Page 28 of Beautiful Prey

He aimed his light between me and the car. “That sucks. You got cables?”

I nodded as I lifted them out of the trunk. “Yup.”

“I’ll get the truck. Just go ahead and open the front and have it ready.”

He returned a minute later with his high-wheeled Dodge Ram, parking it next to mine. As he connected the cables from my car to his and we let his car run for a moment, I noticed him eyeing me.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked. Then added, “Didn't run into any squatters, did you?”

I shook my head.

“We’ve gotten complaints from time to time, just wanted to make sure.”

“Nope. Just me.”

“Surprised.”

I turned my head toward him. “What do you mean?”

“Not my business or anything just, the rare times I see anyone come out here, it's usually…a couple or more guys. Haven't seen anyone in a while though. They making you do their dirty work now or something?”

Their dirty work.

No, definitely the fuck not.

“No, I was only checking on a few things,” I said, refusing to explain further.

He nodded, thankfully not prying any more.

A few minutes later, my car was running again, and I waved the guard off as I peeled out of the place, trying to put as much distance between me and the warehouse as I could. Once I was on the highway, I felt my anxiety rising again. I immediately dialed Jamie.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he picked up two rings later.

“I’m…not sure,” I said. Then, after a pause, I said honestly, “No, I’m not.”

There was a soft shifting on the other end. “Talk to me.” I could hear the concern in his voice.

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Are you driving?”

“Yes.”

“Where the heck are you going at this hour, Eve?”

I swallowed hard. Right now, I just didn’t want to be alone. “Your place?” I asked.

“I’ll see you soon then. Now talk.”

I leaned over the railing, staring at the backyard. The night was chilly but not enough to keep people from the outdoors where they mingled, talking heavily underneath low-lit lamps. To one side was a small garage and a hot tub that had been covered for the season. Along the garage and back gate, red lanterns dangled along the trees.

Red and in the shape of little smiling devils.

Music boomed behind me as did the laughter of people but even with the noise and the crowd, nothing could keep the loneliness from setting in. Nothing kept the thoughts at bay, though I wondered if a drink or two might chase them off for at least a little while. Maybe even a hit from the pipe I could smell. It was tempting. Really tempting.

But alcohol would hurt my still queasy stomach and I didn’t like how out of control I felt on anything else. Lena sometimes gave me funny looks and said I might miss out, but Jamie understood.

Lena’s loud laughter penetrated above the music.

---