Page 51 of Left In The Dark

I bite back another laugh when his face falls in disappointment and he starts chewing his food again. “What is it, then?” he asks after swallowing the piece of chicken.

“I need a hundred bed bugs.”

His eyes widen, and he drops his fork. “One hundred what now?”

“Bed bugs,” I add, emphasizing each letter. “I found a guy who sells them, but only to someone working in pest control.” I pause, meeting his gaze. “That’s where you come in.”

His jaw ticks and he picks up the fork again, looking down at his plate. “Yeah, I can do that. When do you need them by?” He shovels more food onto his fork like this is some normal lunch conversation, his expression going back to neutral.

“Whenever you can get them. I’ll give you the money today and the guy’s card. I’ll tell him you can pick them up whenever you’re ready.”

Taking in a breath, he nods. “How about tomorrow? I’ll be off then.”

“Sure.” I sit up taller in my seat, reaching for my wallet, and he rests a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t get you a welcome home gift yet.” He winks and I snort.

“It’ll be a welcome home gift for someone, but not me.”

Something mischievous enters his eyes and he grins. “Sounds like the perfect time to be a fly on someone’s damn wall.”

“You sure you’re okay with this?”

“I mean, it’s just me buying bugs to try out a new extermination technique. That’s all. If they happen to be stored here, then they do, and no one has to know they are.”

I lower my head, nodding. “Thanks, man.”

“Sure. As soon as you said who it involved, I knew the answer would be yes, because fuck that asshole.” His fork scrapes against the plate, eyes burning with unexpected anger.

“He do something or—”

“Oh, he did something alright,” he bites out. “He took a job that should have been mine. One I’ve been working my ass off for. I had it in the bag too, and then he had to go beg his uncle for a job. Or daddy did.” His face is stone when he looks at me again. “He got the manager position I was told to apply for by my boss all because he knows someone who knows someone. Just like that, I was kicked to the side.”

“Seriously? They can’t just do that.” I’m pissed for him. He’s a hard worker, and no doubt he should have gotten that job. But that never matters in this fucking town run by the wrong people, does it? Much like Blake’s dad, Hayden’s family holds a lot of power here. The man did help destroy my dad’s business after all, causing him half his client list.

I’m sick of ducking my head and avoiding being on these people’s radar. It didn’t exactly work with everyone either. I was and will always be heavily on Hayden’s and Blake’s.

“They apparently can when important people get involved.” His hand bunches on the table, his brows turning down. “It’s whatever. Men like him will always come in first.”

“Not always.” I grit my teeth, digging the heels of my boots into the floor.

Jimmy’s eyes lift and a corner of his lips tilt up. “At least not without a price to pay. Now, about those bed bugs. I might be able to squeeze in a pick-up time today.”

He’s right about things coming with a price. Jimmy just doesn’t realize exactly how hefty Hayden’s is adding up to be. This is only the beginning, and when I’m done with him, he won’t have much to offer in the end.

Fifteen

Blake

Daylight is fading. Each hour stretches longer the less that door opens. He’s only brought food twice in the last few days. Seems to be at the same time too. As soon as the sky begins brightening and right before the sun goes down. If I’m counting from when it started, that means it’s been a week exactly, and he really has let me sit around in my filth. I bet I smell worse than the pigs outside. Sniffing under my arm, my nose wrinkles, and I wince at the food stains on my clothes. Worse than a whole group of pigs.

I don’t know what made me act out that day. I think I was testing my limits. He didn’t toss me away for doing so either. Nothing I’d earned before was taken away. I was given a choice of a bath or to wait a week. The decision was mine. I made it. Not him. It was left up to me. I’ve never had that before . . . except for with Logan. Of course it’s only been with people I’d least expect it to happen with.

With everyone else it was one way. Theirs. There was no either or.

Crawling forward, I stare harder at the door. I keep waiting for it to make the slightest sound or movement. A creak, a small shake . . . fucking something. He came in earlier while I was sleeping. So silent, I never heard him enter or leave.

The only evidence I have of him ever being here are the strips of chicken and mixed vegetables he left me in the feeder, along with the water in the bowl. I’m able to move enough to adjust the space heater and stretch my legs a little. I try to stand but my legs are too weak to hold my weight on my first attempt. I’ve been lying around for far too long, not having the energy to do more than move when food came or when he asked me to.

All I’m doing is weakening myself. I have to gain my strength back if I want any chance at escaping. But what will I even be going back to? I’ve lost the modeling job for the underwear ad. My dad will probably kick me out for worrying my mom and not coming into the office. Looking around me, I cling to the blanket and stare down at the squares of steak beside the piece of cornbread.