AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He snorted a laugh and said, “You really are just an opportunist, aren’t you?”
I smiled up at him and said, “I guess you have a type.”
He screwed up his facial expression and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“You’re not dumb. Helen? Come on, Kips.” I whispered, “You think she really didn’t know he was yours? You were with her first, right? And what she hooks up with your little brother…why?”
“To get back at me. I failed the drug test, couldn’t play ball anymore, and…basketball. Not football.” I nodded, and he carried on. “She wanted to marry an athlete, go places, you know? We were just kids, so when she met Ripley…I asked her not to. She did that for revenge. Hurt him and me, but…we were getting back together when.” He stopped and indicated to Rip with the gun in his pocket, so I pulled him closer to my side. If the idiot accidentally fired, it would have to go through me to get to him. Fucking moron!
“Sounds like a keeper.” I rolled my eyes. This concrete was not fire, but it was still warm from the sun beating down on it all day. The thing about SoCal was the sunshine. I could count on one thing in my life as of that dinner. The sun would be up in the morning. It would rise tomorrow. I just wasn’t sure if I would be alive to see it.
“You love my brother?” he asked.
“I love opportunity. I’m contracted to them. I’m the help.” I whispered the next part hoping Rip didn’t hear. “A whore to a man who broke my heart, a man who saw the chance to fuck me, and Apollo…who wants me to clean the fucking basement in Junior House next week. So, you tell me, Kips. What opportunities await?” I moved my arm to lace with his. I wanted to vomit, but I also knew this man was weak in a way none of those men would or could ever be.
“I don’t know.” He looked down at me. His eyes were bloodshot, his pupils so big I was surprised the light at the entrance wasn’t blinding him. “I just want my life back.”
“Well. Let’s start with finding the cold medicine.” I let him go and picked up Rip, and pushed his head to my shoulder. He did a good job of playing sick again and coughed.
The medicines were usually in the front or the back of these types of stores. I was so glad to find out it was all the way in the back of the store. The medicine was across from the food aisles, so I said, “Are you going to get some snacks? We’re right here.”
I indicated the section. “I need some female products too.”
“We didn’t get a cart.” He looked at me.
“You have long arms. I’m sure you can hold a few things, Kips. Come on. We are on a clock here. Right? How long before someone realizes this kid is gone? Before they realize I’m not at the house?” I asked, and he balked. “You need to be glad you found me.”
“I found you because I wanted to hurt you, him. Not him.” He shook his head because of the look I gave him. “And I can’t hurt either of them the way I could you.”
I smiled at him and leaned in a bit, and said, “Well, then you may need a cart because the hardware is that way, and I wouldn’t hurt this one, but that one. Oh, I could do a lot to that one right now.”
He looked so confused and sickened by that thought. I laughed. “You’ll learn, Kips. I’ll teach you. Your pocket pal is easy. No real pain or fear. It’s done. Other things…well.”
“Umm.” He was getting confused about which one of us was the captor at this point.
I said, “Now go get the snacks. We are getting cold medicine and maxi-pads.”
His lip went up, and he made an expression that essentially said gross. I winked and said, “Your brother calls it nature’s lubricant.”
He looked really disturbed then and said, “Stay where I can see you.”
“You stay where I can see you.” I looked at him. “I’m the one without shoes or transportation. Don’t go run off with your cheating ex on me.”
I should also get an academy award for my ability to manipulate men when it matters.
He said, as if I should know this, “I wouldn’t.”
“You better not.” And as if on cue, Rip coughed again.
Kipper went toward the food, and as I stepped backward, watching him intently, I whispered, “This is scary. I know. I need you to do something, and you have to do it, Rip. You can’t wait for me—”
“Hey, Momma.” Winston. I about jumped out of my skin, but I was so fucking glad to see this guy.
“Winston, go to the end of the aisle and stand there at the end cap. Hurry. Please.” As Kipper looked over, I pretended to look at the shelf, pointed, and said, “Lift up and shake your head no, Rip.”
He shook his head, put it back on my shoulder. I moved closer to the end, where Winston was waiting. “Kipper has lost his mind. You can see us, how we look. He took him, me. I’m. I need you to take Rip when I tell you and run, hide, something. He has a gun. Don’t call the cops. Just call Apollo when you get out of sight, in a storage room, something. Okay?”
I picked up the cough syrup and set Rip to his feet. Kipper was grabbing a few more things, and I said louder for him to hear and pointed. “Female products. Right there. Okay? Also, I want the chocolate ones.”
