Cash and Dale eye Erick with the same look. They must spend a lot of time together to have similar mannerisms.
“It may not be safe for you to leave,” Cash says.
“Are you kidding?” Erick shouts, “It’s not safe here! You guys are in the middle of a war and dragging allof us into it!”
Dale puts away his phone and rounds the bar. He stops within a few feet from us, leans back, and crosses his arms in an intimidating fashion. Erick pulls me tighter against him.
“If you want to leave, the door is right there. I’m not holding you hostage.” Cash sighs and stands up, coming toward us. “But you keep your mouth shut and let us do what we have to do to get Hazel and Joseph out alive.”
Erick glances between the two men, questioning the validity of Cash’s statement. When he’s satisfied that Cash is telling the truth, he nods and says, “You have my word.”
He takes my hand and begins pulling me toward the door. I don’t want any part of this shit either, but I’m not leaving until I know Hazel is safe. I’m not sure what Cash’s intentions are, but I know one thing. He won’t stop until Hazel and Joseph are found, which is more than the cops are doing at the moment. I pull back on Erick’s grip, bringing him to a halt. The torment etched on his face angers me and breaks my heart at the same time. I know he just wants to keep me safe, but it’s not his call to make. Erick’s fingers tighten around my wrist in an attempt to sway me.
“I’m staying.” I try once again to pull away, but it’s no use.
“Cady—”
“Let. Her. Go.”
My head whips around to the quiet command,and Dale is standing a mere foot from us. His face is void of any emotion as he threateningly stares at Erick. How did he move so fast? Not wanting Erick to get hurt, I turn to him and place my free hand on his cheek. He nervously breaks eye contact with Dale and looks at me.
“I can’t leave until I know Hazel is safe.” I take a deep breath and speak with as much confidence as I can muster, but I’m pretty sure he can hear my uncertainty. “I’ll be safe here.”
His fingers loosen, and then he shakes his head as he releases me. Erick leans toward me and Dale twitches, as if he’s ready to strike him. He kisses me, but never takes his eyes off Dale.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Erick says, and then turns and storms out the door.
I’ve never seen him act that way. Then again, we’ve not been together long and have already dealt with more shit than most couples ever will. Panic sets in as I realize what I just did. I pushed away the only person I know is on my side to aid two criminals, who would probably have no qualm with ending my life.
Cautiously, I turn toward them. Dale has returned to his previous position at the bar, and Cash is sitting back down on the couch. Both act as nonthreatening as possible, but it’s hard not to picture the scene that took place in this very spot just minutes before. Cash pats the couch in a friendly gesture, inviting me to sit and relax.
“Say that you can kill Phil,” I say weakly. Cash turns his head, and his expression softens. “What do you plan to do next? What happens to us?”
Cash’s brows pull together, and he exchanges a confused glance with Dale. “Nothing. You go back to living your lives without Phil.”
“You’re gonna let us live?”
Cash sits up and turns toward me. “Of course, we are. Do you think we plan to kill you?”
I can honestly say that I don’t know. They stare at me waiting for my response.
“I’m not sure about anything anymore,” I whisper and turn away, fearful of what I will see in their eyes.
“I’m not a fucking monster, Cady.”
I latch onto Cash’s compassionate gaze that was just filled with a hatred I’ve only seen matched in Phil’s.
“I don’t know what you are, Cash.”
CHAPTER 15
PHIL
ITonly lingered a moment, but she smiled. Her eyes twinkled, and her delicious lips curled up, making the marks I left on her skin glow. It was so beautiful I literally froze staring at her. I knew she didn’t have it in her to kill me. She’s too full of sunshine. My darkness thrives on it. Absorbs it. One day she won’t have any left, though, because I will have sopped up every drop.
After our moment, she went back to making sandwiches. I watched every move she made. Partially because she had a knife sitting next to her, and I didn’t want a surprise in my throat. The uncertainty with which she presented my food had my dick hardening. She wanted me to be pleased, and I was. If she can put that much effort into everything else she does from now on, all will be great in my world.
Joseph asked for her assistance making Snap. It’s not because he needed it. He wanted to keep Hazel close by, so I’d leave her alone. Lord knows she wasn’t happy about it, but if she learns how to make it, she can help teach others when I get rid of Joseph. It’ll give her something to focus on. A goal to have. It also gives metime to just watch her. Something I’ve loved doing for years. Only, this time, I get to openly do it. There’s nothing more exhilarating than the object of your affection knowing you’re watching them. Feeling my attention, she glances up here and there, before going back to her task. I want to drag her away and peel her clothes off, but I’m biding my time. I’m not a complete prick. Maybe this way she’ll see that I’m easy to get along with; as long as she listens.
