Page 20 of Nine

“I suggest you leave town then,” Trig says. “Consider both of our debts paid.”

“Paid? I’ll have a bounty on my head after tonight,” Bones says. “And so will you.”

I see the bedframe above me being lifted up, but I’m paralyzed. Trig is standing directly over me, calling out my name. I’m shaking so badly I can’t even fix my mouth to speak.

“Shit, she’s in shock.” Trig says. “I got her. Just hold up the frame.”

He scoops me up and over his shoulder. He starts to carry me toward the door.

“So you’re just going to leave me here to clean up this mess?” Bones says.

“Dude, just go. Get out. Get as far away as possible. You’re free now.”

“No, fuck that,” Bones replies. “When your brother died and they threw you into this shit with me, you said we were in this together.”

Trig stops and swings around. “You coming then or what? We can’t stay another minute.”

I don’t hear a response. Trig swings around again and walks out of the room and down the hallway. All I can see are the marks in the dirty carpet. He makes a swift turn and opens another door that looks like a garage. I hear a car door open and he places me down and shoves me to the side.

“She barely has any clothes on, Trig. Is she wearing your shirt? What if we get pulled over? She looks like we beat the hell out of her. Look at her.”

It takes me a while to notice this is my car, but I can’t speak yet.

“Just drive,” he says, and tosses the keys to Bones as he gets in and closes the door.

I sit there shaking. I’m not sure if I can recover from this. I just watched three men get killed and the look on that dead man’s face will haunt me forever.

“Are you okay?” Trig says.

I can’t answer him.

He slides over and attempts to put his arm around me. I look up at him. Trig’s face suddenly looks like Victor’s and now my throat feels tight. I remember the feeling of a belt wrapped around my neck. I start screaming and crying and kicking Trig away. I’m officially having my first psychotic breakdown.

“What the hell is going on back there?” Bones shouts.

“Nine!” Trig yells. “Stop and look at me.” I keep fighting him. “I see you,” he yells, and places my head between his hands. “It’s okay. Breathe.”

It takes a minute but I start to calm down when I realize he’s not Victor. He carefully grabs my wrists and slowly unties them. He then calmly reaches over and takes his time to pull me close to him. I’m frozen and part of me needs comfort, even if it is from a stranger. Even if Trig is a killer. He just saved my life again. I’ll allow myself to be pulled in, but only by him. I let my head fall against his chest and I begin to sob. Trig gently cups the back of my head.

“She’s not well at all, man. What the hell was that?” Bones yells back.

“She just needs time to recover. That’s all.” He pauses. “She obviously can’t travel in this condition. Let’s head up to the cabin.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Bones says.

“I know exactly what I’m doing; now give me your cell phone. We need to toss both of these out now. No tracer.”

Bones reaches back and hands Trig his phone. Trig pulls his from his back pocket and opens the window, tossing them both out. I sit there hanging on to Trig’s neck with my face buried into his bare chest. The smell of his skin is familiar and for whatever reason it makes me feel secure or maybe it’s him.

“We could just drop her off at her place. One less thing to worry about,” Bones suggests.

“Just drive the damn car to the cabin,” Trig commands.

“All I’m saying is that we could be on a plane in no time if we didn’t have to deal with her. Those bruises and cuts all over her face will take at least a week or two to heal. Do we have two weeks, Trig? Think about it.”

“More driving. Less talking,” Trig orders.

“You rescue a girl with a gun name, and suddenly you lose edge. Trig and Nine. Stupidest fucking names ever. I bet you must think that she’s your soulmate now based off of that shit too.” Bones bitterly mumbles to himself.

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