She looked at me with utter devastation on her face. “I can’t be anythingbutthis.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, making the already cramped space feel utterly claustrophobic.
I shook my head. “I don’t believe that.”
Her gaze turned hard. “Yes, you do. You’ve known it for years. You and I—we grew up in the same pile of shit. You’re just content to pretend you don’t stink.”
I’d never known she resented me so much.
“It’s not like my life was perfect after I left,” I retorted bitterly. “Far from it.”
If she’d been there for me, I would have told her everything. But she wasn’t, and when I thought about it, she never really had been.
“Enough!” The dark-haired man bellowed as he scraped the back of his shaking hand under his nose. He turned to Janelle, getting in her face. “Where’s the money?” he demanded.
“I don’t have it,” she replied, meeting his frazzled gaze head-on.
The punch came out of nowhere as he knocked her to the ground. I cried out, running to her side as she collapsed to the floor. He towered over us, his expression furious. “You fucking lied? I should fucking kill you. Joe is dead because of you! We only grabbed this bitch because you said you had more of that stash.” His eyes turned to me before he continued. “Casey says she has some friends in some motorcycle gang. We’re probably fucked!” he exclaimed, his gaze still on me.
One could only hope.
“Brandon, I can get what I owe you,” Janelle swore, rising shakily to her feet holding her tender cheekbone. “I had it….” She trailed off.
“But you fucking snorted it or shot it. Didn’t you?” he demanded. “Didn’t you!” he cried. “And I thoughtIwas a fucking junkie,” he muttered in disgust.
She winced but didn’t deny the accusation.
This situation felt as though it had the propensity to blow rapidly out of control, but I was powerless to stop it.
“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Corey threw in. “I say we take her with us,” he added, his eyes on me.
Brandon, who despite being just as much of an addict as the other two was clearly the man in charge, considered his suggestion. “Good idea. She could be good insurance for us. Plus, she’s hot.” His eyes looked me up and down, landing on my chest.
I shuddered.
“That wasn’t the deal,” Janelle argued, looking panicked. “I just wanted my kids. You weren’t even supposed to take my sister. Just let her go and I’ll get you what you need.” Her voice lowered as she attempted to sound alluring. “I’ll give you what you want too.”
My stomach rolled at the thought of her giving herself to these men—at the thought that she probably already had.
Brandon sneered. “You were a piece once but you’re washed-up now. You can’t even get me hard.”
“That’s because you’re a fucking junkie!” she exclaimed. “Don’t blame that shit on me.”
The three of them stood arguing and I took their momentary distraction as an opportunity to take a step back and then another. If I could get close enough to the front door, I could make a run for it.
The sun had set and I wouldn’t have to get far before I could use the cover of darkness to my advantage.
I’d opened the front door and slipped through when I heard shouting behind me. “Hey! She’s trying to fucking run!”
The boom of gunfire tore through the air. The slice of pain that radiated through my calf had me collapsing to the ground.
“You idiot!” one of them hissed. “Someone’s gonna call the cops!”
“I didn’t mean to shoot, it just went off, dude.” One of them—Corey?—answered.
They drew closer and Brandon took my arm and pulled me roughly back inside. They dropped me on the floor and started to pace. “Fuck, she’s gonna bleed all over the place. We’ve got to get the fuck out of here.” Brandon cursed.
Janelle was sobbing. “I’m sorry, Jilly. I never meant for this to happen.” She was shaking her head frantically. “They’re better off with you. I’m such a fuckup,” she wailed. “That’s why I brought them here in the first place. I wanted them to be with you so I could get my shit straight. But then I got high and everything just sort of went blurry....” She trailed off, biting her lip.
