Page 34 of Unveil
Still holding me upright, he jerks his phone out and puts it on speaker.
“Dash. Question.”
Why is he talking about punctuation?
“Yeah?”
“How much did Rufus have left again?”
There’s a pause that lasts an eternity. Or maybe a second. I don’t know. I’m hot and want my fiancé back.
Using my limp legs, I try to tug him closer, but I think I’m falling because his arm bands around my waist.
“Best I can guess is they used half a pill. Maybe crushed Molly or some kind of party drug into her drink? Not a lot, but enough.”
“Symptoms?” The stranger from last year watches me closely.
The other voice curses. They kinda sound alike. Even their drawl is the same.
“Ten!”
The countdown outside makes me smile. “It’s almost my birthday!”
“Can’t know for sure, but these things usually cause drowsiness, arousal, dry mouth, euphoria, mood swings.”
I giggle. “Sounds like me.”
A tinny growl crackles over the phone. “With as little as they used, it’ll run through her system fast. But they probably dosed her with enough to make her compliant.”
“Son of a bitch.”
Death enters the stranger’s eyes. Not at me. Past me, or about me maybe? He brings me into his chest, arm locked around my waist as he asks, “Is Hatton ready?”
“Three!”The crowd continues.
“Hatton?Wait. I think I know a Hatton.”
“Two!”
“Shh, baby, I’m listening.”
I pout. “Don’tshhhhhme. I’m twenty-two now.”
“One!”
“Yeah. Good to go, hoss.”
“Hoss?” I huff. “You guys have such weird names.”
“Be there in five. Y’all take your cars back. Throw them off track.”
He hangs up and then looks at me, grimacing. His thumb rubs my numbing cheek. “Just remember that I wanted to do this the right way. Iwould’vedone this the right way. But I’ve been given no choice.”
“Happy birthday, Luna!”
Something slams against the door. I jump. Oh God, someone’s trying to break it down.
He exhales. “It’s showtime, birdie.”
