Page 15 of Fiend
I fall to the floor and barely even register my knees cracking on the thin, worn-down carpet. The tears flooding my eyes blur my vision, but somehow, I’m able to find my phone. I clutch it to my chest like a lifeline, forcing myself to hold back the pain threatening to consume me.
I need to keep it together. I fucking have to. For Essa and the baby.God, I fucking hope they’re okay.
With trembling, blood-stained hands, I light up the screen on my phone and dial Leo’s number this time. I’ve been switching back and forth between the two of them since we arrived at the hospital in the ambulance, and they took Essa away.
I figured that one of them would have answered by now, but no such luck. And I don’t know what else to do. They’re off the grid. Doing what the fuck they do even though Leo promised me he was done.
He’s such a goddamn liar. It’s why I left to begin with. I couldn’t do it. But of course, I came crawling back—on my goddamn knees for him, too. Like he even deserves it.
I hold the phone up to my ear and listen to the dull, endless ringing. It eventually cuts off to his voicemail, and the sound of his gruff voice saying his name, “Leo,” unwittingly has my dick twitching.
“Ugh,” I shout, lurching to my feet, but hitting redial, nonetheless. Over and over, I switch between Vincent and Leo’s numbers, trying the only thing I know how to do right now. Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness swirl around inside of me, battering me until I’m nothing but a bloody pulp on the inside.
Defeated, but still trying because there’s no other option, I slide down a wall until my ass thuds on the floor. I draw my legs up and rest my forehead on my knees. After placing my phone between my legs, I hit the speaker button as I redial for the umpteenth time.
“Please be okay, baby girl. Both of you. Please be okay. Please.” My hoarse voice turns to a scratchy whisper as I plead over and over until, eventually, I have nothing left but utter despair.
EIGHT
VINCENT
“Fucking sick ofbeing scrunched in this car,” Leo bitches as he turns down my long, gravel driveway.
“The fuck are you bitching about? I’m taller than you.” I exhale the last drag of my cigarette and smash it in the ashtray before turning and shooting Leo a scowl.
“By two fucking inches. That ain’t shit. Plus, I’m driving so I can’t stretch out like you.” He nods in my direction.
I scoff, “Okay.” I glare out of the window, watching the trees blur into the night as we pass them, moving slower and slower as we do. My brows bunch for a moment before I turn to Leo. He’s smirking to himself, casually tapping his thumb on the steering wheel, whistling along to P.O.D.’s “Youth of the Nation” playing on the radio.
“Would you hurry the fuck up—you’re practically crawling down the road. I want to get home and fucking shower the filth off. It feels like it’s… in my fucking skin,” I growl. “I thought you were tired of being ‘scrunched in this car.’”
“Oh, I am.” His smile widens. “I just love pissing you off.”
Oh, really.
I raise my arm and reach over to slap Leo upside his head. He jerks forward from the force, his face an inch or two from smacking into the steering wheel. His foot slams on the breaks, and the car lurches to a stop. He balks at me. “Did you just fuckingslap me?”
“Oh, I justlovepissing you off,” I mock him. He stares at me, his eyes wide with surprise. As quick as lightning, he grabs ahold of the hair at the nape of my neck in a tight grip and yanks my head over to him to snarl in my face. He glares at me, his nostrils flaring. My scalp stings from his grip, but I let it fuel my irritation. Getting under his skin is one of my favorite pastimes.
His warm breath fans over my face, making my skin heat to an uncomfortable level. Just as I’m about to shove him away, he smirks. “Fucking smartass.” He lets go of my hair and settles back in his seat, hitting the gas so the car starts back down the drive.
“Let’s go. You fucking stink.”
I snort. “Says you.”
A few minutes pass, and we’re pulling in front of the house. It’s pitch black outside, only the slightly obscured view of the stars above lighting the way. Leo throws the car in park and jumps out. I follow him, and we both make our way up the stairs to the house.
“You think they’re sleeping?” he asks, and I nod.
“Probably. What fucking time is it anyway?”
Leo glances down at his wrist before he realizes he’s not wearing his watch. “My phone’s still in the car. I’ll go get it.” I pat my pockets, noticing I don’t have my keys or my phone either.
“Hey, grab my phone and keys, too!” I yell at him.
“I’m not your bitch!” he retorts, and I roll my eyes as I step up to the door. He’s such a fucking jackass. I doubt Essa left the door unlocked, but… I grip the handle and the door opens with zero resistance.
Odd, but with Jax here, maybe she wasn’t as worried about it.
