“Where we live obviously!” I cry out.
“You go to him on Monday.”
“That’s it? That’s my only option?!”
“Well, that or we run.”
“And if he catches us?”
“Then we’re dead.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
When we get home, I’m completely numb and lay straight on the sofa, not even bothering to wash off my makeup and get changed.
“Paige,” Braden says quietly. “Come and sleep in the bed. It’s more comfortable.”
My eyes slide toward him, but I don’t move my head. I just glare.
“No funny business. I just want to hold you…if that’s ok.”
As upset as I am with him for blindsiding me the way he has, I need to be held. So I stand up and wander over to his bed, unspeaking. I lay facing the window, and focus on the glow coming in from the street lights.
Braden slides in behind me, and wraps his arm around my middle, holding me to him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. I don’t say anything to him as this hopelessness I’m feeling makes my body like lead and my mind numb.
I should have known this couldn’t last. Once again, I started to feel like I had a home, and once again, it’s been taken away from me.
Tears roll from my eyes as I continue to stare ahead. I don’t bother to wipe them. I don’t bother to sniff, or blink them away. I just let them fall as if it’s the last of my hope, slowly leaving my body. Never to return.
The next day, we spend our time together, taking every substance we have available in the house. I guess in a way, we’re trying to blank out what we know is about to come.
It doesn’t help though. More than once, I hope that what I’m doing will make me overdose so I don’t have to wake up on Monday morning. I mix every drug we have. I can end this now. I can leave this world in a state of bliss.
But when I open my eyes, and see the sun streaming in through the windows, I realise it’s Monday, and I’m not that lucky.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Like a lamb being led to slaughter, I follow Braden up the front path of the apartment building where Reggie lives and wait quietly while he presses the intercom, and we get buzzed in.
As we stand in the elevator on our way up to Reggie’s floor, I turn toward Braden. “I hate you for this you know.”
I glare at him. Anger radiates off me in sickening waves. I still can’t believe that I’m in this situation. And worse still, neither of us had the guts to try and get out of it. We’re just doing exactly as we’re told.
“Sweetheart, I hate me too.”
The doors ping open, and we step out into the hall and straight up to Reggie’s door.
Braden knocks twice.
Dread winds its way through my body, turning my stomach inside out as we wait. The door is opened by a gorgeous looking woman with red hair and heavy makeup. She looks like she’s about to go out somewhere but when she opens the door, I see about four other women, and they’re all dressed to the same standard.
Her pupils are dilated as she looks me over, completely ignoring Braden as she steps away from the door and goes to stand by Reggie.
“Right on time,” he says from the dining area. He’s seated at a table surrounded by small packages, boxes and a decent stash of cash as well as some paper work.
He’s obviously been conducting business.
He rises from his chair and walks toward us, shakes Braden’s hand, and then hands him a thick envelope.
“Thanks for bringing her to me,” he says, patting him on the back in a congratulatory fashion. “You can go now.”
I shoot Braden a glance that I hope says ‘Did he just pay you for me?!’ but he won’t meet my eyes. My emotions threaten to get the better of me as I watch Braden leave. What the hell just went down? Was this supposed to happen all along?
My mind goes crazy as I think about the care Braden took in dressing me for that party on Saturday night. How important it was to him that I looked good and got along with Reggie.