Page 90 of Still Afraid

“Was this what Aaron was looking for?” He held the bag open to show everyone who had gathered around him.

Bonnie covered her mouth.

Jesse drew his mom to his side. “I knew he was into bad stuff, but I didn’t think—I guess I had hoped it wasn’t that bad.”

“Is he selling?” Troy asked.

Everyone shrugged.

Josh didn’t want to say it out loud, but it sure seemed that dealing could be part of what was going on. Even so, nothing made sense. “This doesn’t answer why he took her and where they are now.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chloe came to at the sound of Aaron’s scream. Had she really passed out? The combination of a panic attack and the stun gun must have been too much.

Richard was focused on Aaron, so Chloe worked her ropes in small movements, hoping not to grab their captor’s attention. The ropes were now loose enough that she was able to move her bound hands to her right pocket.

Richard turned. She slid her hands back to where they’d been directly in front of her before he was fully facing her.

“You’re back with us. I thought you’d be tougher than this. Maybe the shock was too strong?” He picked up a small knife, about the size of a paring knife, and twisted it between his fingers.

She didn’t want to take her eyes off Richard, but her desire to check on her brother was greater. The pain etched in Aaron’s expression broke her heart. How and why had he gotten himself into this mess?

Maybe she could try and stall by talking. She met Richard’s gaze. “I still don’t understand. If you’re going to kill me, at least explain to me why we are where we are.”

“Your kid brother never confessed to you?”

She glanced at Aaron. He hung his head.

“Tell your sister. Go ahead. Tell her what you stole. Might as well tell her the whole story.”

Aaron continued to stare at the ground.

Richard stepped closer to Chloe and pointed the knife at her. “Tell her.”

“Stop it.” Aaron’s plea was desperate.

“Then do what you’re told.”

“I stole a pack of drugs.”

“Yes, yes, she knows that already. And you were going to sell it and keep the profit for yourself, weren’t you?”

“I don’t know what I was going to do.” A touch of defiance colored Aaron’s voice.

Richard leaned in close to Chloe’s ear but did not speak in a quiet voice. “Your brother here fancies himself a drug dealer.”

“I do not.” Was her brother’s fight returning?

“Right. You aren’t good enough for that. You’re a pathetic excuse for a junkie who needs another hit.”

Aaron deflated and didn’t respond. Oh, Aaron! Her heart hurt for her brother. She needed him to have the gumption he’d had as a kid, when he never let his older siblings run him over.

She had to try to get through to him. “Don’t listen to him, Aaron. You’re better than that. You’ve made poor choices, but they don’t define you or your future. God made you for so much more.”

Richard stabbed her in the leg.

The knife ripped into the flesh of her thigh, and she screamed.