drags me out through the patio door, and around the back of the cabin. We stop at the corner wall. Trig sticks his head out.

“Who are they?” I ask quietly.

Trig doesn’t answer me. He waits for a second and then starts running with me to a door that is at the side of the house. He pushes open the door and then stares at me. I run in and he follows behind me. I look down at the white and blue corvette.

“Damn it. Bones had the car keys in his pocket,” Trig yells.

“What do we do now?”

“Get in,” he says, pointing to the car.

“We have no keys,” I yell.

“I said, get in, Nine.”

My hand is shaking as I enter the car. Trig jumps in the driver’s side and starts rummaging through the visor and then the glove compartment. He pulls out a set of keys and starts up the car.

“Thank God for spares,” he shouts. “Saves time from having to hot wire it.”

He pushes the button to open the garage door and peels out. All this green ivy hits the car, and now I know how the garage was camouflaged. All of a sudden, I hear bullets hit the back of the car.

“Get down,” Trig yells.

The entire back window shatters and glass flies everywhere.

“Holy shit,” I shout, as I duck. “Who are they?”

“The Savior’s men. I take it they found the dead bodies at Bones’ house.”

“How did they even find us up here?”

“Bones told me this morning he heard your car on the police scanner and that cops all over the area were alerted. A missing white female seems to get a lot of attention.”

We start to haul ass down the road, and that’s when Trig hands me his gun.

“If they come close behind us, you shoot.”

I realize I’m holding his gun, and I have all the power and control now. I aim it at Trig.

He’s too focused on driving to notice. He finally looks over.

“If you want to kill me, and live to tell about it, then this is not the time.”

I hear the squealing of tires behind us. I look back to see a car full of men put the pedal to the metal to catch up to us. They point their guns out of their car window.

“Baby, I need you to reach back and shoot them.”

I’ve never shot a gun. My hands are shaking enough without Trig driving like a maniac.

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Pull the trigger.”

One of their bullets hits the back of our car.

“Pull the fucking trigger,” he yells.

I aim the gun back and shoot. A bullet hits their windshield. They keep firing bullets at the back of our car. I duck down again. Suddenly I hear Trig groan out in pain. I look over to see blood running down his arm. He’s been shot.

“Oh my god. Are you okay?” I shout.

He grits his teeth and continues to drive.

“Shoot at their tire,” he says.

I aim the gun and shoot. I miss and hit the dirt instead. I feel a bullet graze past my ear. I aim the gun directly toward their tire and shoot again. The tire explodes and the car spins, slides, and goes crashing over the side of the mountain. I jump in excitement, until I remember that Trig’s been shot. I put the gun down on the floorboard.

“What do I do?” I ask.

Trig remains silent and continues to drive. I can see the blood really pouring out of his arm now. I sit there and stare at him unable to do anything. He drives for a few more miles and then finally pulls into a rest stop. He shuts off the car engine and finally examines his arm.

“It went straight through, which is a good thing, No bullet inside.”

He takes off his shirt and rips it into pieces. I watch as he wraps it tightly around his arm. He takes a moment to relax when he’s done. His eyes close and his body slumps to the side.

“Trig?” I yell, reaching out to him.

He opens his eyes, and shakes his head really hard.

“I think I just lost a little too much blood. I’ll be fine.”

He sits up and starts up the car.

“I’ll drive. That way you can rest,” I offer.

“How do I know you’re not going to drive me into a ditch,” Trig questions.

“I just shot up a car and possibly killed a few men back there for you. I think we’re good.”

He chuckles and lets his head fall back against the seat. “You did great.”

“Not too bad for a rookie,” I say.

“Is that a phone booth over there?” he asks.

Trig, climbs out of the car and wanders toward it. I watch him take a card out of his wallet and then deposit change into the phone. He quickly dials a number and then I see his lips moving, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. He hangs the phone up and then makes another call. After he’s done, he slowly walks back to the car and climbs inside. He sits down, clearly in pain.

“Who did you call?”

“A man who’s going to help us get out of here. I called my sister too.”

“Is she okay?”

“She’s on a trip in the Bahamas with the family. She’s great. She’ll be gone for three weeks.”

Trig closes his eyes in pain. I lick my lips.

“Are you going to tell me what happened to Bones?”

“Angels called him back home,” Trig quickly responds.

I cover my mouth as I imagine Bones opening the door to leave for Chinese food, and that those men were probably on the porch waiting for him. The first few bullets we heard at the cabin were of those entering Bones’ body. I think about him lying there bleeding out, as we sit here in this car.

“They shot him in the head,” Trig says. “Like he was a rabid dog. All he wanted was to be free. We both wanted the same thing. He was a slave to the game too. Poor guy was working off a gambling debt.”

I remain silent. It could have been us that they killed. I look at Trig, who is bleeding before me. He has once again managed to save me, and I can’t believe I had a small thought to shoot him earlier. Bones is right, we’re both all kinds of fucked up. Trig’s eyes are closed. I nudge him awake.

“Switch me places. I’ll drive,” I offer again.

He sits up, pops the trunk, and climbs out of the car.

“No. I need to cover up first. I can’t go where we’re going looking like this.”

There is blood splattered all over his chest, and bloodstains have soaked through the material wrapped around his arm.

“I think I saw a sweater in the trunk.”

Trig walks to the back of the car. He returns wearing a black hoodie.

“Where is it were going?” I ask.

“The airport. We can’t stay here. They’ll be looking for us.”