Page 167 of Twisted Truth

“Wh-what are you doing, Kyle? Please. Put that away.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Ella. But you did this. You’ve forced my hand. If your boyfriend gives me what I want, you can walk away.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“He will.”

“How are you so sure?”

“He has to.”

“And if he doesn’t . . . you’ll kill me?”

“Just shut up and just call him, you stupid bitch.”

“Okay.” I hold up my hands. I’m just realizing my purse and laptop bag are still slung over my shoulder. I slowly peel them off and set them on the ground, then crouch down. “Let me get my phone.”

I blink hard and try to focus, but shock courses through me, and my mind is a mess of jumbled thoughts. Kyle doesn’t own a gun; I don’t think he even really knows how to work one. Where did he get it from? Would he actually shoot me? Is he willing to kill me? Is this really happening?

“Hurry!” he barks.

Hands shaking almost uncontrollably, I pry open my purse and dig through it. I peek up as I do so, not daring to drop my attention from Kyle. The mad glint in his eyes is even stronger now, as if he’s continually convincing himself to keep pointing the gun at me. He’s desperate and half out of his mind right now, and I have no idea how far he’s willing to take this. I know I have to do something. But what?

“This will work, this will work, this will work,” Kyle mutters to himself over and over again as he paces, still watching me with a half crazed look on his face.

My hand bumps into a small bottle in my purse. I still for a moment, frantically trying to get my thoughts in order. This may be my only option.

I wrap my hand around the bottle to hide it behind the phone as I stand, then I tuck that hand slightly behind me as I open my phone and pull up Asher’s contact and hit the call button. Kyle bounces on his heels and runs his hand through his hair over and over again as it rings.

“Ella!” Asher gasps. “Wh?—

“Threatening me isn’t going to get you money, Kyle,” I interrupt, my voice shaking. “Put the gun down.”

“Put him on speaker,” Kyle demands.

I do as he says. “If you hurt a hair on her head I’ll kill you in ways you’ve never even thought of,” Asher yells.

“I won’t hurt her if you give me what I want.”

“And what is that?”

“A million dollars, wired to the account number I give you. You and this whore fucked me over and you owe me.”

“You said you didn’t have an account,” I say, then bite my tongue. Pissing him off is the last thing I want to do.

“It’s an offshore account my buddy set up for me. That’s the only option I have left.”

“Get me the information and I’ll have it wired.”

Kyle pulls out a small piece of paper out of his pocket and reads the number aloud to Asher. “I’ll release her as soon as I have confirmation the money is cleared.”

He looks at me. “Now hang up.” Kyle looks victorious and pissed off all at the same time as I do. “I knew he’d listen to reason. Looks like that golden pussy of yours worked.”

He takes a step toward me. “As a matter of fact, I’ve missed that pussy.”

I take a step backwards. “Stay away from me.”

“Why should I? I had you first before he stole you from me. I think you owe me one more time. A little goodbye.”