Page 42 of Hit and Run
“It smells amazing.”
“Sit,” he orders. “I’ll make you a plate.”
I sit at the table and wait while he puts a plate together for me. After a few minutes, he brings a plate over, then goes to the fridge for a couple bottles of water for both of us.
“Go ahead and eat,hermosa,” he tells me as he walks back to the counter to make his own plate.
“This is amazing,” I announce after I’ve tried a bite of everything. TJ smiles at me as he sits and starts eating. We don’t talk the rest of the time we eat. When we’re both done, TJ takes me back to the room I woke up in.
“You can watch cable or Netflix. There’s an attached bathroom with a shower and the closet has clothes that should fit you,” he explains to me. “Make yourself comfortable, but don’t even think of trying to run. This place is surrounded by men with guns and they won’t let you get far. That I can promise you.”
TJ shuts the door, leaving me to myself. I check out the closet. It’s a walk-in and it’s full of clothes. I can’t help but wonder if they belong to someone else or if he bought them in preparation for bringing me here. Either way, it’s fucking weird. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the black screen of the TV. I glance at the clock on the side table. It’s a quarter to seven. Shade and Cali have to know something’s up by now.
I walk back into the closet and look for some loungewear. I finally find some sweats and a cami and quickly change into them. Climbing into the bed and under the covers, I turn the TV on and scroll through Netflix. I look for something that will take my mind off this crazy situation I’m in.
* * *
The next morning,I wake up feeling like death. Since TJ drugged me, I wasn’t tired until late, and when I finally fell asleep, I tossed and turned and woke up a hundred times. I’m used to having full nights of uninterrupted sleep. Even more so since I’ve been staying with Shade. The best sleep I’ve ever gotten has been with him. That both terrifies and comforts me.
I climb out of bed and head to the bathroom to take a hot shower. I could really go for one of my earthy bath bombs right now. With the threat of men with guns guarding the house, I won’t bother asking TJ if I can go for a run. It wouldn’t have the relaxing effect knowing so many eyes would be watching me. I spend longer than needed in the shower, letting the hot water hit my neck and shoulders.
I turn off the water and grab a towel, drying my hair as best I can first. I dry my body off and wrap the towel around myself before leaving the bathroom.
“Buenas dias, hermosa,” TJ says as I walk out of the bathroom. I damn near jump out of my skin at the sound of his voice. He stands from the bed only to come stand within inches of me. He lifts a hand cupping my face. I tense at his touch. “Dress and come down to the kitchen. Rosa made breakfast.”
He kisses my forehead and leaves the room. I sink to the floor, inhaling a couple of deep breaths. I give myself a moment before I pull myself together and get dressed. I dress in some capri yoga pants and a bleach stained rock and roll t-shirt with side slits. As I walk down the stairs, the smell of coffee becomes my motivation to keep going. After a rough night of no sleep, I could use a large cup of joe.
“Buenas dias, niña,” Rosa says to me as I walk into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Rosa.” I give her a small smile. TJ is sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper.
“I had Rosa pick up some coffee creamer,” he tells me without looking up from the newspaper. “It’s in the fridge.”
I silently thank whatever greater being there is for TJ thinking of coffee creamer. I make my own cup, putting plenty of creamer in it. Rosa is putting together a couple of plates, so I take my coffee and sit next to TJ at the table.
“How did you sleep?” His eyes lift from the paper to mine.
“Not the greatest,” I tell him honestly.
“Was the bed comfy enough?”
“The bed and room are great,” I admit. “I think it was from sleeping so much during the day.”
“Ah, yes. I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again,” he says. Rosa brings our food to the table and walks away. Breakfast burritos. “I didn’t know if you would want to add anything to your burrito, so I just had Rosa put out different options.”
“Thank you,” I reply. There’s salsa, cheese, and sour cream sitting in the middle of the table. I grab the cheese and salsa and add them to my burrito. Like dinner the night before, we eat in silence. The front door opens and in walks a man who looks just like TJ, only older.
“Es esta ella?” The man is looking at me, but talking to TJ. The look in his eye fills me with dread.
25
Shade
The next morning,I drag myself out of bed and head straight for the kitchen to make coffee. I slept for maybe three hours all night. If TJ really is Torres’s son, who knows what he could have done with her in the short time he’s had her already. Church isn’t for another hour and I’m going to be antsy as fuck by the time it rolls around. I head outside to get some fresh air. When I walk out there, Rascal is sitting at one of the picnic tables.
“What the fuck are you doing up so early,” I ask him.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he replies.
