Page 90 of Living with Fire
I feel the gun sliding up my jaw and cringe, squeezing my eyes closed as it brushes my hair away from my face. Then Vincent’s lips are at my ear and I can feel him smiling.
“Oh, baby bear, I have something different planned for us.” He nuzzles me again, making my skin crawl. If I could, I would knee him in the balls. “You’re a hard woman to get alone, you know that? It’s been driving me insane to see you with all these different guys.”
A tear slips down my cheek. “They’re just friends.”
Vincent pushes the gun into the side of my head, and I swallow a yelp.
“Don’t lie to me. I’ve seen the way the one looks at you,” he growls at me, and I can hear the hate and jealousy he has towards Nate. “I’ve seen the two of you in and out of the car together. Here. At that bar. Into that house.”
Fear claws at me, threatening to shred my heart and lungs to pieces. Breathing is difficult and my heart shrieks. He knows where Nate lives. He’s been there. He’s seen it. He knows we’re together.
I’ve never known true fear before now. The basement, the beatings, the gun… they were all walks in the park compared to the bone chilling terror that seizes me.
Before I have a chance to respond, the sound of a vehicle coming into the parking lot has us both looking through the windows to see a large red truck with a surfboard in the back.
Brody.
Oh god. Part of me is grateful that he’s there, someone I know and trust, who could help. But another part, the part that I know will override anything else, dies a little inside as he parks a few spots down. I can’t let him see Vincent. I can’t put him in any more danger than I already have.
It might be your last chance at being saved…
But to what end? I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to him because of me.
Will he be able to live with himself if he knew he could have done something to save me?
I think of him losing his wife, and what he said to me that night in the kitchen. The unknown is the worst part.
I’m about to plunge them all into the unknown, and I already hate myself for it.
The hand in my hair tightens, yanking my head back. Vincent snarls, “Get rid of him.”
He releases his hold on me, and I feel him drop down into a crouch behind me. He isn’t a fool, however. Before I can think of kicking him so I can run, he’s got the barrel of the gun pressed against my lower spine, effectively forcing me to comply.
“Hey Sav,” Brody calls from near his truck. I look through the window on the other side of Nate’s truck and lift a hand in greeting, but it isn’t enough to placate him. He heads in my direction. “What are you doing out here?”
I step out from the back door of the truck, shielded partially from view by the bed of it. If I can keep Vincent hidden, and Brody on the opposite side, I might have a shot at this not ending badly.
Forcing a smile on my face, I gesture towards the back seat. “Looking for my headphone case. I dumped my bag this morning by accident.”
“Oh.” Brody nods because it’s a plausible story, glances at his watch, then looks back to me. “I’ll wait for you.”
“What? No. You don’t need to do that, I’ll be inside in a second.” I hope my voice doesn’t sound as high as I think it does. “I don’t want you to be late.”
Brody shrugs, adjusting the bag he’s got slung over his shoulder. “All good. I’ve got a few minutes. Plus, I think Nate would understand if I was late under these circumstances.”
I feel Vincent pressing the gun harder into my back, and I know it’s a warning. I need to get Brody out of here.
“Right. The thing is, I just…” I trail off, giving a sigh. Trying to look as sheepish as I possibly can, I lower my eyes and bow my head. “I just need a moment to myself.” When I chance my next glance, I frown, trying to look pained. It’s not hard considering the circumstances. “I feel like the only time I’ve been alone the last two weeks is when I’m peeing. I know it’s for the best, but I’m feeling a little smothered.”
“Ah,” Brody says, nodding in understanding. “I can sympathize. When I lost Heather, that’s how I felt.”
Fuck my life. I’m going to hurl. Here I am, lying to Brody, and it’s bringing up memories of his late wife. I feel like such an asshole right now. I just have to remember it’s for the greater good. “So you understand I just need a minute.”
“Totally.” He glances over his shoulder towards the building, then back to me. “Not too long. Nate will have a heart attack if he knows I left you out here by yourself.”
“Oh!” Reaching into the backseat, I grab Nate’s jacket and toss it to Brody from where I’m standing. “Nate was looking for that. I found it under the seat while I was looking for my headphones.”
Brody easily catches it and nods. “If you’re not inside by the time I’m changed, I’m coming back out for you.”