Page 28 of Overcast

“I need to go to a hospital.”

I bite down on the inside of my cheek. “If you tell me who employed you to execute Reagan Lockwood, I’ll give you some...”

Dick?

Fucking Bishop.

“Aspirin,” I finish.

Stormi’s sandy eyebrows furrow at me. “I wasn’t hired to kill anyone.”

“So, you were just with Hollis then?”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t...go places with him.” I readjust my jaw before straightening my spine.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

How many times are we going to do this?

Apparently as many as to where I can’t take anymore and snap her pretty, little neck.

My cell phone beeps in my back pocket, and begrudgingly I yank it out.

Bishop: I don’t hear moaning yet.

Stupid son of a bitch.

“I’m sorry,” Stormi utters, redirecting my focus on her. “I don’t know the answers to your questions.”

Wouldn’t that be so convenient, though?

My nostrils flare, but I sit on my ass in front of her. “Tell me, Stormi, besides the hospital visit and the trip home, what can I do to get you to speak to me right now?”

Being this girl’s savior is not my responsibility. Nor is her well-being any of my concern.

The sins that she committed, those are my uneasiness, because I don’t know what else is lurking in the dark and waiting to snap my sister’s neck at any given moment.

However, if pills to curb the pain will sway her, I’ll even bring down a glass of water.

“We don’t have to make this so violent,” I profess softly, smelling the hint of flowers off her skin.

I fight how good it smells.

It doesn’t matter. Nothing about this blonde matters except for what she did. And what she refuses to give up.

The sound of boots upstairs reminds me of my buddies, and this wise-ass decision of being pleasant to my hostage.

Reverse psychology—the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.

Stormi’s crystal blue eyes examine my features, looking for lies that are clearly beneath my skin.

We don’t have to make this so violent—uh, yeah, we do, and we are.

Her irises stare back at me, studying and appearing truly curious and defenseless—it makes me want to change my damn mind.

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