“Fuck.” Dickson snorts. “Just as well I got paid then, huh?”
“So you do have my money.”
Dickson’s laughter ends abruptly and he glares at me. “I havemymoney.”
“Stolen from me.” Internally, I kick myself, but my mouth runs away with a mind of its own as anger builds. “I’m here to get it back.”
“Get it back?”
“Yeah.” I stand while running my thumb along the edge of my phone, fighting to keep my racing heart under control. “That money was stolen and I’m here to get it back. And if this is how you treat all of your guests, then you really should be paying me back more for how you’ve treated me.”
“Treated you?” Dickson’s eyes narrow and he turns away, throwing his hands in the air. “This fucking bitch…”
I take my chance.
Dragging my phone out of my pocket, I hit redial on the last number I contacted but before the line connects, Dickson spins back around.
His hand flies out and collides with my wrist, knocking my phone out of my hand.
“Hey!”
“You’ve got some mouth on you, I’ll give you that,” Dickson sneers, advancing toward me.
I back away until my legs hit the chair and I’m forced back into it by his hands landing heavily on my shoulders. “I just want my money.”
“You want that money? All eight grand of it?” He leans closer and grins, grinding his teeth so forcefully that my stomach lurches.
“It wasn’t his togive,” I insist, grasping at that detail to keep my head straight.
“But he gave it. And now you want it back.” Dickson snorts wetly and leans up slowly. “Fine. Let’s talk about your money. Or better yet…” His eyes glint in the low light as they narrow. “Let’stalk about what you can do for my business that’s wortheight grand. Just how priceless is that thing between your legs?”
15
XANDER
“Hello? Snow?”
The call clicks and a soft thump rises through the speaker, then Snow’s voice drifts through, but it’s so faint I have to strain to hear her words.
“I just want my money…”
“Snow, I can’t hear you, what?—”
“You want that money? All eight grand of it?”
There’s another voice.
One I don’t recognize, and what comes next makes my blood run cold.
Snow soundsscaredand whoever she’s talking to is getting louder and louder while she’s growing faint.
“Doctor?” June stares up at me with wide eyes, holding the phone against my ear while water runs down my scrubbed hands and forearms.
“I—” My mind races.
Is Snow in trouble?
Has she called me for help?
