Page 41 of Ghost
“Keep your hands where I can see them. No quick movements.” I hear the woman say, much quieter this time. That has my whole head perking up.
All stealthy like, I crawl over to the shelf between the two tows and slowly move one roll to the side so I can see what's going on. The blood in my veins turns to fire as I realize this womanhas a gun pointed into Devon's back and her other hand on his side. What in the fidget spinners is going on here? Who is this woman? Devon must think the same thing as me, because he voices the question.
“Who the fuck are you, and why the hell do you have a weapon pressed to my back?” he asks in a soft and calm voice. Yeah, obviously, he hasn't caught up with the gravity of this situation.
“You haven't gotten a good look at my face. Once you do, I know you’ll recognize me right away. Especially after all the gifts I’ve been sending. Should have never taken this long to get you alone, but that bitch just won't let you out of her sight. Speaking of, we need to get out of here before she comes back. Come on,” she says frantically. I can't tell if she's talking to herself or to Devon, but either way, I can't let this crazy woman get my poor sweet honey buns alone. I’m just thinking about tackling her from the back, but Devon turns around, looking over his shoulder, and meets my eyes. He subtly shakes his head, and I know he's telling me not to do something crazy.
He might be right, too. Seeing as the gun is placed right in the middle of his back, half hidden by her body. To anyone looking, they just look like any normal couple, but I know everything could come crashing down around me with one wrong move. The gun could go off, and he could go down, and I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to live if that were to play out.
Still, there's no way in heaven and earth I'm letting her get away with my man… alone.
“We are going to walk out of here slowly. Don't even try to signal anyone. We’re gonna go out the back and hop in the silver van parked in the alley.”
Her words snap something in me, and I know what I have to do. Caesars right out front. I just need to send him a message. I crawl that way, and then another thought hits me. What if we chase her, and she gets away? Then, I’ll never see Devon again.
“Think, think!” I tell myself. Then it hits me, and I can't stop the smile on my face.
I’ll keep close AND get a message to Cesar. I just have to hurry.
Chapter Thirty-One
Caesar
Sitting astride my bike, Laney—my number one girl and the love of my life—I wipe off a smudge from her gas tank. It looks like jelly, but I haven't had a jelly sandwich in over a week, so that can't be right. Finally, I get it all off, and she looks good as new. Still, I think about that jelly. I could really use a snack right about now.
“Oh shit! Gum,” I say excitedly, patting my chest pocket and finding the last stick. I pull it out, grinning and unwrapping the juicy fruit. “Fuck yeah!”
I place the treat in my mouth before sighing, then take another look around the empty parking lot. There has been exactly zero damn action in this place. Don't get me wrong, I ain't asking for danger, but still, at least one fucking male in or out of the place for me to at least have a target to look at wouldn’t be too much to ask, but nothing so far. And I mean absolutely nothing. Not even another car in the parking lot. I look down at my watch and notice Prez and Tizzy… well, Ma, as we love to call her… Anyway,it's been damn near close to forty-five minutes since they went in, but how the fuck am I supposed to know if that's a long time for a chick to shop? Ma’s been cooped up for so long, and she made such a fuss about being let out that she’s probably going to take half the day in that place, seeing as Prez only gave her one store. Sighing, I lean back and get a bit more comfortable waiting it out.
Just as I settle in, I hear a car cranking. That's weird, seeing as there’s been zero movement around here since Prez went in. Not one person in or out of the store. It could just be a worker leaving, but I decide to check it out just in case. I throw my leg over Laney and start making my way around the side of the building. As I get to the corner, I watch a silver minivan pull in the opposite direction. Yeah, probably a worker if they're coming from the back. I keep a lookout for their plates just to have Crypt run them in case, when I see movement in the back window. Squinting to get a better look, my eyes nearly pop out of my head as big, blonde,bleach-blonde hair bounces up and down. There's only one person with hair that big around these parts, and it ain't Dolly!
As I watch in horror, Tizzy sticks her head up, and only her eyes poke above the edge of the window until they meet mine. Then her whole head pops up as she smiles wide, points to the front, and mouths, “Devon Kidnapped,” I think. Then she gives me a thumbs up, a wave, and then she's gone.
What. The Fuck. Just. Happened?
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ghost
I stare fucking dumbfounded, at the chick in front of me, holding a gun loosely pointed at my chest. The whole ride here she’s made comments that allude to the fact I know this bitch somehow. The problem is, I have never seen her before in my life. This situation is definitely a fucking new one. At least I know Tizzy is back safely at the fabric store. Well, actually, she’s probably back at the clubhouse by now with my brothers, all trying their damnedest to track me down. I can handle anything this woman wants from me just knowing that.
Now I just have to figure out who this bitch is. There’s no way she's a former contact or someone who served under me in the military. First off, I would recognize her if we were on a mission together. You never forget the people you serve with. She’s not CIA or MI6. She has no real training with that weapon, and if I hadn't wanted to avoid creating a scene or risking Tizzy’s safety, I could have disarmed her before she got a shot off.
Still, she’s got the drop on me now. She kept the gun pointed at me the whole way to this abandoned apartment building. Making me drive and pointing me in the direction we needed to go. Before I could ask questions, she mentioned finally getting me alone, so I let her talk it out instead of interrogating her. She gave me all the information she would provide to help me assess my situation. The information is good and I have a feeling it will keep me alive. Clearly, this woman is delusional. She swears we know each other, but I can't place it.
“I knew this day would finally come. Just a couple more hours wait, and then we can head out of town and live happily ever after.” She squeaks before jumping up and down. I test the cuffs she locked me in once more, but they are pretty tight. Still, I think I can get out of them. If I had to break my hand to pull them through, it wouldn't be the first time. Still, I’ll save that for when the real trouble starts… if the real trouble ever starts. I have a feeling this woman is anything but a real threat.
“How about you let me in on your plans? What's happening in a couple of hours?” I ask, wanting to get her talking.
“The bus will stop at the station down the road, silly. We can hop on and be out of town before anyone finds us! Isn't that great? I’ve had it all planned out for months. I just needed to get you away from that cult and those people,” she says like I should already know this. I really need to figure out where I know her from, but I'm worried that asking straight out will send her into a spiral.
“Um, that cult? You mean my family?” I ask, and that does it. She loses it.
“NO!” she screams, bringing the gun up to my head again. “They’re not your family! I am! ME! You belong to ME!”
Oh fuck. Yep. Delusional.
“Well, hey, my darlin’ doodles! Uh, fancy seeing you guys here!” I close my eyes and sigh at the familiar voice of my woman, whom I might just actually strangle myself. Tizzy hollers, waltzing right out into the middle of the room. So fucking much for her being safe with my brothers back at the compound. What the hell is she doing here, and why in the hell would she just walk straight into a situation like this? Then I think about who my woman is… and I really, truly, and honestly should not be surprised.