Page 33 of Will to Run

“You lied to me because you knew I wouldn’t come otherwise. You will have to drag me out of my seat, then drag me up to the house, kicking and screaming. I swear I will cause such a scene, your dealers will want nothing to do with you.”

“Suit yourself,” she huffed. Before she closed the door, she made a face. “It’s going to be longer than two minutes,” she mocked before she slammed it. My mind was running worst-case scenarios, and I was sick imagining what my friend… ex-friend… was doing to get her fix. I was hopeful the exchange would happen at the door, but instead she looked back at me and smiled before she entered.

Holy shit.

I locked the door right when she got out, and then I looked around, trying to assess possible danger, knowing I was going to be there longer than I thought. My stomach was bottomed out knowing the area I was in. This place was always on the evening news for less than stellar reasons. Knowing that, I sure as shit wasn’t getting out of the car. I barely glanced down at my phone because I was scared of taking my eyes off my surroundings. Based on the last time I looked, I knew my mom couldn’t be too far. I felt terrible that she had to get me, but also incredibly grateful.

My heart was beating so furiously, it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest, and I was nauseous as my head swiveled non-stop watching. I wondered if I should get into the back seat and hide because every movement had me shaking. I looked down and saw my mom’s location less than six blocks away. She knew Selene’s car. That bitch had been inside for sixteen minutes and counting, and I didn’t even care that I was leaving her. There was no way in hell I was going in to get her. I was already livid she dragged me along for this shit. There weren’t a lot of cars passing by, and when I glanced at my mom’s location again, I saw she was a block and a half away.

Finally, I felt a smidge of relief and let go of the breath I’d been holding. I turned to glance behind me, but of course, there was a big truck parked, so my view was blocked. She’d pull up in a minute.

But the minute went by, and she still wasn’t there.

I checked her location again, and she was in the same spot. I climbed into the driver’s seat and tried to see beyond the truck, but I still couldn’t. The nerves coiled in my insides when I stared at the phone willing the dot to move, but it just wasn’t. So I called, but it rang through to voicemail. I called again—same thing.

After the second call, I knew something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

The nerves disappeared with the adrenaline surged. Jumping out, I take off running in the middle of the street to find where she appeared to have stopped. People were watching me, but I didn’t care. I was running faster than I ever had, and when I was halfway to the marked spot, I saw something in the street; something blonde, wearing the same red shirt my mom had on when I left.

Reaching her, my entire body shook when I saw blood on her face and the bruising along her temple. Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. I panicked.

“Mom… mom,” I said, my fingers dancing over her face, trying to figure out where the cut came from. It wasn’t big, so that was a relief, but she was out cold. What the fuck happened? I called 9-1-1 and thankfully was close enough to see street signs to give them my location, then went back to my mom. I kept calling her name, too scared to shake her, because I knew you’re not supposed to jostle hurt people; at least that’s what they said on TV. But she riled, looked at me, and reached up.

“Del,” she said.

“Mom! God, what happened? Help is on the way. Are you okay?” I cried out with emotion. Thank God she woke up.

“Yes, baby, I’m fine,” she said, trying to sit up. But it was clunky, and she couldn’t do it, so she fell back to the pavement. “I need a minute.”

“What happened, Mom? Where’s the car?”

“They… took it,” she whispered.

“What?” I said, eyes darting around, tracking every shadow.

“Three men. They had guns pointed at me,” her breath hitched. “I didn’t know what to do. They said they wouldn’t hurt me if I got out of the car.” Her eyes watered, and a tear rolled down the side of her cheek.

My mom was fucking carjacked on the way to get me? Jesus. I’d never forgive myself for this one.

We just needed to get home, and I’d figure out how to make it up to her.

Sirens from an ambulance cut through the night. That had to be for us. Thank God. I couldn’t wait for the safety of those four vehicle walls.

“Why are you bleeding?” I asked.

“I got out like they wanted, but then one hit me on the head with his gun. Gosh, it hurts.” The rage burned through me. Rage at Selene for taking me there, rage at whoever had the balls to carjack my mother.

“I’m so sorry, Mom,” I whispered.

“No apology, I will always come for you. Love you, Del.”

But the way she said ‘always come for you’ sounded funny. Almost as if it were slurred.

“Mom, do you hear that? The sirens? They’re coming for you.”

“Della, I don’t feel right.”

“I know, Mom. We will get you fixed up, and then we’ll find the car, but don’t worry, just relax. I’m so sorry for doing this to you.” My own tear cut down my cheek.