“Multipleyears in prison. Look it up. The moment you gave me money is the moment you signed your goddamn warrant. I fuckinggot you, boy. And it wasso damn easy.”
My hand balls into a fist at my side, feeling helpless against my own confusion.
Is what he’s saying the truth? I…I wouldn’t know.
“Y-you said people were after you and that I had no choice if I wanted to keep Elijah and I safe. The police will understand and let me off.”
Wouldn’t they?
He chuckles wickedly. “I said what I needed to say but the truth is, you would’ve shown up for me either way. You forget I know everything about you.”
A pit of unease and deep sorrow hits me at those words.
“I’m acop,Toby. I know all about how to drag you down with me. And Iwouldbecause you’remine. All we have is each other. Until the very end.”
I’ll never understand him. For someone who hates me so much, why does heinsiston chaining me to him? The power? Narcissism?
I just want to be free…
I shake my head, Elijah’s beautiful smile flashing behind my eyelids. “You’re wrong. I’m not yours and I’mnotalone.”
He lets out a loud barking laugh. “Who do you think you have?Elijah?You’re just one fuck up away from him seeing you for who you really are and leaving your ass just like your mother did.” I hear himtake a long sniff of something I can only assume is a drug, making my stomach coil. There it is. He’s really lost it now.
Taking in a big breath, he continues. “You’re nothing but a pathetic,useless,loser.” He exhales. “You thinkElijah’sgoing to save you when you’re sitting in a jail cell right beside me? He’s going to want nothing to do with you once he finds out what you did for me.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, wishing my threatening tears to settle down.
I can’t help but imagine Elijah turning his back on me, just like he did back in high school. My heart starts to pound in my chest uncontrollably. I try to rub it with my palm but it’s no use. The pressure is getting worse.
I can’t lose Elijah. I won’t.
“No. You wouldn’t risk that, would you?” Derrick laughs. “Now, what you’re going to do isexactlywhat I say. I say jump, you ask ‘how high’? I call you—you pick upthe damnphone. Or else, I’m going to continue to burn your life down just like I did with that little restaurant of yours. The first time was a warning but this time I’ll make sure I get the job done. And maybe if you push me a little too hard, I’ll have to do it with your little boy toy inside.Thenwhat will you have, huh?”
Fear grips my chest at the thought of him doing something so drastic,again.
Seriously, I wish I was done with this bullshit.
Fuck him.
My hand grips around my phone so hard that I think it may shatter.
I take a big breath in, thinking about my position here. My position is…I don’t have one.My hands are tied and I have no escape…
My throat scratches, preparing to answer him.
“How much do you need?”
***
The willow tree is bigger than I remember. Its long, drooping leaves surround me, and I can’t help but think how perfect it would be to lie beneath it with him—how beautiful he’d look sketching under the setting sun.
I run my hand along the rough bark, then freeze. My hand feels smaller than it should. Glancing down at my clothes, I realize I’m not the man I am anymore—I’m my younger self. How did I get here?
Suddenly, I hear a caw from above. My heart speeds up as I look into the yellow eyes owned by a big black crow.
My breath speeds up as the panic courses through me.
This crow sees something. I know it does. I can feel it and it’s horrifying.
