“Cash…”
I promised her I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. I promised her.
“Cash, you gotta fill me in, man. I can help, but I need to know what you’re dealing with.” I don’t know what to do. I can’t do this alone, but I can’t call the cops. I won’t risk her life. I succumb to the nightmare I’m living and spill everything from the day Luna landed in my life, to her past and present. By the time I’m done, I’m out of breath and even more panicked, listening to myself explain how much danger she’s in.
“Fuck, man.”
“I don’t know what to do. What should I do?” I’m frantic.
“You need to pull it together before Beckett sees you. He catches wind you’re on the fritz, he’ll pull you, and that shit won’t be good.” I try to gather air into my lungs, but it burns, making me struggle more.
I need to pull myself together. I don’t have a choice.
Train. Win. Get my girl back.
Fuck. I hope I can do this.
Luna
I come to, the taste of iron in my mouth. Blood. Why am I bleeding? I extend my tongue and grunt in pain at the open cut across my lip. Awareness hits me, and I tug at the rope binding my hands together behind me. “Help! Someone help me!” I scream, my voice echoing throughout the large, empty warehouse. I spot movement in the far corner. “Hello? Someone please!” This is not good. “Fuck.” I tug again at my restraints. “Somebody!” I scream, my throat on fire. “Help!”
A shadow appears from the back, transforming into a body as two people enter the warehouse. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! This can’t be happening. I can’t go down like this. “Hey, guys, thanks for coming. Can you untie me? I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding—”
I’m cut short when Jade appears next to a large man. “Jade! Please untie me!” I squirm, starting to suffocate with panic. He doesn’t make an attempt to help me, but stands next to the man, his head down in shame. “Jade…wha—what, why? Why are you doing this?” My voice cracks, defeat settling in. He was never here to help me. He was here to set me up. “Why?” I ask, my question laced with anger. “You were my friend.”
His head lifts to finally face me. “They said if I didn’t help find you, they were going to kill me. I panicked! They said they weren’t going to hurt—”
The man next to him raises a gun, presses it to Jade’s temple, and pulls the trigger. The bullet surges through his brain, splattering chunks as it exits the other side. Time slows as my vision blurs, blood and carnage blocking my sight. His body slumps and falls lifelessly to the ground, blood oozing from his head. Time picks up, and I scream, choking on my own terror. I go wild in the chair, trying to free myself. The skin on my wrists tear, but I ignore the searing pain. “Let me go! Please, I swear I didn’t know!” The man before me begins to laugh.
“Ignorance will not save your life, Ms. Monroe.”
“I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have taken the car if I did.”
He laughs some more. “So, you would have gone off and hijacked someone else’s car? Naughty little thief.”
I start to cry. “Please, you don’t have to do this. I won’t tell anyone. I haven’t.”
“Ahhh, that’s where you’re wrong. Your boytoy knows. And now his handy crew does too.” He eliminates the space between us, and I cower as he lifts his gun. “You see, I don’t normally do my own bidding, but I couldn’t resist when I saw who crossed me. A little girl, beautiful, yet so fucking dumb.” Using his gun, he swipes at a strand of hair at my ear. “I thought, how can a man with my needs pass up an opportunity—teach you some manners on stealing while enjoying you at the same time?” His hand reaches down, grazing my breasts. He lowers the gun until it’s pressing between my thighs. “Have you ever been fucked with a gun, Ms. Monroe?”
Holy fuck, I’m going to puke. “Please…” I beg, desperation in my pleading tone.
“Are you begging for me to fuck you or save you? Because no one can save you now.” He jams the gun roughly between my covered sex, and I’m thankful for the heavy material of my jeans. I scream out, and he reaches forward and slaps me. “Ungrateful too, I see. Do tell me what this boytoy sees in you. Unless being a prude cunt is the thing nowadays.” He grips my hair and tugs back, another scream radiating up my throat. “Thatta girl. Open wide. Exactly how I like the young ones. I bet you’d feel wonderful wrapped around my cock. If you’re a good little girl, I’ll wait to cut your tongue out.” Tears pour down my cheeks. His vile words have my stomach churning, and I choke, fighting back bile. His disgusting laughter causes me to lose my fight. My throat convulses, and he releases my head and jumps back as I throw up over the cement ground.
Cash
I pace my hotel room while Jimmy continues making calls. So far, he has nothing on Vincent Leoni or his whereabouts. Pretending like everything was peachy keen the rest of the day was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But Jimmy was right. If Becks saw I was off, he’d pull me. And if I don’t race, Luna is as good as dead. My stomach tightens at the thought. She has to be okay.
“Thanks, bro. Keep me in the loop.” The second Jimmy hangs up, I’m on him. “Relax. Nothing yet. Sounds like he’s definitely in town. Unlike him to handle something like this himself, so he must have an interest in Luna.” My stomach recoils. The things she told me they threatened to do to her… I’m going to be sick. “Hey, that could be a good thing.”
“How the fuck so, man?”
“He has an interest in her. Which means he’s not planning to kill her right away.”
“You fucking kidding me?”
“I’m just saying. Vincent Leoni offs people for taking his parking spot.”
How the fuck is this supposed to make me feel better? I thrust my fingers through my hair. My eyes squeeze shut, and I pray this is all just a nightmare. I’m going to open my eyes again, and Luna is going to be here with me. But when I reopen them, the pain is even more prominent. The reality of who has her snaps me in two. I take my fist and smash it into the wall.
“Whoa there, bud. Let’s not go breaking your hand. You need that guy to drive.”
“Fuck!” I holler, holding my bruised knuckles. “I can’t do this. I can’t just go on as if nothing is happening. What if she’s hurt? What if he’s…” I can’t go there. My phone buzzes, and I rip it from my back pocket, hoping it’s going to be that motherfucker. It’s Becks again. I ignore his call for the third time.
“He’s going to worry,” Jimmy says.
“It’s fine.”
“Beckett loves you like a son, man. He worries about you. And after everything…he feels responsible for you.”
“Well, he shouldn’t. I’m not his problem.”
“But Luke was. You know, no one can tell you to stop hurting, but you have to understand. Becks took his death bad too. He just manned up and kept his pain to himself. He stayed strong around you to make sure he was strong for you when you weren’t.”
I turn around at Jimmy’s words. “What do you mean?”
“Beckett almost quit. Threw in the towel. If it weren’t for you, he’d be gone. He couldn’t continue training someone after what happened. We all know you blame yourself, but Beckett blames himself. He was the one calling the shots that day.”
“And Luke was the one who didn’t listen.”
“Does that matter? Is it my fault because I didn’t catch the error a second sooner? We all hold some sort of burden. But Becks? He owned it.”
I never knew this. There were times I despised Becks for moving on so easily. For not losing his shit like I did any chance I got. He was always so…put together. “I never knew…”
“Yeah…well, that was the point. He didn’t want to burden you…or anyone, for that matter. But he’s hurting too. He loves you, man. You should let him in. Luke would want that.”
My phone buzzes again, and this time I plan on taking Beckett’s call. But it’s not him. Unknown Caller.
“I want to hear her voice and know she’s okay.”<
br />
His sinister laugh sickens me. I wish I could reach through the phone and fucking choke the life out of him. “You’re not the one making the rules here. You’re more than welcome to hear her if you enjoy the sounds of her screams.”
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I snap.
“Hmmm…that’s a lot to ask of me, Mr. Huntington. She’s too tempting not to play with—”
“Please. I’m begging you. Don’t hurt her. I’ll win your race and get you what you want. But let her go.”
There’s a pregnant pause, and I think he’s actually considering it until he speaks. “I told you once, you’re not the one calling the shots. And for that, she’ll reap the consequences.”
“No! Please! Leave her alone!”
“Nice talking with you, Mr. Huntington. Maybe next time I call you’ll spend less time pleading for a worthless cause and more time listening. ’Til we talk again.”
I twist on my heel and throw up in the middle of the floor.
Luna
I jolt awake, gasping for air. It’s hotter than the devil’s ass in here. The air is thick and hard to breathe. I have no idea what time it is. My body aches, and my fingers are numb from the tightness of my restraints.
The only sound I hear is the violent pounding of rain smacking against the roof of the warehouse. Rain. Oh no. The race. No, no, no, it can’t be raining. He needs to win this race. He needs to do this for his brother.
I rock back and forth in my chair. The skin on my wrists so raw, I barely feel the rubbing of the rope against my flesh. How long have I been here? Has the race begun? Has it ended? The blood splatter on my shirt is dry. How long does it take blood to dry? Minutes? Hours? Days? What does he plan on doing with me? He hasn’t told me what he wants. To torture me until I wither away? Die alongside Jade’s dead body? Tears fill my eyes. I fight not to look at him. Vincent left him to rot at my feet.
He’s going to leave me in here to rot too. I break down and start to cry, letting my emotions get the best of me. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to leave the beautiful life I was starting to create. I don’t want to leave him. “Please, someone, please,” my pleas are barely whispered. Not even a mouse could hear me now.
Cash
“You ready, man?” Jimmy hands me my helmet, and I tuck it to my side. Beckett eyes me hard, taking notice of my jittery hands. Ignoring his inquisitive stare, I strut out of the pit. I peer up and take in the sky. The weather has taken a toll for the worst, the dark clouds rolling in. What should be bright skies is threatening a torrential downpour. If that happens, the race will be postponed. And what the fuck happens then?
There’s a pit in my stomach so big, I can’t swing the nausea. I haven’t slept a wink. Vincent Leoni never called back. I have no idea if Luna is dead or alive, and I’m about to head into the race of my life. There was never a doubt I wouldn’t win this race. It was mine to win. But now? My nerves have me in a state of doubt. And that fucking scares me.
I use my forearm to swipe away the building sweat along my forehead. I need to pull it together. I look up again, the clouds angry, gliding across the sky, leaving a heaviness in my chest. It can’t rain.
“You gotta get your head in the game. Becks’ on to you. He’s putting the cause on the anniversary, which—”
“Don’t. I can’t deal with that shit right now.”
Jimmy coughs into his hand. “Better, quick.”
“Cash, they need you at the podium. They’re ready for the tribute—”
“I’m not doin’ it,” I snap at Lilly. I cannot get on stage right now.
Her eyes shoot open. “Uh, yeah, you are doin’ it. They have a whole setup—”
“I’m fucking not getting up there!”
Beckett grabs me, pulling me away from a shocked Lilly. When we’re tucked away back in the corner of the pit, I rip my arm out of his grip. My chest is too tight. Is she okay? Have they hurt her? Why hasn’t he called back? I bend forward, needing air. I can’t fucking breathe.
“You okay?”
No, I’m not. I’m far from it. “Fine. Just need a moment.” I need that bastard to call so I can hear her voice. Know she’s still breathing.
Beckett places his hand on my shoulder, and I threaten to crack. “Luke would have loved seeing you at this race. I know it’s going to be tough out there at times, but you got this. This race was meant for you.” I squeeze my eyes shut and nod. It’s the only thing I can do. I can’t allow my mind to detour from what’s important right now. The last year has felt like I’ve been trying to prove something in order to save my brother. But I can’t save someone who’s already dead.
“Um, Cash?” I turn to Lilly, feeling like an asshole for yelling at her. “They won’t ask you to come up, just a moment of silence, if that’s okay.”
Fuck, I’m an asshole. They’re trying to honor my brother and I’m throwing a fit.
“You about ready?” Becks speaks up. I don’t know if I can look at him without losing it. I need to keep it together.
“Yeah.” My answer is short.
“No matter what happens out there today, your brother would be proud. He wanted this for you.”
“He wanted me to win the race he should have won?”
His hand rests on my shoulder. “He wanted you to succeed. He wanted nothing more.”
Jimmy comes up, interrupting. “Cash. It’s time to race.”
I’m on lap sixty-four when the rain breaks through the clouds, soaking the track. “No, no no…” I whip around the bend, mere inches shy of the apex. My anxiety hits an all-time high, which is not fucking good. At a time like this, I need all my focus and agility on the way the car takes the traction and rain. One wrong move and I can lose it. I hold my speed at a solid one-seventy-five, barely seeing in front of me. Water sprays at my windshield hindering my sight even more, making it almost impossible to see. “I need some fucking eyes out here,” I snap. My peripheral vision is shit. I can hardly see the back lights of the car ahead of me.
“You’re coming up on the seventh bend. Number three and fourteen are to your left. Six on your right. You’re still steady in the middle, but it looks like two is coming up on the outside.”
“Where’s Miles?”
Jimmy pipes up. “He’s two ahead.”
“Stay off the line, Cash,” Becks says, and I shift her a bit. “You gotta let off a bit. That’s it. It’s just a pocket. The rain will let up quick.”
It better. It has to. I can’t have them call this race. I led the first sixty-five laps, until Becks demands I come in. “I’m fine, I got this,” I argue, hitting lap sixty-six.
“You’re low on gas, and you’re starting to strip the back wheels. You’re pushing it too hard. You need to come in.”
“If I do, I’ll drop off the lead.”
“If you don’t, you’ll drop off period. Get the fuck in!”
My fuel light goes on. Fuck. I wrap around and pull into the pit row, my team jumping into gear and doing what they do best. One thing they can’t fix, though, is my adrenaline pumping in overtime.
“What the hell’s taking you so long? Let’s go!” I yell, ignoring Becks’ frustrated gaze.
“You’ll make it up by lap sixty-seven. Relax,” Jimmy announces over the mic.
One of my road crew members pops his head up, addressing their work. “Cash, you gotta slow it down. Your brakes are shot and the tires are shredded pretty bad. Unless you wanna lose more time taking another pit stop around lap eighty, slow it down.”
I can’t fucking slow it down. I want to scream. “Just hurry the fuck up!” I snap as my eyes lock on an unfamiliar man, not in team uniform, hidden in the back of the pit. His large appearance, dark clothes and dark frown cause a dip in my stomach. One of Vincent’s guys is watching me. How the fuck did he get in—
“Done!”
I break from our locked stare down. A clear message. They’re watching. I tear out onto the track, my back end pushing off hard from the rain
, and make my way into the middle, quickly approaching the fifth turn. The rain isn’t letting up, and my vision is shit.
“Cash, accident coming up on turn nine. Bring it in closer to the apex.” The spray from the cars in front of me is killing my sight of the track. “Fuck.” I jerk fast, almost adding to the crash.
“Where is Miles?” I spit out.
“He’s got you by twenty seconds right now. He’s going to have to stop soon. You’ll make up the time then.”
Not good enough. The rain is affecting my grip on the track and I’m forced to let off the throttle, taking the eleventh turn. My mind suddenly shoots to the day I took Luna go-karting.
“Remember to brake hard and early.”
“You realize I’m going to crush you, right?”
I savor in her laugh as she grabs the helmet I’m offering her. “I look forward to the challenge. But right now, I suggest you put your money where your mouth is.”
It was one of the first times I saw her let loose. Smile in such a carefree way. I vowed to make sure I’d do whatever it took to always keep that sexy, happy smile permanently on her face. The warm memory crosses with a dark one, Vincent’s words taking form.
“Win or she dies.”
“You’re more than welcome to hear her if you enjoy the sounds of her screams.”
“She’ll reap the consequences.”
“Cash, watch out!”
My focus slips, and I jerk in time to avoid smashing into a car. My breaks lock, and I start to slide. “Fuck!”
“Let up NOW!” Jimmy hollers into the mic, and I do, seconds from nicking the wall.
Junkie: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World) Page 19