Page 79 of Submitting to Them
Joel laughs.“I spoofed his phone, you stupid bitch.Didn’t you notice none of your older texts from my dad were on there?”
Frowning, I try to think back to the message app and what it looked like when I read “Kingston’s” text about meeting him in the parking garage.I don’t think there was anything else there, but I also wasn’t taking the time to scroll up and check—I was panicking.
Joel’s right.I feel like a total idiot.
“Honestly, I didn’t think this would be so easy,” he says in a light voice.“My dad gave me this car—identical to his—when he saw how much I liked his.He never was creative with gifts.”
He’s very creative.He took me to Angeli’s because he knows I love pretty underwear.
Joel goes on, “He’s given me plenty of cash over the years, and I’ve set a lot of it aside.He’s given me everything except love.”
The shitty thing is, Kingstondoeslove Joel.Even though Joel doesn’t deserve it.I can see it in how conflicted Kingston felt about Joel being a part of Kristin’s kidnapping and everything else.Yeah, no doubt in my mind that Kingston would be the first one marching Joel to the police station if it came down to it, but it would kill a part of him to have to do it.
Joel turns off the freeway and down a frontage road.There are fewer and fewer cars.He turns a few more times.I try to keep track, to remember where we are, but it’s dark and I’m not thinking very clearly.Left, left, right for a long time, left again.I think.I might’ve missed a turn.
He pulls down a gravel drive.The car’s headlights illuminate a mansion that is built to look like a rustic cabin.He brings the car to a stop.I don’t move, but he gets out of the car and comes around.
When he looks away, I grab one of my barrettes and unclip it from my hair.
Joel opens my door.
“Out,” he says, waving the gun at me.
I get out.He grabs my arm and starts dragging me toward the side of the house.
I dig in my heels.“Joel, this is madness.Let me go—I don’t have to go with you, you can just leave the country—”
“Shut up, Ella.Don’t make me fucking hit you again.”
At the side of the house is another car.This one is an older-model sedan, not unlike the car I used to drive.It’s the kind of car that won’t be noticed anywhere.A perfect “getaway” car.
Shit.
I drop my barrette, hoping he won’t notice.If someone is looking for me, they’ll find this little clue that proves yes, I was here at some point.
And Kingston and Sebastian will definitely be looking for me.I have no doubt about that.
“Get in,” Joel says, opening the passenger door for me.
When I hesitate, he shoves me into the car and slams the door.I barely get my foot out of the way in time.He uses the butt of his gun to knock the handle off.Could I still open the door from inside?I’m afraid to try, but as he rounds the front of the car to come around to the driver’s side, I pull on the handle to see.
It doesn’t budge.
Joel climbs into the car, turns the keys, and pulls out of the driveway.As we go, he says, “I swear, if you make trouble for me, you die.”
“You’re just going to kill me anyway,” I whisper.
“Nah.I’m using you to get the fuck out of this country.Once we’re in Mexico, I’ll get on a plane to somewhere far away.Hey!”His face brightens.“You can come with me.I don’t want to be lonely, after all, and I know your pussy is nice and tight.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you—you’re disgusting.”
“Aw, baby, don’t be like that.”
I bite my tongue.I want to insult him a thousand times over.But angering him isn’t in my best interests—at least not yet.
The world beyond the quiet shell of the car is dark—no other headlights or taillights, no street lamps.We’re out in the middle of freaking nowhere.Even if I could somehow throw myself from the car and escape, where would I run to?
I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this fucked up situation, but whatever I do, I need to plan it out first.
