“Don’t accidentally pull the trigger,” he says, squeezing his lids closed.
“Don’t make me pull the trigger,” I retort. “Let’s go.”
Joseph is able to lead us through the factory, and out an entirely different door than I entered, without being detected. I pull the phone from my pocket with my free hand and call Dustin. He answers on the first ring.
“Pull straight ahead. You’ll find me.”
Seconds later, the car comes to a stop. I open the passenger side door and order Joseph inside. Pulling open the back door, I try to swing Hazel inside, but she bounces off the frame and hits the ground hard.
Dustin seems confused, wondering what to make of all this. “What the fuck, man?”
“Shut up and help!” I spit.
Joseph jumps out, horrified, and helps pick her up. We slide her into the back seat, and he goes to sit next to her, but I shove him toward the passenger seat and point the gun at him again. Without a word, Joseph gets in and shuts the door. I jump in the back of the car, and Dustin takes off.
I stare out the back window, hoping we aren’t caught as we leave. When we pull out of theparking lot and top the hill leaving RCC behind us, I turn around and sigh. A chuckle escapes me as I relax into the seat and rub my face. It turns into a full-on belly laugh filling the silent car.
I did it. I fucking did it.
I shout and punch the roof of the car, making Joseph flinch. Dustin watches me from the rear-view mirror, nervous and full of questions. It makes me laugh harder. He’ll know soon enough. I settle down once Dustin hits I-59 that starts the first leg of the way home. Turning toward Hazel, I run my finger down her beautifully bruised face, pushing aside her hair. She moans and pulls away. It’s going to be a long trip, and I don’t want her waking up on the way there.
I reach inside my bag behind Dustin’s seat and pull out my pouch. Opening it up, I grab the syringe I should have used on her over a week ago. I pull off the cap of the needle and pull her sweatpants down, exposing her hip and a blend of colors. It makes me want to see the rest of her. I tug her T-shirt up, revealing the marks I made on her stomach. She’s lost some weight in this short period of time. My fingers glide over her flesh, feeling the welts and scratches I left behind. They are mesmerizing. I can’t wait to leave more.
A gasp has me turning my head. Joseph stares at Hazel’s stomach in pained disgust. I leer at him and put the syringe against her skin. The needle pierces her flesh with ease, and I push down on the plunger.
I lean back into the seat and pull Hazel toward me,lowering her head onto my lap. Holding the gun in one hand, I stroke her silky hair with the other and allow myself to daydream about the future.
CHAPTER 10
CASH
EVERYONEseems to have taken the news of losing their jobs fairly well. Some have asked if they can get hired on full time with the legal side of the company, and I have no problem with that. If I can keep them happy, then our secret remains safe. Plus, I already know what kind of workers they will be.
As I listen to everyone chatting amongst themselves, my mind drifts to Hazel and what she is thinking as she sits alone in Dale’s office with only the TV to keep her company. I didn’t want her involved any more than she is, and I didn’t want her knowing that we are giving up our side quest just yet. Telling her is one thing, showing her is another. I want everything to be completely over so I can prove to her that I’m done with this shit. I don’t want any doubts lingering in her mind.
I would like to say that she’s the only reason I’m doing this. But, once again, I’m being selfish and doing all this for myself. Somehow, meeting her made me veer off course. Had I never met her, I’d still be traveling down the same path, shrouded in greed and instantgratification. Instead, I was blindsided by her, and I’m tripping all over myself to not let her slip away. What the fuck is happening to me?
Hazel still wants to go home. I don’t want her to go anywhere. I meant what I said, about wanting her to live and not just survive, but if I could trap her in my house forever and keep her to myself, I would. I want her to live for me. I want her to breathe for me. I want her forever. I’m no different than Phil. We both want to own her; we both want to control her in our own way. I want her wild; he wants her subdued. I want to hold onto her reigns, knowing she willingly gives me the power to use them; Phil wants to use them against her. Regardless, we’re both using her for our own selfish desires. We’re equally tainting her.
I run my hand over my face and fight the urge to go check on her. The meeting will be over soon, and I will have all the time in the world to rectify my mistakes and make her crave me. Well, I will if she won’t fight me on staying longer. She’s so fucked up right now that the slightest thing could push her further away and make her hate me. I wouldn’t hesitate to lock her ass up and show her how much I need her until the Hazel I fell for came back to me. Hell, I’m not even sure I want that Hazel back now. If that’s not fucked up, I don’t know what is. Goddamn, Phil and I are looking more and more like twins every day.
“I’m gonna see what’s taking Joseph so long,” Dale says, breaking me from my thoughts.
He’s ready to get the hell out ofhere too. As I watch him exit the room, a feeling of unease settles around me. I brush it off as wanting to get to Hazel and make sure she didn’t call Cady to tell her what is going on. I don’t want her friends knowing about us dealing Snap. It will all be over soon enough, and we can bury the whole mess.
A few minutes later, I hear feet pounding up the hall toward us. Dale flies through the door, and everyone’s conversations come to halt. I push to my feet, immediately wondering what the hell is going on.
“Everyone go home. We will call you when we are ready to do paperwork,” he says out of breath. Everyone just stands there dumbfounded. “Now!” he frantically yells.
The workers quickly stand and begin making their way out the door, glancing at Dale as if he’s lost his mind. I’m starting to wonder if he has.
“Carl and Brad, you two stay,” Dale yells as he walks over to the laptop and turns it on.
The two men join me at the table, seeming just as bewildered as I am.
“What the fuck is going on, Dale?” Trepidation laces my voice and my body.
“Joseph. He’s…I can’t find him.” Dale glances up at me, his expression full of fear. “Hazel’s gone too.”
