Black (Drugs, Love&Money Book 3)

Chapter Thirteen: Escape

It was dark and I could barely see. I tried moving my arms but they seemed to be restricted somehow. I tried screaming for help but the words wouldn't come out. Where the hell am I?

The sounds of someone coming down the stairs were loud, almost like someone banging on drums. The sound went on and on and on, making my head pound right along with it. A light was hanging from the ceiling and the sound of it swinging back and forth screeched like nails being scraped on the chalkboard. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears.

I felt something on the back of my neck, making me freeze in my place. Whatever it was, it was close enough for me to acknowledge it was there but I didn't feel it touching me. My breathing started to quicken.

"Who-"

Before I could finish my sentence it felt like an arm was quickly placed around my neck and began to choke me. I squirmed under the arm, trying my best to break free from it but I couldn't. My head began to pound even harder and the little bit of eyesight I had begun to get blurry. I felt everything inside of me begin to shut down. The fight in me began to weaken.

"Jade, wake up!"

I jumped up from a nightmare screaming from the top of my lungs. I was sweating all over, making my silk sheets stick to my skin. Malachi was sitting on the edge of my bed, worry all over his face.

"It's okay Jade, you're home. You're safe.."

I fell back and broke into a sob.

"Damn Jade."

Malachi instantly lay next to me and pulled me towards him. He let me cry into his t-shirt while he rubbed my back and my arm. Out of all the dreams I've had, that was the worst one.

"I just wish they get this over with."

"Who?" he asked, his lips on my forehead.

"Whoever is trying to kill me. I keep having dreams about me dying. I just want it to happen already."

"Don't think like that. You have every reason to live."

"I can't do this anymore. I just want a peace of mind. I don't even feel safe in my own house. Even with you here."

He held me tighter and I kind of relaxed. It felt good to have his arms around me. I can still feel the slight chills running down my spine.

"Take me away."

"Where?"

"Anywhere. I don't care, just please take me away from here."

He got up then pulled me up with him. He looked me up and down but quickly looked away like he was embarrassed he even looked. At least I had on a nightgown that comes mid-thigh.

He cupped my face then caressed my cheek.

"Pack your things."

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"This is your house?"

Every time I turned a corner I was in shock. Malachi had the biggest decked out house I've ever seen. It even looks better than mine and I personally thought that was hard to do. I'm slightly jealous.

"Let me show you where you'll be sleeping."

He grabbed my hand and led me up this winding staircase. He had different paintings of black couples, making me wonder what exactly is he into. I decided to ignore his strange taste of décor and continue to follow him.

We got to a room at the end of the hall that I'm assuming is the guest bedroom. It had a big bed in the middle, dresser set to match, and the carpet felt so good between my toes. I sighed.

"I take it you're going to like it here." He said with a smile.

His phone started ringing and he stepped out of the room. I heard the door close shortly after. I waited a little then scurried out to go on my hunt. I am very nosey and I know for a fact you can tell more about a person by the way they have their house than what they'll actually tell you.

The first room next to mine had a bunch of work out equipment in it. Don't know why the hell he would put this upstairs, but it's his house not mine. I opened the next door and was greeted by the brightest blue wall. It seemed like my eyes had to adjust just to look at it. Once they did, I was frozen in one spot. It was a baby crib off to the side and teddy pair wall stickers everywhere. I'm assuming he has, or had, a baby at one point and time. I'll definitely be asking about this.

I was about to close the door back when a picture caught my eye. I picked it up and my hands started shaking so bad I almost dropped it. There, looking dead at me, was a corny Wal-Mart portrait of Malachi and Bri with his hand over her pregnant stomach. I put the picture back exactly how I found it, ran to the bathroom, and pulled out my phone to call my father. I could be wrong about this idea, but this is just too ironic.

"Jade, I'm glad you called. I have-"

"Dad! I don't have time! I think I know who is trying to kill me."

"Who?"

"Remember when I told you of why I turned myself in and what I had did?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I think the girl is trying to kill me for killing her brother."

"Aw, come on Jade. You can't make those type of allegations without proof."

"Dad, who else could it be? She was the only one who actually knew of any dirty work I did outside of the people who were working with me. And we both know it wasn't them."

"Well round up Malachi, come to my house and lets find her to end this."

"That's the thing, we're at his place and-"

"Wait, what?"

"I don't have time to explain. He has-"

A knock was at the door and I heard Malachi asked if I was okay.

"I gotta go dad." I whispered then hung up the phone. I flushed the toilet and ran the water like I was washing my hands then opened up the door.

"I had to pee." Was all I could manage to say.

I followed him back down the stairs and into the kitchen. He handed me a glass and poured me some wine.

A thousand questions ran through my head. Then a skin chilling thought came to mind. What if Bri really is trying to kill me, and she sent Malachi to the interview to get close to me to do it for her? That lump formed in my throat again and I put down the glass.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing important" I said, trying to control my shaky voice.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded my head and looked down at my fingers.

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I tossed and turned in the bed, unable to sleep. That thought never left my head. I feel more unsafe in his house than I did in my own. I flipped the cover off of me and got up to grab something to drink , possibly liquor, to ease my mind. I slowed down when I got by the bathroom. The door was wide open, Malachi obviously in the shower. His shower curtain was clear so I could see straight through it. Making this even more of a risk because he can turn at any moment and see me staring at his immaculate body. His shoulder muscles bulged as he washed his chest. He moved towards the water and turned his head slightly, his eyes connecting with mine. He turned completely to face me and continued to wash his chest. I quickly walked passed the bathroom until I got down the stairs and stopped in the kitchen. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.