Chapter 15
CADY
I toss the newspaper down in disgust and snatch my mug off the coffee table.
Seems every new day brings more and more horrible news.
On the bright side, maybe the cops will actually find Phil before we do.
Sighing, I get up to refill my coffee mug as I wait for Erick to arrive, and I almost drop it as I step into the kitchen.
Dale rounds the corner with nothing more than a towel wrapped around his waist. His blond hair is slicked back and appears darker than normal.
A bead of water trickles down his smooth chest, catching my attention.
It continues on its path until it reaches the trail of hair leading down under the towel.
I can’t help my eyes from wandering farther down his perfect body where the towel slits open, revealing his thigh.
He clears his throat, and I briefly see the grin on his face before quickly turning away.
My entire body burns with embarrassment.
It shows immediately against my fair complexion.
Thankful for my hair blocking my reddening cheeks, I grip the handle of the coffee pot and pour some of the brown liquid into my cup with a shaky hand as I the heat fades from my face.
I take a sip and wait there for a moment, hoping he’s gone.
I turn my head slightly to see him leaning against the wall, intently watching me with curiosity. Uncomfortable, I shift on my feet and grab the sugar to keep my hands busy.
“You just gonna stand there in your birthday suit all day?” I ask as I mix the sugar with my coffee.
“I guess I could,” he answers nonchalantly. “Would you like that?”
I choke on my coffee, not expecting that response. I shouldn’t really be surprised by it, either. I set down my cup to cover my mouth as I cough and slosh it all over the counter and the floor.
My eyes water, blurring my vision as I try to suck in a lung full of air.
Dale slaps me on the back a few times thinking it will help, but that never works.
I wave him away and lean against the counter for a minute until I can breathe more easily.
As I catch my breath, Dale moves next to me, cleaning up my mess.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. You okay?” he asks, his voice laced with concern.
“Yesssss…” Hisses through my lips as I turn to him. The towel he was wearing is now wadded in his hands and soaked in coffee. My mouth drops open in shock. I want to look away, but I’m frozen on the spot and cannot take my eyes off his crotch.
Dale chuckles and steps toward me, breaking my stare down with his cock. “Better close your mouth, Red, or you’ll be catching more than flies.”
My mouth snaps shut on a huff. I’ve never been left speechless before, but there’s a first time for everything. Dale just shakes his head and laughs as he walks from the room. I wish I could come up with a good comeback, but I’m too busy watching his naked ass go.
A knock on the front door startles me, and I jump. I lay my hand over my pounding heart, feeling like I just got caught cheating.
Dale jerks around the corner with a huge smile on his face and his cock swaying between his legs, and asks, “Want me to get that?”
“No!” I grab the nearest thing to me and chuck it at his head. “Get dressed!”
He easily dodges the salt shaker and chuckles. A second later the bathroom door shuts, muting his laughter. The nerve of that ass. I open the door to find Erick standing there. He relaxes a bit when he doesn’t see Cash or Dale in the room behind me.
“You can come in,” I say to him.
“I’d feel better if we left,” he responds. “Besides, I have some things to do.”
“Alright. Let me grab my purse.”
I go to the bar and grab my bag. Thinking it best, I make my way to the bedroom to tell Cash I’m leaving. Samuel sits bound and gagged on the floor at the foot of the bed. Stupid man. I can’t believe what he did.
“I’m going out with Erick for a bit. I’ll be back before I go to work tonight.”
He glances up at me and goes back to his phone. “Be careful. Call me if you need me.”
“I will.”
I close the bedroom door as I leave and find a clothed Dale blocking my path.
“Where are you going?” he asks, his brow furrowing.
“I don’t know. Out,” I say, and step to the side to go around him.
He steps in front of me again and pulls out his phone. “What’s your phone number?”
“Cash has it. Get it from him.” Irritated, I step to the other side, and he steps in front of me again.
“I asked you for it,” he says as he hands me his phone.
I snatch it from his hand, and he smirks. My stomach flips at the sight of it. I need to get out of here, and he doesn’t need my phone number. Giggling maniacally deep down inside, I punch in 867-5309 and quickly save it.
I put on my angry face when all I want to do is bust out laughing. “There. Happy?”
“Very,” he says, slipping the phone from my fingers.
He steps aside, and I walk past him.
“Good. Don’t use it,” I say, a smile pulling at my lips.
***
My phone chimes as Erick drives aimlessly around Swanson. I have no idea what we are doing, and he won’t tell me. Something is eating away at him because he’s gripping the steering wheel likes he’s trying to choke it to death. It’s making me anxious, and I don’t like it one bit.
The chime sounds again, and I pull my phone out of my purse. Erick doesn’t even glance my way, lost in his own little world. What is up with him?
When I unlock my phone, I see two new texts waiting for me. I tap the icon and smirk at the unknown number.
Unknown: Very funny.
Unknown: Game on.
I thought it was hilarious. Now I’m not so sure.
I don’t know what game he thinks we are going to play, but I have a feeling it’s not going to be Candy Land.
Probably strip poker after this morning.
My stomach flips as I slip my phone back into my purse and think about Dale’s comment.
I should be furious, and I am in a way. Furious with myself for feeling anything toward that cocky bastard while I sit next to my boyfriend.
Erick pulls to a stop along a rundown street similar to the one Dustin lives on. I glance around and see nothing out of the ordinary. Just the same dilapidated homes and piece of shit cars lining the curbs and driveways.
“What are we doing here?” I ask as he drums his thumbs on the steering wheel.
He looks up and down the street. “Waiting.”
“For who?” My irritation skyrockets when he just shakes his head and keeps watch.
About ten minutes later, an old, blue, rusty work van drives past us and parks several houses up.
Erick perks up at the sight of it. Now I understand why.
Bobby steps from the vehicle and walks toward a house.
After a few minutes, he returns and takes off in the van. Erick starts the car and follows.
“This is not a good idea, Erick,” I say, growing more and more nervous.
“What he is doing is not a good idea,” he spits. “I’m just trying to save my friend.”
“That’s the exact same thing he is doing! Except you’re gonna get him caught and killed,” I yell at him. “Take me home. Right fucking now.”
I know that Erick doesn’t want to upset me or get me in more trouble than all of us already are, but I can tell by the expression on his face that he’s made up his mind.
He continues to follow Bobby, even when he turns down the old work roads behind abandoned factories.
The windows are busted out, and graffiti tags are spray painted on the buildings.
Broken glass and trash litter the ground.
There’s a very ominous feel to this that sets me on edge.
If Bobby wondered if he was being followed, now he knows for sure.
“He’s gonna know we are following him, Erick.”
“That’s the point,” he sneers.
After parking out of sight between two buildings, Bobby steps from the van. He watches Erick intently through the windshield as he brings the car to a stop.
Erick steps out and Bobby throws his hands out to his sides. “What the fuck man?”
“Have you lost your mind?” Erick points his finger at him and yells.
“No, have you?”
“You’re gonna get yourself killed,” Erick grits between his teeth.
Bobby gets up in Erick’s face. “The only person who’s gonna get me killed is you. Get back in the car and get her out of here,” he whispers. “Now.”
The back doors of the van swing open, pulling my attention away. A body jumps from the back and stalks toward them. When he lifts his head, my heart stops beating. Erick stiffens as Phil approaches them.
“What seems to be the problem, boys?” Phil watches Erick warily and glances my way. His lip twitches; not so much into a smirk, but more of a snarl.
I feel like I’m going to hyperventilate.
This bastard has my best friend hidden away somewhere, but I’m so terrified I can’t move—even if it meant saving my life.
Is this how Hazel felt when he attacked her?
Phil stands there with his hands on his hips, like he asked them what their favorite food is, waiting for one of them to answer.
“Nothing, boss.” Bobby smiles at him and continues, “I’ve got it taken care of.”
Phil glances at Bobby and turns back to Erick. “If that’s the case, why does he look so pissed?”
“Because you’re gonna get him fucking killed, that’s why!” Erick yells at Phil.
Phil doesn’t even flinch. He just stares at Erick like he didn’t say anything. Now is not the time for Erick to be losing his shit. I open the door and step one foot out of the car. Bobby turns to me and widens his eyes as if to say get back in.
“Erick,” I speak quietly. “Get back in the car.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but for once Cady is the sound of reason.” Phil’s voice drops menacingly lower. “Maybe you should listen to the little cunt.”
“Why, so you can destroy our lives more than you already are?” Erick says as Bobby steps between him and Phil and pushes him back toward the car. “No, I’m done with all this. Fuck you, you fuckin’ pussy!”
Bobby’s arms drop to his sides in shock. There is no saving Erick from Phil’s wrath now, or he’ll give himself away. I clutch the top of the door, petrified, as Phil shoves Bobby out of the way.
Phil’s face contorts in hatred as he snarls, “I haven’t even begun to destroy you.”
A gun discharges, and Erick falls to the ground. Ringing fills my ears along with the sounds of screams. Bobby wraps me in his arms, his hand running consolingly through my hair, but I can barely hear his soothing words through the screams.
“Shut that bitch up or I will,” Phil shouts, and I realize I’m the one making all the noise.
I cover my mouth to muffle my terrified cries. He’s going to kill every last one of us. This was not how this was supposed to go. This was not how my life was supposed to end—shot in an abandoned industrial park by a fucking nutcase.
Bobby eases me down into the passenger seat and squats in front of me.
His hands clench in fists of rage he can do nothing about.
If he retaliates now, we may never find where Hazel and Joseph are being kept.
We aren’t even sure if Dustin knows where they are.
They could waste away and die, if they aren’t dead already, and no one would ever find them.
I drop my face into my hands and sob. There is nothing else I can do besides be a sitting fucking duck.
“Put him in the van.”
I scramble farther into the car at the closeness of Phil’s voice.
Bobby looks at me with regret as he stands and walks away.
Phil lowers himself to my eye level and watches me.
I dare not look away from him, no matter how badly I want to see Erick.
I don’t know if he’s okay or dead, but I know one thing for certain.
Once he gets in that van, I’ll never see him again.
Tears cascade down my face as I stare into the eyes of a killer.
He watches the drops roll down my cheeks in fascination before reaching out to touch one, and I yank my head away.
The normal coldness returns to his face as he grips my chin and jerks my head to face him again.
He raises the gun, and I choke on a sob, not wanting his face to be the last one I see.
“I want you to deliver a message for me.”