Page 163 of The Ninth

They were talking about me...

I jumped as Duke gripped my hip. The gun he never allowed me to see rested in his hand. When I looked up at him, he was looking at the two guys who were glancing back at us.

“They said something to you? On my mama, don’t lie to me, Devyn.”

“N-no! They were already out here.”

“I’ve never seen them around here before. Get in your car and go to Cassandra’s.”

“I’m not just leaving you out here, Duke!”

He gripped my cheeks as his eyes glanced behind me. I knew he was keeping track of them because he had every intention of following them anyways. After a stern kiss, he pushed me to the driver’s door, gun still in his hand.

A car came down the street. Duke had his eyes glued to it. In one swift movement he opened my car door, shoving me inside. The car screeched to a halt right beside us. Instead of Duke waiting for whoever it was to get out, he rushed to their door, snatching it open as well as the driver out.

“DEVYN, GO!”

“DEVYN!” the man at gunpoint yelled.

I stopped myself from throwing the car in reverse. Ice covered my entire body as I recognized the voice instantly.

Shaking, I got out of the car and approached them slowly. He was pressed against the car as Duke’s gun dug into his neck.

“Dad...”

Chapter 31: Clarity

Cassie’s POV

My head fell backwards, resting against my headboard. Taking a deep breath in, it left my mouth shaky and staggered. I rubbed my lips together, trying to keep myself together. The apartment was silent besides the air blowing softly. Chill bumps covered me from the waist up. A lemon candle floated through the air. My body slowly became undone. I felt like I was going to melt into the bed.

BOOM!

“CASSIE!” Devyn yelled.

The apartment door smacked the wall followed by Devyn storming in through the bathroom. I instantly clenched my thighs together, pulling the blanket up over myself. Before I could pretty much do anything, she appeared in the room.

“What’s wrong?!” I asked out of breath.

“MY DAD IS HERE!”

“What? In the apartment?!”

“No! He’s staying at a hotel. Something about not getting ahold of me and grandma is sick or some shit. He came looking for me and found me with Duke! Duke held him at gunpoint!”

“Now why the fuck would you do that?!”

“I said sorry, folks!” Duke yelled.

“What did he want?”

“He was in a rush, headed here. He told me that he had something to handle at the jail and then would meet me tomorrow night or the next morning.”

“Are you okay?”

“I know he told my mom and grandma by now. I don’t know what to think. I’m a grown ass woman, why would he pop up on me like that?! Anyways, are you okay? I just came to tell you that and to ask if you would pleaseeee come with me!”

“Absolutely not.”