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Turning down the street, I see Lix’s SUV pull onto the road. Shit. Well, this was a spur-of-the-moment visit. He said he and Cassie were going to finish the painting tonight. Thought I’d take them out for a late dinner.
I wonder where he’s going. Wait. Today is Thursday. He mentioned he went somewhere the last Thursday of every month.
No. I promised my days of following him were over.
Shit! I’m hopeless. I can’t help myself.
Staying a few cars behind, I trail after his SUV for the next fifteen minutes to a bad part of town in Riverview. He gets out with his backpack.
Oh shit! I know what that means. He’s on an escort.
I should turn around and go home. Let him do what he does.
My inner bitch, the one that controls my rebellious curiosity, gets the best of me. I get out and trace his steps to the back of the house. The door is cracked open. I should go home. I tell myself as my disobedient hand reaches for the knob.
Pushing the door open, I see a teenage girl. She’s standing, eyes fixed straight ahead. I lurch closer to inspect what she’s looking at.
Lix stands with a gun in his hand. It’s pointed at a guy. The intended target’s palms are in the air like he’s about to be arrested. Spotting Lix’s backpack on the kitchen floor, I scoop it up.
I tap the girl on the shoulder. Her eyes flash to me. “Are you okay?”
She nods.
“Stay here.” I slowly creep into the room. “Hey,” I calmly say, announcing my presence so I’m not accidentally shot for yet again showing up where I don’t belong.
“What the fuck’s wrong with this asshole,” the guy asks, nudging his head at Lix. “He’s been standing like that for five minutes.” His eyes sway back to Lix. “What the fuck, asshole? If you’re going to shoot me, do it already. My fucking arms are killing me!”
“Hey.” I walk over to Lix and place my hand on his shoulder. His eyes remain locked on the guy.
But not really. It’s as if he’s staring off into an abyss of nothingness.
“Lix,” I whisper his name, giving him a gentle shake. There’s no response. “Okay.” Unsure of what’s happening, I open his backpack, grab the zip ties, and walk over to the guy. I can do this. “Turn around.”
“What?”
“Turn around,” I say, concerned about Lix. But first, I must deal with this dirtbag. “Put your hands behind your back.”
“What the fuck?” The guy shakes his head, but Lix’s unwavering gun has the jerk obeying my command.
“Get on your knees,” I say after securing his hands together. “Do it.” His eyes roll while he manages to get down on both knees. I zip-tie his ankles together.
Confident I have him secured, I rush over to Lix, still frozen in the same position as when I got here with the gun in his hand, now pointed at the wall.
“Hey.” Softly placing my hand on his arm, I whisper, “Lix, it’s okay.” Then applying pressure, I lower his arm. The gun follows in his tight grip. “Yeah, that’s it.”
He blinks. His perplexed, faraway eyes maneuver toward me.
“Hey,” I say with a small smile, removing the gun from his hold. “You with me, now?” I palm his cheek, rubbing it lightly with the pad of my thumb.
He blinks. This time his focus appears to adjust, and I finally feel like I’m his focus, and everything else is a blur.
“What happened?” He grabs my arm, his bright blue eyes opening further. “Are you okay?” He scans my body.
“Yes. I’m fine,” I’m quick to assure him, thankful he’s back.
He glances at the guy tied up on the floor. Then to the girl in the doorway. “You okay?”
She nods.
