Page 56 of Sold Blood
I quickly get dressed in something easier to move in. Joey is staring at an unfamiliar phone. "Is that the guy's phone?"
"Yeah. We will need to message Veronica's contact when we get there. You want to tie me up or wait for Carlos to get here? He's on his way now." He smiles cheekily.
"Carlos was always better with rope than I was. I'm more familiar with other restraints," I say with a wink.
"Which is a good thing, because it will make it easier for me to get out of." Joey steps closer with eyes darkening with desire. "We can always switch the rope out with something else when we get back home."
The door opens and we both go silent as Carlos enters the quiet living room. "Did I miss something?"
"Nope. Just a little caught off guard. How about we end this thing with Veronica once and for all?" Joey says, inching toward the door.
"Sounds like the best thing I've heard all day and I've heard a lot of great things," I say, grinning at a blushing Joey.
Carlos pulls something black out of his pocket. "We will put this on you once you get in the car. We will be using the man's car before disposing of it. We found it still in the mall parking lot."
We exit the house together and I slide in the back of the black sedan. Joey sits beside me and I tie his wrists together, kissing each one of his hands. "Only for a little while, Roo." I slip on a white mask over my face and tug a black hood over his head.
Thirty-one
Joey
The road is bumpy, and no one says a thing the whole way to Veronica's house. I know we're there when the vehicle slows down.
"Send the message," Carlos says. "Let them know we're outside the gate and wish to drop off the delivery at the front of the house."
Isaiah pushes a few buttons with his fingers. There's a clicking sound each time they move and then a few seconds later the phone makes a loud alert sound. I sit there quietly, pressing my back against the seat. The car slowly moves at the sound of metal squeaking. The gates are opening and I'm not sure what's going to happen next. It's like I'm back at the mansion all over again, unaware of what's around me or what my future holds.
Except this time I know whatever it is, my men will be there right beside me. It helps me breathe easier. "Almost time to get out, baby. Don't worry, I'm right here. We both are."
"I know. I'm ready."
The vehicle stops again and the door on my right opens as Isaiah's arm brushes over my leg. "Time to get out, baby. Feel my hand guiding you. Watch your step on the way down."
Isaiah gives me a slight push and holds onto my shirt when I reach the edge of the seat. I slowly step down, trusting Isaiah to ensure I don't fall on my face. "Get him inside," a soft spoken voice says in the background. The more she speaks, the more I recognize her high pitched tone—Veronica. "Does anyone else know you're here?"
"No one. Before you can have your boy, I want the reward that was promised."
"Arthur, get the man his money. Why do you hide behind a mask?" Veronica asks.
"The same reason Santana hides behind other people."
She laughs. "Fair enough. Remove the hood from his head. Let me make sure he's who you say he is."
"If that's what you want." Isaiah pulls the hood free, and the bright light has me squinting my eyes. It normally doesn't get dark until nine p.m. this time of year.
Veronica saunters my way with a devilish grin and unsettling eyes. "Joey, time has certainly changed you for the better. Hasn't it? Hopefully not for too much longer. Too bad they didn't get the chance to ruin that pretty face of yours at the mansion. You and your friends made quite the mess over there, didn't you?" She grabs my face and her hands are like poison on my skin. "I'll be sure to make them pay also."
I glance down at her stomach. "I was expecting to see you much bigger after hearing you were expecting a child soon."
She laughs, tossing her long black hair behind her shoulder. "You only thought what I wanted you to think. If you thought I was married and happy…"
"I wouldn't have been able to guess you were Santana?"
She shakes her head, taking a step back. "No, you might see what kind of life you missed out on."
I scoff. "You always were delusional. Apparently, that didn't change with age."
Her hand cracks against my skin leaving a sharp sting on my cheek. "I'd be careful if I were you. I plan on keeping you alive for a while and I'd hate for you to spend your last days more miserable than you have to be."
