Page 130 of Addicted

I thought about Stone. About how he was probably losing his mind right now. About how he’d tear this city apart looking for me.

And I thought about our baby.

The tiny life growing inside me. I had to protect them. Had to stay alive. Had to get the fuck out of here.

I pulled harder against the ropes, ignoring the pain as they dug deeper into my wrists, but it was no use. They wouldn’t budge.

“Fuck!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the empty room.

I didn’t care if anyone heard me. Didn’t care if it brought whoever took me running. I just needed to dosomething.

“Help!” I screamed again, louder this time. “Somebody help me!”

I knew it was pointless. Knew that if I was somewhere people could hear me, they probably weren’t the type to help. But I couldn’t just sit here in silence. I couldn’t just wait for whatever was coming.

“Help! Please!”

I screamed until my throat was raw and my voice started to crack.

Then I heard footsteps. They were heavy, and they were coming closer. The door swung open, and my stomach dropped.

Gold Teeth.

I recognized him immediately. The same nigga from that night on the corner when I pulled up on Ishmael. The night I first met Stone. I’d never seen him again after that. Never learned his real name. He was just Gold Teeth to me.

And now he was standing in front of me, glaring like he wanted to kill me.

“Shut the fuck up with all that screaming,” he said, his voice cold.

I glared right back at him even though I was scared. Even though my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. I wasn’t about to let him see me break.

“Fuck you, nigga,” I said, my voice hoarse but defiant.

And then I spit in his direction. It didn’t reach him, but the message was clear.

Gold Teeth’s face twisted with rage. He rushed toward me, his hand wrapping around my throat before I could even blink. He squeezed hard and I gasped, trying to pull in air. His grip was too tight. My vision started to blur, black spots danced at the edges.

“Bitch, don’t try me,” he seethed, his face inches from mine. “I still owe you a bullet from the last time I saw yo’ ass.”

He squeezed harder. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. Tears leaked from my eyes, streaming down my face. I was going to pass out or worse. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, he let go.

I gasped, coughing and choking as air rushed back into my lungs. My throat burned, my chest heaving. I could still feel the ghost of his hand around my neck.

When I finally caught my breath, I looked up at him. And even though I was terrified, even though I could barely speak, I said it anyway.

“Stone is gonna kill you for this,” I whispered, my voice raspy.

Gold Teeth’s hand came out of nowhere. He smacked me across the face so hard my head snapped to the side. Pain exploded across my cheek. I tasted blood.

When I looked back at him, he was grinning. Itwas an evil, twisted grin that made my skin crawl.

“Stone ain’t gon’ do shit,” he said, leaning down so we were eye level. “Stone gon’ pay me big money to get you back in one piece.”

My stomach turned.

“And if he don’t pay me quick enough?” Gold Teeth continued, his grin widening. “I’ma start chopping off yo’ body parts and sending ‘em to him until he do.”

I felt sick, like I was going to throw up right there. The fear was overwhelming and suffocating, because it wasn’t just fear for myself.