Page 6 of Morsel

“They will,” Hank says.

“Whatever,” Dolly says. She gives up.

The passenger door opens. I hear Craig get out, but I don’t move. Instead, I allow myself to stay limp. My best chance is going to be to wait until he pulls me out and into the apartment. Dolly will be there, but Hank will be out parking the car.

It’ll be easier to fight one man than two, and despite the fact that Dolly is somehow in cahoots with these guys, I don’t think she’s going to hurt me. Not on purpose, anyway. Oh, I sure as fuck want to hurt her, though.

She’s so fucking pretty, and she doesn’t even know it. That doesn’t mean that she can just do whatever she wants, though. Kidnapping? No. She knows better than that.

The back door slides open, and sure enough, Craig grabs my ankles.

“Help me,” he says to Dolly.

Together, they manage to get me out of the van. I don’t know how they’re going to get me inside without anyone seeing. It’s late afternoon, but it’s not dark. The sun hasn’t set. There will surely be people in the parking lot who see what’s happening, but maybe not. I keep my eyes shut, so I’m not sure if this place is sketchy or not.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” she says.

“I’m aware.”

“We don’t have to do this.”

“Dolly, shut the fuck up.”

I’m tired of the way Craig is speaking to her. How does he know her, anyway? I’m not sure. It’s bothering me, though. She deserves the world. She doesn’t need this guy talking to her like she’s unimportant, like she doesn’t matter.

“Let’s just get him inside,” Craig says.

Together, they carry me toward the apartment. I hear the van drive off. When we near the apartment door, they dropme, and Craig starts to fumble with the keys. I realize this is my moment. I’m only going to get one chance.

Immediately, I leap into action. I jump up, somehow landing on my feet.

“What the fuck?” Craig says. I swing, punching him in the face. I follow up with a second punch, and he doubles over. One more, and he’s on the ground. Another, and he’s passed out.

“Oscar? Oh my god. Fuck. I’m so sorry!” Dolly is crying, but I don’t have time for her tears. I do, however, have time to get out of here with her. I reach for the keys Craig dropped.

“Does he have another car here?” Surely he’s got a backup, regular sedan somewhere. Dolly just stares at me. I regret it, but I slap her. “Dolly! Get with me. Does he have another car?”

“Um, yeah,” she says.

“Show me.”

She nods, and she leads me to the parking lot we just came from. She points at a small black Honda.

“Get in,” I tell her. She doesn’t need to be told twice. Something in my tone must let her know that I mean business because she slides into the passenger seat, and I climb in the driver’s side. I start the car, and then I start driving.

We ride in silence as I leave the parking lot and start heading down the street.

“Spill your guts,” I say.

“I…”

“You’d better start fucking talking,” I tell her. “I’m a patient man, Dolly, but nobody is that patient.”

“I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I say. “What matters is that it happened. Now talk.”

“I…”

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