Midnight Toxicity

35.

"We will have a civilized conversation, Charlize. One way or another."

My breathing hiccupped, recognizing the voice of the stunning blonde man holding me hostage. I elbowed his ribs, and he slowly released me. How did he even know I was going to be here? My mind spun out at the number of things that could go wrong now.

"Don't worry about the Bluetooth signal," Kacen drawled, leaning against the door, blocking my escape. "The boy in your ear won't know anything happened other than losing you for a minute or two."

"Okay, that's good." I blinked in confusion, fixing my dress. "Talk quick, asshole."

He laughed, cupping his chin as he scanned me from head to toe. He was wearing almost the identical clothing as the last time we saw each other, and I hated how gorgeous he looked in simple jeans. My predicament amused him, and I wanted nothing more than to slap the grin off his face.

"Whatever Andy wants from Colton, you will fail. Do you hear me? I have decided I want to see a bonfire tonight. Have you ever built one before? You start with dry —"

"Are you serious?" I growled, shoving my palms against his rock-hard chest until he grunted from the force. "I have waited weeks to hear from you, and this is what you ask? I can't return to Golding empty-handed!"

"My boss has grown tired of Colton and has decided to cut ties. Kill him tonight and make it look like an accident. Burn him to the fucking ground." Kacen ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Please don't make me do this. I'm not a killer."

"You are not a whore," he uttered, touching my arm. "But that's not true either, is it? No one will believe you set out to kill him. Not even Chace."

I shrank away from him. "How do you know where I've been? Don't play with me! I am in some serious shit because of my stepfather, and if you had an ounce of compassion, you would help me leave all this behind, not shove me further into hell."

He sighed, following me across the small space with a softer look. "There is no other outcome. We can't allow Golding to gain any information about our businesses. You are doing very well, and soon this favor will end. Don't take it personally."

My jaw dropped. "Don't take it personally?"

"Time is up," he said, pointing a finger at my chest. "I do not want to rip the bones out of that tight little body, Charlize... but I will if you give Andy one shred of information tomorrow. Choose your battles wisely."

"What is my reward in this war, Kacen?"

"Whatever the fuck you want." He chucked my chin. "You are a born fighter, so go out there tonight and show my boss how bad you want the prize."

"Speaking of prizes, I haven't found anything unusual at Motley Hall. If you would tell me what to look for—"

"You'll know it when you see it." He opened the door. "By the way, you look like a lot lizard. Welcome to Alabama."

I did not remember how I ended up outside but found myself in the alley a few moments later. There was skin under my fingernails when I blinked at my surroundings. His parting words were to say I dressed like a truck stop prostitute, and I snapped. The heartless beast I had just spoken to deserved worse than a cat scratch. Kacen had not retaliated, but I felt maddened. Worked up so much I thought my fake blonde hair might spontaneously combust.

These men didn't deserve to have me do their dirty work, but I was keeping score. Sooner or later, I would make Luca Romano pay up for the unforgivable deeds I would accomplish in his family's name. Kacen had it right. I didn't give up easily, and fighting for my right to exist was all I knew these days.

Keeping the information of the townhouse from Kacen was not very smart, but we did not have a lot of time to communicate. It would behoove me to ask a few others about Golding's stash houses when I had time.

"Chace?" I hissed, tapping the camera on the front of my dress. "Are you with me, Chace?"

Radio silence.

I swallowed the paralyzing helplessness Kacen's sudden appearance stirred, continuing to handle my business because that was what bad bitches did. There was a plan, and although I had to tweak the details, I was still in control.

At the end of the street, Colton leaned against a sleek vehicle. Two women were showing off their flirting skills when I stepped out of the back passage. Lingering under a bright streetlamp for show, his eyes immediately zeroed in on me. Taking my time, I sashayed closer, letting his lecherous eyes eat me up. He told the two boxes for hire to get lost just as I painted on an innocent smile.

"You ready to take a ride, baby?" He murmured, opening the passenger door.

I paused, laying my hand on his, where it rested on the top. "How long is the drive? I'm tired after working all week and don't—"

He clenched his jaw, then relaxed when I crossed my arms. "I'll have you home by midnight, Cinderella. It's early, and I meant what I said. I'll make sure you never leave me after tonight."

I giggled. "Colt, you misspoke. You said I wouldn't want to move again."

"Did I?" He smirked, impatiently waving for me to get inside. "You'll have a good time. I'll take care of you."

"Okay, thank you," I demurely agreed, ducking my head to get in the car.

The interior reeked of weed as I hurriedly checked the backseats for surprise guests or sharp objects that he could use to murder me. I was jumpy, hanging on by a thread. Whatever Kacen had used to disrupt Chace's signal left me vulnerable. I had no idea if Chace even knew I was about to leave the area.

Colton didn't mess around, speeding through the streets until we reached the outskirts of the city with one hand on the wheel and the other on my leg, setting up a baseline for our two-minute relationship. I allowed him to paw my flesh for the simple fact that while he drove, I placed a sticky substance on his own, which would melt away and eventually work itself into his bloodstream.

My adrenaline was off the charts as I pretended to be a bubbly blonde. My inner cheerleader was absent. In its place there was a dark, depressing thing. A weight I always carried but kept in check. The next few hours would change the very person I am, and it wasn't like I could run away.

He played rock music so loud it hurt my ears, but I sang along and even laughed when he told me I had the voice of a broken duck before remembering I had no backup. Keeping an eye on the roads revealed no one following us, so I was on my own for my first kill.

You aren't a killer! But... you do like making people bleed. If you keep moving forward, they can't touch you. Keep playing the game, Char.

How would I even get the jump on a guy like Colt? Should I just stab him with the blade inside my bra or see if he carries a gun, then pop him with his own weapon? Chace taught me to be creative and use what we had lying around to seize the upper hand if I became cornered but blinding him with the straw in the cup holder did not sound like a winning outcome.

"No cars," I finally mentioned after a few miles on a dirt road. "I enjoy that more than the stream of traffic in my old city."

"Do you mind if we make a quick stop first?" He blurted.

I smiled to myself. "I do. You promised to have me home early."

His grip on my thigh became painful before he grabbed the wheel. "It won't take long. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."

My head suddenly felt light, and my legs became numb. My entire body relaxed into the leather seat with an unladylike jerk as I tried to regain control of my limbs. The sonofabitch drugged me! I looked at Colton in shock.

He noticed my outrage and chuckled. "You're a lightweight. Sorry about rushing things, Nora. But you seem the type to leave a mark, and I don't want to crash my new car when you realize I plan on hurting you until you wish you had joined your mama in the grave."

I licked my lips with the slowness of a sloth. "That's disrespectful. Have you ever tried just asking?"

His eyes widened, and he grinned ear to ear, turning up the volume of a guitar solo just as I started to lose consciousness. "Looks like sadism is on the menu! We're going to have a good time tonight."