“Dammit,” I shout, slamming my hood shut. “Okay. I will be there, but I’m just gonna be a little late,” I inform him before we hang up.
I make my way back to my car now that I know it’s not actually on fire, but smoke continues to pour out from under the hood. I plop down in my driver’s seat as I call Savannah once more. This time when she doesn’t answer, I leave her a not so nice voicemail to call me back as soon as she gets my message.
I hang up and lean my head back against my headrest and let out a frustrated breath. This cannot be happening. I can’t be late. I’m a great employee. I arrive early. What in the hell have I done for karma to hate me so much these last two weeks? The thought of how hateful I have been and Case pops into my mind, but I quickly squash it.
I lift my head from the headrest and look down at my phone in my lap. I can call Mr. Binsen. Duncan said he wasn’t at work yet. I could have him swing by and pick me up. I dial his number, but his voicemail picks up after the second ring.
“Doesn’t anyone answer their fucking phones?” I yell into my car. Geez, it’s as if nothing can go my way.
I’m about to call Savannah again when something in my cup holder catches my attention. A black business card scripted with bright blue writing.Seven Deadly Sins.Once my shift was over last night, I had just thrown it in my car. I meant to take it inside and throw it away, but I forgot about it.
I pick it up and run my finger over the number at the bottom of the card. Could I call him? Should I call him? No! Absolutely not! After all, this is the guy who I thought broke into our house, right? But he did help us out by replacing some of the stuff we had stolen. I roll my eyes. He only did that to make you think he was innocent. This is also the guy who threatened you just a week ago. And the guy who showed up at your work yesterday offering you a job you would never take. What is his angle?
I throw the card down on the passenger seat and pick up my phone. I dial Savannah’s number one last time. Ring … ring … ring … ring …Hello, you’ve reached Savannah. Leave me a message… I hang up with a shout of frustration.
I eye his card once more, and my mind fills with desperation. What other choice do I have? I don’t, really. I mean would he really hurt me? He said yesterday that he wouldn’t do anything to me because I haven’t made a move. I haven’t called the cops, so I’m really no threat to him at the moment. I’ve called everyone I know who could help me. My friends from school are either back home with their parents for the summer or away on vacation. I have no other options. And if he’s willing to help us out with what we had stolen, then maybe he would help me out since I’m in a bind …
“Fuck it!” I snatch the black card out of the passenger seat and dial the number before I change my mind, but not before I dial #67. If he doesn’t even answer like everyone else, then I sure as hell don’t want him to call me back in an hour or two.
I tap my foot against the floorboard as I hear the first ring. “Case.” I freeze when his deep voice comes across the line.Shit!It only rang once; I wasn’t expecting him to answer at all. “Hello?” His voice sounds rough from sleep.
Double shit! What do I say? My heart pounds in my chest. This was a bad idea. Very, very bad … “Hello?” he snaps, losing his patience.
“Hi.” I cringe as the octave of my voice is three times higher than normal.Why did you call this man?You hate him! But I need to get to work. And if he is as bad as I think he is, I need to get on his good side. This could help me get there. Right?
“Who is this?” he demands, still sounding irritated. Great. I’ve pissed off a man who has already threatened me once. I’ve lost my mind.
“Hello, Case.” I roll my eyes at how breathless I sounded that time. Clearing my throat, I try again. “This is Taylor …”
“Taylor?” His voice has lost its edge. “Something wrong?” he asks quickly.
I actually laugh at how sincere that sounded. “No.”Just losing my mind, it seems.“Well, yeah,” I say as I look out my windshield and see the smoke still lingering around my car. “I was on my way to work. And well, my car caught fire…”
“What?” The tone of his voice makes a shiver run through me. This is not the type of guy you would wanna piss off. Just the sound of his voice causes me to cower. “Where are you?” he snaps.
“I’m sorry for calling you,” I say softly since he sounds so mad. “But I’ve called Savannah three times. She won’t answer. And then I called Blane once, and his phone went straight to voicemail. I then called work, but no one could come and get me. And then my boss. He didn’t answer,” I ramble. “I need to get to work.” I take a deep breath, realizing I forgot to breathe between words. “I don’t have anyone else …” He’s quiet, so I continue. “I would call triple A, but I don’t have it …”
“No. No,” he interrupts me.
“I just happened to have your card in my car.” I go back to my rambling. “And thought, maybe … I just need a ride to work. I’m already late as it is.” I start to bite my nails and stop. I pay too much money for them to do that. “I’m stuck here on the side of the road.”
“You’re on the side of the road?” he growls.
I look around at the deserted backroad. “Uh, yeah.”
“Son of a bitch,” he hisses. I frown at his choice of words. Is he mad at me? “I was driving when it just starting smoking. I pulled right over …”
“Are you sitting in your car?” he interrupts me.
“Yes.”
He huffs. “Stay in your car and wait for me.” I can hear a rustling of clothes and then the sound of a few doors slamming.
“I’m sorry again for calling you.”
I hear a beeping sound on his side of the phone and then an engine roar. “No worries. Just do what I said,” he orders. “I’m already in my car and pulling out of the club parking lot. Where are you?”
I sigh in relief. “Thanks so much. I will pay for your gas.” I cringe even after I say it. I don’t have any cash on me. But I do have my credit card. If it’s not already maxed out.
