The metal door slams, startling Hazel, and Dustin walks down the stairs. He stands there for a minute, watching Hazel and Joseph work, before sitting down next to me.
“How did your trip go with Bobby?” I ask quietly, as I watch her mix two liquids together.
“Good. We delivered the last of the stash, and I let everyone know it would be a minute before we would have more; that it’s getting an overhaul. They expect to hear from me next week.”
“Is he going to work out?”
“Of course.” I glare at Dustin, and he sits up straighter. “His biggest concern is if this will last long enough to see a payday, or if the cops will find you first.”
“We’ll keep him on dealing duties for now. Let him prove himself. When the time is right, I want to meet with him.”
“Alright,” Dustin responds.
Normally, Dustin would get back to work after oneof our little chats, but this time, he lingers, letting me know he has something on his mind. After a few minutes, my patience wears thin.
“What?” His head snaps in my direction, and I turn to him and raise a brow.
“I can’t stop wondering what your plans are with them.” Dustin nods in Joseph and Hazel’s direction.
“Them or her?” I counter.
The worry on his face when he glances my way makes me wonder if I’ll have to take drastic measures with him as well. I don’t want to kill Dustin. He knows my business, and some of my secrets. It will take too long to find someone else I can trust to fill his spot. But, if he steps out of line, I will fucking end him.
Joseph comes over, interrupting our conversation and saving me from having to answer that question. Not that I have to answer it with the truth, but, at least, I don’t have to come up with a lie on the fly.
“I think I have completed the first test run,” Joseph grudgingly admits. “Testing it out now in liquid form will save time, in case we need to change things. If you want to wait until it is in pill form, it could take days until it’s ready, and we’ll waste a lot of product if it’s no good.”
I feel like a kid in a candy store, only I’m an adult in an adult candy store. Dustin and I follow him over to the table, but my phone rings, surprising us. I glance at it in confusion because the only person who calls me is standing next to me. I snatch it off the small table bymy chair and see Samuel’s name on the screen. What the hell does that fucker want?
Aggravated, I tell them, “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I jog up the stairs and walk outside to have privacy, and to ensure the signal isn’t lost inside that concrete prison of a box. The cool breeze blows lightly—signs that fall will be on us soon—but it’s still warm here in the south.
“Samuel,” I growl. “What can I help you with?”
“You can start with giving me back what’s mine.”
The voice on the phone surprises me. Cash swiftly caught up with him. I can’t help but laugh at how stupid Samuel was. If I sold my boss up the river, I’d be gone so fast my own head would spin. No way in hell I would allow myself to be found. If he wanted to keep what he believes is his, then he should have had better security and trusted employees. Unfortunately, he didn’t. And Hazel was never his to begin with.
“Ah, Cash,” I say through my dying laughter. “That was real funny. I’ve only taken back what you stole from me. Don’t think I didn’t see your little love bites,” I spit into the phone. “As for Joseph,” I add snidely, “he seems to be enjoying his little shtick. Your precious Snap will be a little different, though. Guess we’ll find out whose the public will like best, huh?”
“I want to meet,” Cash growls into the phone.
A man at the end of his rope. Of course, he wants to meet. Only question is, what is he willing to barter?Samuel’s comment about Cash selling Snap comes back to me. A smile spreads over my face. He’ll have plenty to barter after payday, and I’ll be more than happy to recomp the money I paid Samuel. That venture is paying out tenfold.
“I bet you do,” I sneer. “I’ll be in contact.”
I make my way back down into the pits of hell with a bounce in my step. If Snap is up to par, I’ll no longer need Joseph after he teaches us how to make it. That means I can extract money from Cash, so I don’t have to kill him. But that also means I’ll need more people helping, so there is more product to sell. I’ll have to bring Bobby in sooner than planned.
“Everything alright?” Dustin asks.
Hazel glances up at me as a smile spreads over my face. “Couldn’t be better.”
I can’t really explain the look that crosses Hazel’s face, but I can tell she’s displeased, and she looks away quickly. It wipes the smile right off my face and puts me on edge. I walk over to her and lean in close. She shivers, and my pulse starts racing.
“Things will be better soon, love,” I whisper, and kiss her shoulder. “Very soon. I promise.”
She keeps her head down but nods slightly in acknowledgment. When I turn to Joseph and Dustin, they act like they are busy doing things, but I saw them staring at us as if I’ve lost my mind. I may not be able to judge most emotions, but I’ve lived long enough to memorize most facial expressions. That is one I’ve seena lot.
