Page 57 of Straight, No Chaser
We hit the bottom floor, and I bolt as soon as the doors open. Nodding at Kurt through his open window, I slide my ass onto the leather. Ty doesn't even have his door closed before the chauffeur takes off. Understanding the severity of the situation.
"Luc?"
"I'm on my way, okay? You stay with her, and I'll be there in a few minutes."
"I'm scared."
His voice cracks, gutting me like a blade. "I know buddy."
"Molly said she was sick, but I think that man was hurting her. He was squeezing her arm really hard. She was sad."
Fucking motherfucker. So many people are going to die. Slow, agonizing deaths from my own hands. Already flexing. Aching to make them pay. Ready to beat the audacity out of anyone who thinks they can fuck with me. "I'm sad too. But everything's going to be okay. I'm going to make sure Molly is okay."
"You guys won't be mad at each other anymore?"
The city whizzes by. A blur of colors, random brightness flashing through the dark windows. Just like her and me. The goodness to my evil. "We've never been mad."
Hurt. Disappointed. Guilty. But never mad.
"Make up, okay? And be friends again."
If she's not dead. Son of a fucking bitch. I refuse to go there. I cannot accept anything but her being all right.
I've got to get my shit together. I've played these games before. They won't kill her. She's the bait to catch me. Has to stay alive long enough to get me there.
“Friends are like flowers. They bloom even brighter with attention and love.”
More of his teacher's words of wisdom. If it could only be that simple. "I'll try. I really will."
Only a few more minutes and we'll be there. "Tell me what you see Eli. What kinds of toys do they have there?"
"There's a big, huge yellow bear on a bicycle but I got a skate board instead. Molly said she'd teach me..."
I kick Ty's leg, and when he looks up from his phone, I roll my finger forward. Needing an update while Eli's distracted.
"She's in old beater truck. Driver’s a big dude, red hair. The guys said she’s slumped over. Looks like she’s unconscious.”
Fucking mother fucker. Hunter. I was so fucking stupid to let him live. Why the fuck did I let Franklin sway me? Now that bastard really will die. Just like me if something happens to Molly.
* * *
"He escapedwhen the guards were on a shift change. Stupid fucker didn't wait for the next guy to arrive before he left. What the fuck?"
Ty's explanation means nothing to me. Doesn't matter how the fuck Hunter got out or how he got here. Only that he hasher. And I let it fucking happen. Too fucking smug. Too fucking cocky, thinking with my dick instead of my head. Because of her. Because I love her so fucking much I can't even fucking think straight.
I knew all along this woman would fucking be the death of me. I just never thought I would fuck up so bad it might kill her too.
Stupid bastard swerves again, his tires scraping the curb and bouncing off hard enough to cross back over the center line. Forcing us to chase him into the residential neighborhood he's leading us through. Probably thinks we won't do anything with all these houses around. Motherfucker thought wrong.
My phone buzzes, and Ty swipes the screen.
"They're back. Kurt said Eli seems okay. Mrs. Benson's feeding him tacos."
Thank fucking god the woman really does love him. I clench the wheel tighter as we sail over the speed bumps, bottoming out the Escalade. Not that I give a fuck about the car or the damage.
Now I can give all of my attention to this bastard knowing that Eli is safe at home, after relinquishing him to Kurt at the mall. All too brief of a reunion, but little man's as desperate as we are to get Molly back.
"Bennie's coming from the east on the next street."
