Chapter 21
CASH
THE headlights shine on Bobby as we approach the old, weathered barn. The red paint is so thin it’s pink in places. He shoves his hands in his pockets as he watches us near him.
Dale and I study the area for any signs of people hiding, ready to jump us when we exit the vehicle, but there aren’t many places to hide out here.
The fields are dried up with barely any grass growing, except for short clumps here and there.
Phil chose a pretty open spot. Probably because he feared we’d be hiding in wait for him.
When we get up to the barn, I turn the truck around to face the road in case we need to make a quick escape. I don’t notice any other cars and wonder where Phil parked. Maybe he’s not here yet and sent Bobby early, but I doubt that he trusts him that much.
Taking a deep breath, I turn to Dale, who is double checking his handgun for the hundredth time.
His nervousness billows off him in waves.
Dale is smart, strong and brave, but he’s mostly a sarcastic asshole who’s superb at running his mouth.
He suggested that we just kill Phil in the beginning, which I wish we had, but he wouldn’t have been able to do it himself.
I’m not so sure I would’ve been able to do it then, either.
Had I known what would happen, I wouldn’t have hesitated to shoot him outside of Dustin’s house.
I lock eyes with Cady in the rearview mirror.
She’s holding up a strong appearance, but beneath her forced courage is fear.
She was right. We don’t know what will come of this meeting.
I wish she would’ve stayed at Hazel’s. Dale and I already have to keep our attention on Phil and Dustin while also attempting to keep Hazel and Joseph safe in the process.
Adding another person to worry about can break our focus.
Especially Cady. She’s as much of a wild card as Phil.
Hazel will never forgive me if something happens to her.
I grab my gun and two clips from the glove box.
Sliding in one of the magazines, it clicks into place.
I cock it, ensuring there’s one in the chamber ready to go if need be.
All that anger that Cady brought to the surface earlier is boiling over on the back burner.
Gripping the gun in my hand, I meditate for a second and center myself.
Be smart. Don’t lose it to the rage—use it as fuel.
A calming wave surges through me, silencing my inner turmoil. My hand loosens its painful grip as the two pieces of myself come together in a peaceful alliance. Who knew it would take the possibility of losing someone again to set me free from the very thing that imprisoned me in the first place.
Dale turns to Cady and pulls her close to his face. “You’re not going in there. I won’t allow it.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but Dale smashes his lips against hers, shocking her and shutting her up. I wonder if that’s the first time they’ve actually kissed.
“You will stay in the car where I know you’ll be safe. I can’t be worried about you and trying to help keep everyone else safe as well. Too much is at risk here. Do you understand?”
She nods her head and tries to pull away, but Dale keeps hold of her and presses his lips to hers once more. This time, I step out of the truck to give them some privacy. I’m thankful that Dale was able to talk some sense into her.
As I tuck the gun in my waistband, Dale climbs out of the truck and grabs the bag out of the back. He stands next to me and takes one last look over his shoulder at Cady through the window. Bobby’s dismal expression as we step up to the barn doors is foreboding.
Inside the musty barn, we see not only Phil and a busted-up Dustin, but a busted-up Samuel as well.
I thought that fucker was smarter than this.
All this time, I was worried that he’d turn us over to the cops, not side with the fucking enemy that has destroyed our lives.
Samuel fidgets slightly, sweat evident on his brow by his damp hair.
He should be nervous. He should be more than nervous, because when I’m done dealing with Phil, his ass is mine.
I glance at Joseph to ensure his well-being, but don’t see Hazel next to him.
My heart drops to my stomach. Then I see it.
A flicker of movement in the shadows, and a scared, bruised face peeking between two shoulders.
I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding when her eyes meet mine.
Uncertainty. The unease in my gut grows more as the two shoulders come together blocking her from view once again.
He’s guarding her from me.
“Cash,” Phil chimes, raising his arms out to his sides. “So good to see you again.”
“Cut the shit, Phil.”
His face sobers, and the Phil we know and hate appears in his cold, narrowed gaze.
How has he made it this far in life without anyone realizing the twisted shit he is capable of?
Someone doesn’t become this way overnight.
I know. It took years of silent bitterness and guilt to ferment into the rage that burns inside of me.
“Glad to see you could make it early,” Phil says, folding his hands in front of him. “That just means we can get this over with and move on with our lives. Separately.”
“I agree.”
We stare at each other for a moment, the space between us feeling like we’re on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon. The tension in the air is prepared to snap, awaiting the first person to take that step over the edge. This barn could be our graveyard if we’re not cautious with how we tread.
“I want to see the money,” Phil says.
“I want to see Hazel,” I counter.
Phil smirks. “I don’t think you’re in any position to demand things.”
“Oh? I believe I am. This bag holds your livelihood. Without it, you’ll have to pay your own way. And we both know you’ll end up in jail before you make enough money to get on your feet.”
Pure satisfaction fills me, and I have to keep from grinning like the devil when his lips pull tight and his hands ball into fists. He knows I’m right. This money means more to him than their lives. Without them, he doesn’t get his payday.
Phil reaches behind him and jerks Hazel up next to him.
He only grips her arm tighter when she nearly falls.
It takes every bit of control I have not to run to her.
She pulls herself upright and attempts to stand on her own, but her legs are shaking, and I worry if she can do it.
Once she steadies herself, she raises her head.
I clamp my jaw shut to keep from screaming at Phil for what he’s done to her.
Hazel doesn’t even resemble the woman I’ve come to know.
Her severely chapped lips tremble as I take stock of how well Phil cared for her.
She’s lost so much weight that her features are different.
Her cheekbones are more prominent, and her eyes look dull and sunken in her face.
Most of her bruises have faded and mix with her pale skin, making her appear sickly, except for one vibrant mass on her temple.
That one is fresh. I continue to examine what I can see of her and notice the track marks lining her forearms below the curves of her elbows.
I begin to worry more about what lies out of sight, beneath her clothes.
If this meeting had been scheduled any later, I don’t believe Hazel would be standing here.
I place the blame on myself; accepting that physically hurts.
I couldn’t keep her safe. Now, she stands before me a hollow shell, begging to be filled with something other than the spite Phil has placed there to break her.
A sharp, stabbing pain shoots through my chest, and my lungs constrict.
I have to force myself to breathe and calm down before I blow a fucking gasket.
I need to be able to think clearly if I’m going to save her. Otherwise, I’ll get us all killed.
“As you can see, she’s fine,” Phil grates, shaking her slightly.
“She’s anything but fine,” I shout before thinking. “Look at her!”
“Oh, I have.” Phil’s eyes travel down her quivering frame as he chuckles.
“You fucking bastard,” I growl and begin to lunge across the expanse between us, but Dale grabs my arm.
Phil watches me in amusement as I get myself under control. He points to the bag in Dale’s hand and gets serious again. “The money. Now.”
Dale looks at me, and I nod. He unzips the large duffle bag and tilts it in Phil’s direction.
“You know I can’t see that from way over there,” he says. “Bring it to the center. Bobby, come check this.”
Bobby leaves his post by the door and walks past us. He stops halfway and turns to face us. I have to hand it to him; he’s doing a better job than I thought he would, especially after watching Erick die. God knows what else he saw while with Phil.
Dale meets him in the middle and lowers the bag to the ground. He opens it wide enough to see inside before taking a step back. Bobby squats down and begins counting the stacks of money. When he’s done, he zips the bag closed and pivots on his toes toward Phil.
“It’s all there.”
PHIL
The look on Cash’s face when I eye-fucked Hazel was priceless.
He’s teetering on the edge, and it won’t take much to push him over.
Once he does, he’ll react without thinking, and I’ll make my move.
There’s no way he’ll just let me walk out of here.
And there’s no way I’m going to let him walk out of here either.
This world is too small for two people who both want the same thing.
Well, the same person. The only way to ensure I have Hazel under my thumb is by taking away her only hope.
It’ll break her heart and leave her empty, making her easy to mold and control. Exactly the way I need her.
“Bring the bag over here,” I say, hiding my excitement.
“Not so fast,” Cash states, and the blond puts a foot on the bag, holding it in place.
“Sorry.” I chuckle and shove Joseph forward with my other hand. “Thanks for your services.”
He stumbles and looks at me over his shoulder as he inches away.
Once he makes it over to him, Cash checks him out for a brief moment before turning my way again.
I signal for Bobby to grab the bag, and he tugs on the handle.
The man puts even more of his weight on it, pinning it firmly to the ground.
“Now Hazel,” Cash states.
My hand squeezes her arm, and she whimpers.
My already elevated heart rate picks up even more at the sound.
I dosed up before coming. I had to know I’d be completely alert and at the top of my game tonight.
It’s quite an adrenaline rush, being in a risky situation and anticipating what will come next.
Although, I have a pretty good idea what will happen. The thought makes me smirk.
I lovingly brush the hair back from Hazel’s face. She’s shaking like a leaf on a tree. It makes the moment more enjoyable, especially watching Cash coiled and ready to strike out of the corner of my eye. I kiss her cheek and glance back at Cash, who is fuming.
“No,” I smile at him. “She’s mine.”
“That wasn’t the deal,” he yells, pointing at me.
“I never really said what the deal was, did I?”
His face contorts in anger, and I have to hold back my laughter. “You’re a fucking dead man.”
“How many chances have you had to kill me?” I wait for him to respond, but he doesn’t. He just stands there leering at me, his chest heaving up and down. “You ain’t gonna do shit.”
In that very second, Cash snaps. His face turns to stone, and his eyes darken into bottomless pits.
He’s a man on the brink of losing it all, and nothing is going to stand in his way.
That makes him dangerous. But not nearly as dangerous as me.
There’s only one difference between he and I.
He has a heart, and I don’t. I’m holding his in my hand, and it would give me great satisfaction to watch it bleed and bring him to his knees.
It’s as if it all plays out in slow motion.
In a split second, Cash is standing in the middle of the circle with his friend, both with guns drawn and pointed at me.
I pull Hazel in front of me, and she shrieks.
Slipping my own gun out, I push the end of the barrel against her temple.
Cash doesn’t flinch, which shows his determination to end this tonight.
His friend, however, can’t decide whether or not to lower his gun as it bobs in front of him.
“Sorry, lover,” I whisper in her ear. “If I can’t have you, no one will.”
I brush my lips against her neck, keeping eye contact with Cash.
My action elicits no response from him. It’s as if he’s checked out.
No. Not checked out. In complete and utter control.
Ice cold, controlled rage. The swift change in his demeanor is unnerving.
Something I don’t think I’ve ever felt before.
Dustin and Samuel shift nervously on their feet.
It’s two against one. Once again, I fucked myself by not trusting Dustin.
I wouldn’t allow him to have his own gun because I figured he’d use it against me one day.
Well, today wouldn’t have been that day, and having extra protection would have been helpful.
Paranoia is not my friend, nor has it done me any favors.
“You’ve got your gun pulled out like a big boy,” I taunt him. “Do pussies know how to use guns?”
No sooner do the words leave my lips, and a gun discharges.