Page 145 of Wicked Sins

One dead now—

like you’ll be soon

—and the other still idling. Can’t open the window. Can’t open the door.

My thoughts are moving faster now.

Fresher air, better brain.

Prickles—the real shit, not imaginary—make my fingers and toes twitch. He left me the way I was—wearing boxers and nothing else. Is that important? What does it mean?

Hell no. Can’t waste brainpower on trying to figure that shit out.

Brainpower.

Need more of it.

I push back with my hips and maneuver myself forward a little. Now I lean my head into the footwell beneath the steering wheel. Here the air’s even fresher.

He tried to kill me off faster, but instead, he’s sealed me inside this car. A brief respite while I try and figure shit out. There’s still a crack in the window above my head—gas is seeping in through there. And a car isn’t airtight—it’ll be slipping in through all sorts of places.

Air con.

No, too risky.

Then my eyes lift back the pair of keys dangling above my head.

I guess he was in a hurry to get back to Candy. He didn’t think this through. Maybe he thought the second car would be enough.

Or maybe he’s on his way back right now. Done with her. Almost done with me. Just to make sure that I’m well and truly dead.

Every car has a key fob to operate the garage.

This car’s one is still attached to the keyring.

I haul in a huge breath—please, God, let it help and not hinder—and grab hold of the keys. They jangle like fucking Christmas bells. My fingers slip off a second before I can press the button.

Again.

Jangle.

My hand thumps into the footwell.

Jangle.

There’s a click and a loud rumble as the garage doors both start to open. I expect light to come in from outside, but there’s just more darkness out there.

How long have I been out?

There’s less than a yard between my car door and the fresh air. I could wait in here until the garage is filled with fresh air, but—

You’ve already been in here too long.

I have to be quiet. There’s a possibility Dad didn’t hear the garage doors opening. Slim, but possible.

If I can get out of here without him hearing, I could get to him without him knowing.

I don’t think about it any longer. There’s no time.

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