Page 43 of Bitter Truth
“I’m Cassidy. Why are you out here, Worm?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is this where you live?”
“Why do you want to know?”
He draws away, breaking the connection between my fingertips and his forearm. Scoots backward, putting distance between us as he stares at me suspiciously. I’ve messed up. Triggered his paranoia. But as a buzz sounds in the distance, that suspicion morphs into something else.
One of the girls whimpers and I realize what that something is—fear.
It seems I’m about to meet the other man who calls this rundown shack home, and judging from everyone’s reactions, that’s a very bad thing.
CHAPTER 22
The odds just got worse. Any minute now, one opponent will become two. Two men who have their freedom, my firearm, and probably not a lot to lose, whereas I have a throbbing headache that’s growing worse by the second. Hindered reaction times. Two terrified girls and endless miles to cover to get back to civilization. I have to try and gain the upper hand before things get any worse.
“I could take the girls. Get them back home. Return them to their parents.” I speak quickly, knowing that I’m running out of time.
“No way. You’d tell the police. Show them where to find me.”
“That’s not true. None of us want to hurt you or get you in trouble. We could leave and it would be like we were never even here. Isn’t that right, girls?”
“Yes.”
“She’s right.”
His eyes yoyo between me and the door as the noise outside grows louder.
“Please. I can tell you’re a good guy. I know you don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
His Adam’s apple bobs, the knobby bone thrusting against the skin of his throat as he swallows hard.
“You could come with us, if you’d like. I don’t have much, just a small home, but you could live there with me. I could take care of you.”
The engine falls silent.
“Really?”
“Really.” I give him the best smile I can muster.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I… I’m lonely. And it’s nice to have someone to share things with. Don’t you think?”
My heart hammers so hard that my chest feels bruised by it. Each surge of blood it sends into my veins makes the pounding in my head worse. The pain is overwhelming, the dizziness so bad that I worry I might pass out.
But I need to find a way to get the girls out of here, first. Whatever it takes.
“Maybe.”
I stretch my fingers toward him again. Wiggle them with a hopeful look, praying he’ll reach out and take them. But as the sound of steps approaches the door behind me, and he scoots farther away from me across the floor, I know I’ve lost the battle.
“What’s going on here?”
Danielle whimpers. Fresh tears cut tracks through the dirt on Amelia’s face. Both of them shrink back, pressing themselves against the wall.
“Worm?”
