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I can’t feel my legs as the two security guards wave for me to get in my car in slow motion, clearly waiting to make sure I leave. The parking lot blurs by me, my body going on full autopilot.
The only thing I can hear is the pounding of my heart in my ears and a roaring, rushing sound. I want to pull over. I want to scream. I think I’m going to be sick. I blink, and I’m sitting in front of the house, trying to catch my breath.
Part of me wants to fall apart, sob, freak the ever-loving fuck out. But I don’t have the energy to do it. I’m spent.
I’m reaching for the door knob when I realize the door is open and alarms go off in my head.
My feet carry me forward, needing to know if Aunt Rachelle is okay. I almost call out for her, but my throat is closed off with fear.
Relief and dread twine together as I see her, sitting on the couch, looking pale, but alive and intact. With a gun to her head and a yellowed, gap-toothed grin leering at me from behind her.
“There she is. We were about to put the kettle on for tea.”
5
HELLENA
Strangely, the first thing that goes through my head is that they didn’t break the door.
Everything’s in its place.
Followed by panic and anger.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
“We weren’t sure how things were going to pan out last night or when you might make it out, so we wanted to leave a little message with your mommy for you when you got home.” The sleezy gangster act from our last two meetings is gone. His deep, smooth voice is calm, emotionless. Cold.
It’s utterly terrifying.
His clothes are neater too, a dress shirt, leather jacket, slacks. Looks like one of my stepdad’s guards more than a street corner dealer. “She was kind enough to invite us in.”
“Bullshit. Get the fuck out of our house.” It’s out of my mouth before I can stop myself.
“I’m impressed. You keep showing me more guts than I thought you’d have. More stupidity, too.” He clicks the hammer on the pistol back, and my knees turn to jelly.
“P–please, no.” I barely recognize my own voice pleading.
Rachelle blinks pointedly at me. She’s handling this remarkably well. Better than my shaking hands and feeling like I’m about to pee my pants.
“I was going to… get in touch. As soon as I could.”
“Shh. I know. Because I warned you what would happen if you didn't. But see, the situation you’ve managed to get yourself into, the heat you’ve got on you now that could be traced back to me, brings up all sorts of other problems. I. Do. Not. Like. Problems.”
“I will get you your money, I just need to?—”
“Before you start making promises, let me make one thing clear. Our agreement was a contract. But the terms of that contract have changed with the police presence in your life.”
“That wasn’t my fault, I had no clue?—”
“Again with the interruptions. I mean, the fucking balls on this girl.” His laugh doesn’t reach his eyes as he glances into the kitchen. That’s when I notice the other man in the house digging through the fridge for something. He’s enormous.
“Hmm. Big tits, too. Nice.”
“Bull. Don’t be rude. We’re guests in their house.”
“Sorry, Boss.”
Like that makes everything better. My mind disconnects from the situation. I’m pretty sure I’m going into shock.
