Addiction (8 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

TAYLOR

“Shoot,” I hiss as I slam my hand down on my steering wheel. My car rolls to a stop as I guide it to the shoulder of the road. Smoke is billowing out of the hood. I quickly get out of it and make my way to the front of my car. I cuss myself as I try to open the hood. But it’s hot to the touch.

“Son of a bitch,” I say between clenched teeth as I try again. I remove my fingers and shake them as the hood pops open. I place my fingers in my mouth on my hot tongue to help with the burn. Then I shove the hood open. Smoke pours out; the sting of it on my skin has me taking a few steps back. I don’t see any real fire. I look around, but all I see is black smoke. But just to be sure, I walk back to my car and grab the bottle of water from my console. I pour it over my engine and the sound of something sizzling makes me cringe.
Maybe that wasn’t a good idea.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.”

I sigh, running a hand through my dark hair. Now, what do I do? I pull my cell out of my back pocket and look at the time. I should be walking into work right now. I go to my recent call log and hit send when I see Savannah’s name. It rings six times and then goes to voicemail.

Frustrated, I call my brother’s phone. It goes straight to voicemail. I stomp my foot as I call out a curse. They’re probably in bed together. Ugh. It is a Sunday after all. They always sleep in on Sundays. I haven’t seen them since last night after I pissed them both off. I guess they could just be ignoring me.

I knew we should have gotten a home phone. I’ve been trying to talk them into it for over a year, but no, they say we don’t need a house phone when we have cell phones. Bullshit!

I call my work. I smile when I hear a co-worker, Duncan, answer the phone. “Duncan. Can you come and get me? My car broke down.”

“I’m sorry, Taylor, but I can’t. I’m the only one here at the moment,” he responds sadly.

“What about Mr. Binsen?” I say as I look around to see no cars driving on this back road. I always go this way in the mornings. It’s less traffic than the highway.

“He’s not arriving for another thirty minutes.”

“Dammit,” I shout, slamming my hood shut. “Okay. I will be there, but I’m just gonna be a little late,” I inform him before we hang up.

I make my way back to my car now that I know it’s not actually on fire, but smoke continues to pour out from under the hood. I plop down in my driver’s seat as I call Savannah once more. This time when she doesn’t answer, I leave her a not so nice voicemail to call me back as soon as she gets my message.

I hang up and lean my head back against my headrest and let out a frustrated breath. This cannot be happening. I can’t be late. I’m a great employee. I arrive early. What in the hell have I done for karma to hate me so much these last two weeks? The thought of how hateful I have been and Case pops into my mind, but I quickly squash it.

I lift my head from the headrest and look down at my phone in my lap. I can call Mr. Binsen. Duncan said he wasn’t at work yet. I could have him swing by and pick me up. I dial his number, but his voicemail picks up after the second ring.

“Doesn’t anyone answer their fucking phones?” I yell into my car. Geez, it’s as if nothing can go my way.

I’m about to call Savannah again when something in my cup holder catches my attention. A black business card scripted with bright blue writing.
Seven Deadly Sins.
Once my shift was over last night, I had just thrown it in my car. I meant to take it inside last night and throw it away, but I forgot about it.

I pick it up and run my finger over the number at the bottom of the card. Could I call him? Should I call him? No! Absolutely not! After all, this is the guy who I thought broke into our house, right? But he did help us out by replacing some of the stuff we had stolen. I roll my eyes. He only did that to make you think he was innocent. This is also the guy who threatened you just a week ago. And the guy who showed up at your work yesterday offering you a job you would never take. What is his angle?

I throw the card down on the passenger seat and pick up my phone. I dial Savannah’s number one last time. Ring … ring … ring … ring …
Hello, you’ve reached Savannah. Leave me a message
… I hang up with a shout of frustration. 

I eye his card once more, and my mind fills with desperation. What other choice do I have? I don’t, really. I mean would he really hurt me? He said yesterday that he wouldn’t do anything to me because I haven’t made a move. I haven’t called the cops, so I’m really no threat to him at the moment. I’ve called everyone I know who could help me. My friends from school are either back home with their parents for the summer or away on vacation. I have no other option. And if he’s willing to help us out with what we had stolen, then maybe he would help me out since I’m in a bind …

“Fuck it!” I snatch the black card out of the passenger seat and dial the number before I change my mind, but not before I dial #67. If he doesn’t even answer like everyone else, then I sure as hell don’t want him to call me back in an hour or two.

I tap my foot against the floorboard as I hear the first ring. “Case.” I freeze when his deep voice comes across the line.
Shit!
It only rang once; I wasn’t expecting him to answer at all. “Hello?” His voice sounds rough from sleep.

Double shit! What do I say? My heart pounds in my chest. This was a bad idea. Very, very bad … “Hello?” he snaps, losing his patience.

“Hi.” I cringe as the octave of my voice is three times higher than normal.
Why did you call this man?
You hate him! But I need to get to work. And if he is as bad as I think he is, I need to get on his good side. This could help me get there. Right?

“Who is this?” he demands, still sounding irritated. Great. I’ve pissed off a man who has already threatened me once. I’ve lost my mind.

“Hello, Case.” I roll my eyes at how breathless I sounded that time. Clearing my throat, I try again. “This is Taylor …”

“Taylor?” His voice has lost its edge. “Something wrong?” he asks quickly.

I actually laugh at how sincere that sounded. “No.”
Just losing my mind, it seems.
“Well, yeah,” I say as I look out my windshield and see the smoke still lingering around my car. “I was on my way to work. And well, my car caught fire…”

“What?” The tone of his voice makes a shiver run through me. This is not the type of guy you would wanna piss off. Just the sound of his voice causes me to cower. “Where are you?” he snaps.

“I’m sorry for calling you,” I say softly since he sounds so mad. “But I’ve called Savannah three times. She won’t answer. And then I called Blane once, and his phone went straight to voicemail. I then called work, but no one could come and get me. And then my boss. He didn’t answer,” I ramble. “I need to get to work.” I take a deep breath, realizing I forgot to breathe between words. “I don’t have anyone else …” He’s quiet, so I continue. “I would call triple A, but I don’t have it …”

“No. No,” he interrupts me.

“I just happened to have your card in my car.” I go back to my rambling. “And thought, maybe … I just need a ride to work. I’m already late as it is.” I start to bite my nails and stop. I pay too much money for them to do that. “I’m stuck here on the side of the road.”

“You’re on the side of the road?” he growls.

I look around at the deserted backroad. “Uh, yeah.”

“Son of a bitch,” he hisses. I frown at his choice of words. Is he mad at me? “I was driving when it just starting smoking. I pulled right over …”

“Are you sitting in your car?” he interrupts me.

“Yes.”

He huffs. “Stay in your car and wait for me.” I can hear a rustling of clothes and then the sound of a few doors slamming.

“I’m sorry again for calling you.”

I hear a beeping sound on his side of the phone and then an engine roar. “No worries. Just do what I said,” he orders. “I’m already in my car and pulling out of the club parking lot. Where are you?”

I sigh in relief. “Thanks so much. I will pay for your gas.” I cringe even after I say it. I don’t have any cash on me. But I do have my debit card on me. If it’s not already maxed out.

“No need for payment, Taylor. Now, where are you before I go the wrong way.”

I inform him of where I am, and he promises to be here as soon as he can. When I hang up, I realize what I just did. I just called a drug dealer. What if the police arrest him and go through his phone? I sigh in relief. I had blocked it. Well, one point for me.

I get out of my car and lean up against my trunk while I wait for him. I know he told me to sit in it, but I think I’d rather take my chances at another car hitting me as I stand on the side of the road than to be sitting in my car if it decides to go up in flames. Who knows what is really wrong with it and if my bottle of water really did any good.

About fifteen minutes later, I see a black truck coming around the corner. It’s the first vehicle I’ve seen since I pulled over on the side of the road and I stand up straight. I give a small smile as it starts to come to a stop behind my car. My first thought is that of course he drives an overly large jacked up truck. Trying to compensate for something? My second thought is that wasn’t very nice. He’s the only one who answered your phone call. 

“Thank you …” I come to a halt and my words cut off when a man about my age jumps out from his lifted black Ford. A man who looks nothing like Case. Did he send someone to help me? Did he realize that I was where no one would find me? I immediately shake that thought from my mind. He said
he
was coming. And this guy is not Case.

The man smiles at me, showing off his jagged teeth as he pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head. Eyes so dark they look black look me up and down in a way that makes me uneasy. “Need help, little lady?” he asks with a Southern drawl.

“Uh, no,” I say, and his smile falls. “I have someone coming,” I add quickly. “Thank you, though.” I take a quick look around.
Where is Case?
I hope he gets here soon. All of a sudden, I feel too exposed standing outside of my car. I should have stayed inside where I could lock my doors.

He looks around after I do, and his smile returns. “Well, they’re not here yet. How about I take a look.” He winks at me and then walks past me to the front of my car.

“Uh … sure,” I say, nervously. What else is there for me to say? I already told him that I had someone coming, yet he insisted on helping.

“Pop the hood,” he orders as he looks down at it.

I gladly open up my car door and get inside of it. I pop the hood and then close my door. I’d take being blown up by a car explosion any day to being kidnapped, raped, mutilated, and left for dead on the side of the road.

I watch through the little crack at the bottom of my lifted hood out of my windshield as he reaches over and grabs something in my engine. He cusses as he jerks his hand back. “Will it start?” he asks loud enough for me to hear.

“No,” I lie. I’m not sure if it will. But trying to start it just sounds like a bad idea. What if that would cause it to explode?

“It’s still too hot to touch.” He comes into full view when he slams the hood down.

I wipe my sweaty hands on my thighs. Shit, it’s hot in here. I grab a hold of my shirt and pull it out quickly, trying to fan my chest. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself,” I say loudly hoping he can hear me since my car door is shut. That was nice, right? Even though I’m scared to death. He stands in front of my car and places his arms over his chest as he stares at me through my windshield.

I clear my throat when I realize he’s not going to budge. “Thank you?” I say in a high-pitched voice.

My heart starts to beat faster when he makes his way over to my driver’s side door. He opens it, and I try to give him a thankful smile when I step out. Why didn’t I lock myself inside? That would have been too obvious. Plus, he would probably just break my window open.

“A pretty lady shouldn’t be out here alone,” he says, shutting my door.

“Come on. I’ll give you a ride into town,” he offers, and I take a step back, pushing myself up against the car as my heart pounds in my chest.

Oh, Lord help me! “
He
should be here any moment.” Let him know you have a man coming. Let him know that someone knows you are here.

As I mention the word he, his dark black eyes narrow. I reach behind me to grab my phone out of my pocket. I need to call Case again. Just as I grip my phone, he goes to open his mouth, but he looks up behind me as I hear a roar of an engine.
Please be Case! Please be Case.
I have a feeling that I would be safer with Case, considering that he is friends with my brother, rather than this stranger who is giving me the major creeps.

The sound of the engine cuts off and I hear a door open and close. Please let this be Case and not some guy this creepy man has called to come help him.

I jump when an arm lands over my shoulders, but let out a breath the moment I look up to see Case staring down the man in front of us. The smell of his spicy cologne surrounds me, and I inhale sharply. “Hey, sweetie,” he says, not taking his eyes off the guy in front of us. “Everything okay? I came as soon as I could.” He bends down and gives me a soft kiss on my hair, but I can feel how tight his body presses up beside mine.