Page 66 of Run to Me
“Never,” I bite out. “I’ll never help you again. Find someone else.”
“I’ve tried. None of them can be trusted for long. Always wanting to test out the merchandise, but I know you only have eyes for this one so I don’t have to worry about that with you.”
“Fuck you.” I press my teeth together so hard, I swear I hear them start to crack.
He lets out an annoyed breath and removes a knife from his pocket, pressing the sharp tip to Nate’s throat. “Then I guess your pretty boyfriend will be the first one I kill, and I’ll keep going until you change your mind.”
He pierces Nate’s skin and a drop of blood beads at the small wound. My heart stops and I feel like the ground is swallowing me whole.
“Stop,” I shout. “I’ll do what you want.”
His smile is back and I can’t wait to cut it from his face. “I’m glad you finally came to your senses. I think I’ll hold on to thisone a little longer, for insurance. At least until the first job is complete.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“I’m not as young as I used to be. I don’t pick up men the way I could before. You, on the other hand . . . I’m sure you fight them off daily. You got this one’s attention after all.”
“So you want me to do what? Bring you back some clueless guy?”
“Exactly. Blond with blue eyes to be exact. It’s what the client requested.”
My ears ring. I need him to hear what I want him to hear, to make him believe I’m really willing to go through with this. “And you’ll let him go once the delivery is made?”
“Correct.”
“You won’t touch him at all during that time, you hear. Not so much as a single hair on his head.”
“You have my word.”
Yeah, because that’s worth a lot. “Okay. When do you need me to do this by?”
“Tonight will be good.”
“Tonight?” I claw at my jeans.
“Yeah. You know what they say, time is money, and I’ve already wasted enough of it thanks to you.”
“Okay, tonight.”
As I’m turning around, he says, “Don’t do anything stupid either. I won’t hesitate to mess up this pretty face.”
My blood boils and I hold my composure. “I won’t.”
I leave the house, my heart screaming to go back, but if I do I’ll blow everything. Keeping my cool the best I can, I sit in my car with my face in my hands until a random idea pops into my head. I lift my head, smiling at myself in the mirror. Yeah, I’ll get him his blond twink. Or at least make him think that’s what he’s getting.”
A text comes to my phone.
Unknown number:Deliver him here when you have him, and let me know when it’s done.
Me: You got it.
Unknown number:I’ll have Nate with me for the little exchange. I’m so happy we’re working together again.
I slam my phone against the steering wheel, causing the screen to crack, and steady my breathing before playing my plan over in my head, going through all the steps that need to be made until I’m sure it’s nearly bulletproof.
Don’t worry Nate, I’m coming for you.
And when I have him again, I’ll do whatever it takes to talkhiminto staying this time.
