Blowing up his car was little consolation for the way I felt when I heard her voice. He was as good as dead.
Ifelt like I was underwater before I took a deep breath. I had the urge to yawn then realized just how dry my mouth was. The dull ache covering most of my body reminded me that something was terribly wrong, but I couldn’t remember what happened.
When I finally opened my tired eyes, memories of my distressed call came flooding back. My hands shot to my stomach. The pain in my head made me dizzy. I looked around the room, panicked, before my eyes landed on my savior.
Kannon sat with his back against the door and his eyes boring through me like laser beams. He looked pissed, and I wasn’t completely sure that some of that anger wasn’t directed toward me. Kannon had every right to be mad. I’d ghosted him.
He vowed to protect me from the very people who’d landed me in what I now realized was a hospital. The lack of cameras flashing made me wonder what kind of strings he had pulled getting me here. I didn’t know what to say first, so I went with the most obvious thing.
“You came.” My voice cracked when I finally spoke.
“You used your safe word,” he stated flatly.
“Still, I wasn’t sure if you would come.”
“I told you I would.”
“Thank you,” I mumbled, dropping my eyes to the crumpled sheets covering me.
“They said you were trying to hurt yourself. I don’t know what you were thinking, but I’m glad you called.”
“Wow.”
“I won’t claim to understand. I can only imagine what you’re going through, Carteay. That’s why I’m going to get you out of that deal.”
“Kannon, I didn’t try to hurt myself. I wouldn’t do that to my family.” He ran his hand across his chin, leaving it over his mouth as he stared past me. I watched his chest rise and fall for a minute before I spoke again. “Kannon, I wouldn’t do that to you,” I whispered.
“He did this?” he asked, still staring into space. Tears stung my eyes as I nodded.
“Do you remember what happened? Did he hurt you? They won’t tell me anything about your injuries.”
I shook my head. “It’s mostly foggy. We were in the studio. We talked a little, and I got upset. I can’t remember why. Probably just annoyed with his existence. Cy offered me a drink for my nerves. Then I went in the booth to record and started feeling woozy. Cy was by my side in no time telling me that I needed to sit down, but he was rubbing all over me. I knew something was off. I practically fell into the bathroom. I don’tknow what made me call you. I felt like I would pass out. I guess I should have dialed nine-one-one, but something made me call you. They were beating on the door and trying to break in the bathroom, and all I could think about was if Kannon gets here, I’ll be OK. I’m sorry.”
“You were right to call me. Who else was there? What about Ceasar? When I went to the studio looking for you, Cyrus told me you left with Ceasar. Who else was there?”
“It doesn’t matter, Kannon. I’m just glad you came.”
“Names, Carteay!” His voice boomed, making me jump.
“Kannon!”
“Now! All of them.”
“He was there, but I don’t know if he helped Cy drug me. I remember hearing his voice at the bathroom door, but I don’t know. We were the only ones there. Cy wanted to work on our next single before the producer showed up. I should have known he was being too nice.”
“Either you give me Cy’s home address, or I’ll get it. I figured you could make it easy.”
“Kannon, please.”
“I’m not asking you for permission, Carteay. I just thought you would want to help me with this. You don’t have to. I can just make a few calls.”
“I don’t want you to do anything crazy, Kannon. I just want to get out of here.”
“He could have killed you, Carrie.”
“I know you’re mad, but he wasn’t trying to kill me. Can you just take me home?”
“So they can get to you when they realize they didn’t finish the job? Hell, I don’t know if he was trying to roofie you or kill you, but it doesn’t even matter. He drugged you and lied to me when I came looking for you. He acted like you two finishedrecording, and you just left with Ceasar on your own. You think that bastard wasn’t trying to kill you?”
