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Anna slammed the burner phone on the table, breaking its screen. She didn’t give a fuck. It was crystal clear that her partnership with Trollinger was over. The woman had hung up on her and hadn’t called back.
All Anna’s plans were up in smoke and she had no place to go.
Next stop for me is prison. “Fuck. None of this would be happening to me if it weren’t for that damn bitch, Ashley Vaughn.”
She knew she had to get out of the state and locate a place she could hide. But the goddamn sheriff had put out an APB on her. Every cop in the state was looking for her car.
She needed another vehicle, and the only way she had left to get one was to steal. She snapped the silencer to the barrel of the gun. Her hands were shaking. She didn’t have many options, and the ones she did have weren’t good.
An image of Ashley appeared in her mind, and suddenly an idea occurred to her. That idea made her feel better and calm. “Why steal? Ashley won’t be needing her car when I’m done with her.”
* * * *
Sylas pulled Ashley’s key out of his pocket for the umpteenth time since she’d given it to him. Nic also had a key. “One. Seven. Six. Four. One.”
Nic laughed. “You’re worse than I am.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been repeating Ashley’s gate code over and over for the past five minutes. Are you afraid you’ll forget it before we get to her complex?”
“Not a chance, buddy. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when we knock on her door.”
* * * *
Ashley slathered peanut butter onto her crackers and poured herself a glass of milk. This was one of her favorite nighttime snacks, a luxury she didn’t indulge in very often. But she’d earned it. She’d studied hard. Nic and Sylas said she was ready, and she hoped they were right.
She sat down on her sofa and turned on the television. She needed something light to watch that would let her mind relax enough so that she would be able to fall asleep. The program she selected was a cooking competition show. The three chefs were baking desserts, which looked delicious to her. If she kept eating the way she had been the past few weeks, she would have to run two and three times a day.
She put down her glass, recalling the last run she’d been on. Her running partner had been Anna, who was still at large. She and Phoebe hoped that Anna would be apprehended soon. They believed once she was in custody they would be able to find out the truth of who Walter Steele really was.
* * * *
Looking in every direction, Anna rolled down her car window and entered the code at the security gate. She’d been able to get all the way to her apartment complex without being spotted.
She knew the only place that would be buzzing in Destiny this time of night was Phase Four, and she was nowhere near it. But she still needed to remain cautious and on guard. She had no intention of getting caught and being sent to prison.
She drove her car to the back of the parking lot. There was one empty space next to the complex’s dumpsters. It was the best place to leave her car because the giant metal bins kept it from being seen from the street.
Wild Oaks was dark and silent. That was a good thing. She didn’t want to be spotted by some nosy neighbor who would alert the sheriff’s department. She’d thought about going to her own apartment to collect some personal things for her escape out of the state. But she’d tossed that idea aside, knowing she didn’t have much time.
She was here for two reasons. One, to make that goddamn bitch pay. And two, to take her car. That was all. Nothing else.
* * * *
After placing her empty plate and glass in the dishwasher, Ashley stretched out on her sofa. She was getting sleepy but wanted to see if Chef Rosie’s molten chocolate cake was going
to beat out Chef Jose’s apple pie à la mode. The judges had eliminated Chef Tony, who had baked brownies.
* * * *
With the pistol in her hand, Anna walked down the sidewalk to Ashley’s. The apartment door next to hers opened, and Henry stepped out with a cigarette and lighter in his hand.
Fuck. Before she could jump behind the bushes, their eyes locked. Henry reached for his cell, which was clipped to his belt.
She aimed the gun at him. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Mr. Underwood. Put your hands up.”
He glared at her. She needed to be extra careful with the old guy. Henry had been a cop.
