MERIDEA
The cold press of a gun muzzle digs in my back, prodding me forward. Glenn wants to force me back into our fabricated life. For what purpose?
“Why do you want me in your life, Glenn?” I ask, my voice laced with defiance.
He chuckles darkly. “Because when we’re together, people see me as a pillar of the community. Customers ask about you all the time—they miss you, Meridea. And I miss you too. You’re the perfect cover. No one suspects what I do on the side. Stick with me, keep your head down, and we’ll be rich.”
“And your partners? How do they feel about me coming back?” I counter, watching his jaw tighten.
“Keep moving, baby. We’re going home,” he says sharply, avoiding the question.
A sinking feeling churns in my stomach. I stop abruptly. “I’m not going with you.”
Glenn’s eyes flash with warning. “Don’t make me hurt you, Meridea. This Glock has a silencer—no one will hear the shot. I could drag your lifeless body out of here and dump it in the trash without a second thought.”
Bile rises in my throat. Who is this man? I don’t know him anymore. Or maybe I never did. Forced into the back hallway, I silently curse the situation. Declan tried to help me, but now it’s on me. Glenn and his crew are monsters, and I’ll die before I help them get away with trafficking people.
We reach a secluded area and I look up at Glenn. “Just take the flash drive and leave.”
“Shut up before I start shooting your limbs off,” he threatens.
Heart racing, I glance down the hallway before reaching under the frame of a nearby painting. I peel the flash drive from the Velcro strip hidden beneath.
“Here,” I say, holding it out. “Just take it and go.”
He snatches the drive and sneers. “Not without you. Now give me your gun.”
I hesitate, and the pressure of his Glock against my back intensifies. Reluctantly, I retrieve my gun from its holster under my dress and hand it to him. Glenn tosses it aside, then shoves me farther down the hallway.
A man steps into view. “She gave you what you wanted. Now fucking leave,” he orders, pointing a gun at Glenn.
“Asshole, mind your fucking business. This is between me and my woman.” He says behind my head. He’s using me as a shield.
I see Declan’s lip twitching. I mouth, “Don’t.”
Declan wants to splatter Glenn’s brains all over the walls.
Glenn grabs my arm firmly and points a gun between me and Declan. He drags me out the back door and shoves me into a waiting SUV. “Drive,” Glenn demands.
Glenn yanks off his mask, his face twisted with a feral possessiveness. “Who the fuck was that guy?” He glares at me. “You're mine," Glenn reiterates.
I laugh bitterly. “No, I’m just a pawn in your twisted game.”
“Shut her the fuck up, cousin, or I will,” Monty, barks from the passenger seat, waving a gun in my direction.
A shiver runs through me. Monty might tolerate me as a tool, but he wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if I got in the way.
Monty turns back around. Silence falls over the vehicle.
Josh barrels down the alley and makes a sharp left turn on to a side street.
I don’t know where Ralph and Setty are. Shit. We have to get them all.
“Glenn, why did you need the flash drive back, anyway?” I whisper.
His voice is icy. “That drive contains footage of some very powerful people. If you’d watched it, you’d know. You’re smart, Meridea, but not that bright. That’s what I love about you—I could do whatever I wanted, and you didn’t suspect a thing until that night. I love you, baby. I’m not letting you go.”
I stare out the window wondering how long Monty would let me live. If it’s up to Glenn, he’ll keep me as his ‘Good Wife’ prisoner.
