“We’ll move nice and easy back down the stairs. If you try anything, I’ll come back and shoot the dog,” the man threatened.
Addyson nodded as he led her toward the stairway. “Tell me where you keep the drugs,” he demanded.
“What drugs?” she asked, trembling.
“The ones Paul left here. Don’t play stupid with me,” he threatened as he grabbed her arm and propelled her into the living room.
“I don’t know a Paul. I recently purchased the house. Maybe you have the wrong address, or they lived here prior to me.”
“No. Paul told me they’re here,” the masked man insisted, sounding desperate. “I need a fix soon. We don’t have time for this,” he exclaimed, pushing her onto the couch.
Holding up her hands, she spoke slowly. “Your hand’s shaking. When’s the last time you got a fix?” she asked calmly.
“Don’t worry about it, lady. Paul didn’t say anything about a woman,” he shouted. Zeus nearly tore the door down, trying to get to her.
“Shut him the hell up, or I’ll shoot him,” the druggie ordered.
“Zeus, quiet,” she commanded. Her beloved baby listened to her, thank goodness.
“Pick up your phone and call Paul. Tell him I’m here and he has one hour to make an appearance, or I start shooting,” he said, waving the gun.
“My...my phone’s in the kitchen,” she said as he scratched his arm, making it bleed. He barely noticed, making her even more nervous. Maybe if she got her phone, she’d send a message of some sort.
“Did you put the drugs there?” he shouted, making Zeus bark again.
He tied her hands in front of her, cutting off her circulation.
“No,” she said emphatically. “I don’t have them.”
“Stay there,” he said, pointing the gun as he entered the kitchen. The sound of dishes breaking and glasses getting thrown to the floor let her know he searched for the supposed drugs. It took him forever, and by the sounds of things, she’d have to replace years of collecting matching pieces of her dinnerware. If she lived. What would he do when he realized she didn’t have them? Did she have time to run out the front door, access the garage door, and speed away? No. She refused to leave Zeus with a crazed man. The dog got her through the toughest time of her life.
When the man returned, he took one of her knives and slashed all her pillows and all the cushions on the couch except for the one she sat on. His eyes narrowed while he stared at her and swiped his chin.
“Did you plan on hiding them by sitting on them?” he spat.
“No. I’m telling you I don’t have what you’re searching for,” she insisted.
The druggie grabbed her, tossing her to the floor. Her head banged off the hardwood floor, making her cringe.
The knife sliced through her former seat, and he tore the stuffing out.
“Where are they?” he yelled.
Zeus barked again.
“Zeus, bedtime,” she shouted before he did anything to her baby.
“If he barks again, I’m shooting through the ceiling,” he said, pointing to the upper floor.
“Listen to me,” she pleaded. “Maybe I can call Paul and ask him where he put them.”
The druggie swiped his hair and paced back and forth. She knew from first-hand experience trying to reason with someone this strung out and desperate only led to trouble.
He went into the kitchen and returned a minute later, throwing her bag at her. “Call him.”
Addyson slowly rifled through her belongings until she found her device. Her fingers shook as she took a chance and dialed the only man she trusted since Sam’s death.
CHAPTER 10
