Read Online Falling Apart (Barely Alive #2) by Bonnie R. Paulson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bonnie R. Paulson
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narcissism was enough to entertain a psychology team for years. I reached for the cell. “I’m going to call Dominic and see what the hell he wants now.”
The cell phone’s log was filled with his number. I’d just need to push the green button. Just one push and I’d be connecting. Was it worth it?
I couldn’t ask James. I couldn’t even think about it. I had to just – push. The phone beeped and I pressed the piece to my ear. James jerked his gaze from me to the road and back to me. I wished he’d focus on the road. A little bit of food in my stomach might have helped me sweat.
The phone rang. I bit the inside of my cheek. Ring. Ring. Ring.
Dominic’s voice spilled from the speaker. “Why, hello Paul. How’s it going?”
I cringed. Sickly sweet like orange-marmalade, his voice hadn’t changed with the virus. I swallowed the bile speaking with him pushed into the back of my throat. “Dominic. Things are fine. We should be catching up to Brian any second.” Throw him off, because I had nothing to be cocky about. Nothing.
He chuckled. “No, you’re not. You don’t even know what they’re driving.”
“Don’t I? That’s interesting. I can see the chunk missing from Heather’s hair silhouetted in the windshield now.” Positive, think positive, Paul. And like my positive thinking really worked, a sleek black car darted between two rough trucks with beds full of chopped wood. I pointed the move out to James and he nodded. And, holy hell, he stepped on the gas – the needle rising above the speed limit. Could we really be that lucky we’d found them so fast?
Dominic’s words slowed but not enough to suggest a significant amount of doubt. “Well, don’t cause a commotion, Paul. If you save her, you can have her.”
“That’s rather generous of you, Dominic.” I shifted in my seat. “Tell you what. You get her past Lewiston and you can have her.” James glanced at me, but I ignored him. We’d get her back. We had to.
Dominic laughed. “What makes you think she isn’t already?”
I joined him as he continued to chuckle. “Because we aren’t far outside of Coeur d’Alene and I’m on their tail – little black car? Designed for speed, Dominic, but you don’t know about the pending quarantine or about redneck drivers.”
His answering silence stuck to the phone lines like peanut butter. A real smile – a pleased smile – split across my face. “Uh oh, Dom, weren’t prepared for that one, were you? Well, when we get her, we will complete the vaccine and start spreading it across the northwest.”
He’d given away his only playing piece, maybe more. He’d confirmed the car we’d only thought had Heather in it as well as the fact that Brian worked for him. Smooth, Paul. What can only be described as boredom riddled his single word. “Fine.”
I scowled. “What the hell do you mean ‘fine’?” Ass wad.
“Don’t worry about it, kid.” He sounded smug, but I couldn’t be sure if it was an act or not.
The car weaved in front of us, brake lights red in the darkening night. James pulled up, only to be pushed back by a different car cut off by the speeding black automotive. His knuckles tensed on the wheel. But he didn’t break stride, instead, James pushed the button on the radio and utter silence filled the cab. Dominic didn’t speak and I waited to see if I was going to make it out of the car alive.
Two vehicles driving side-by-side separated us from the black one.
James looked ahead, glanced at his speedometer and then pounded his foot on the gas.
I clutched the armrest and pressed myself into my seat. The last thing I wanted to hear for eternity was Dominic’s maniacal laugh as my brains were spread across the grater-like road. Not the way I wanted to go out – or not go out as it were.
A feminine hand poked from the side window, waving at us. It had to be her. She had to be waving for help. The motion had no resemblance to a prom queen riding in court, more
The cell phone’s log was filled with his number. I’d just need to push the green button. Just one push and I’d be connecting. Was it worth it?
I couldn’t ask James. I couldn’t even think about it. I had to just – push. The phone beeped and I pressed the piece to my ear. James jerked his gaze from me to the road and back to me. I wished he’d focus on the road. A little bit of food in my stomach might have helped me sweat.
The phone rang. I bit the inside of my cheek. Ring. Ring. Ring.
Dominic’s voice spilled from the speaker. “Why, hello Paul. How’s it going?”
I cringed. Sickly sweet like orange-marmalade, his voice hadn’t changed with the virus. I swallowed the bile speaking with him pushed into the back of my throat. “Dominic. Things are fine. We should be catching up to Brian any second.” Throw him off, because I had nothing to be cocky about. Nothing.
He chuckled. “No, you’re not. You don’t even know what they’re driving.”
“Don’t I? That’s interesting. I can see the chunk missing from Heather’s hair silhouetted in the windshield now.” Positive, think positive, Paul. And like my positive thinking really worked, a sleek black car darted between two rough trucks with beds full of chopped wood. I pointed the move out to James and he nodded. And, holy hell, he stepped on the gas – the needle rising above the speed limit. Could we really be that lucky we’d found them so fast?
Dominic’s words slowed but not enough to suggest a significant amount of doubt. “Well, don’t cause a commotion, Paul. If you save her, you can have her.”
“That’s rather generous of you, Dominic.” I shifted in my seat. “Tell you what. You get her past Lewiston and you can have her.” James glanced at me, but I ignored him. We’d get her back. We had to.
Dominic laughed. “What makes you think she isn’t already?”
I joined him as he continued to chuckle. “Because we aren’t far outside of Coeur d’Alene and I’m on their tail – little black car? Designed for speed, Dominic, but you don’t know about the pending quarantine or about redneck drivers.”
His answering silence stuck to the phone lines like peanut butter. A real smile – a pleased smile – split across my face. “Uh oh, Dom, weren’t prepared for that one, were you? Well, when we get her, we will complete the vaccine and start spreading it across the northwest.”
He’d given away his only playing piece, maybe more. He’d confirmed the car we’d only thought had Heather in it as well as the fact that Brian worked for him. Smooth, Paul. What can only be described as boredom riddled his single word. “Fine.”
I scowled. “What the hell do you mean ‘fine’?” Ass wad.
“Don’t worry about it, kid.” He sounded smug, but I couldn’t be sure if it was an act or not.
The car weaved in front of us, brake lights red in the darkening night. James pulled up, only to be pushed back by a different car cut off by the speeding black automotive. His knuckles tensed on the wheel. But he didn’t break stride, instead, James pushed the button on the radio and utter silence filled the cab. Dominic didn’t speak and I waited to see if I was going to make it out of the car alive.
Two vehicles driving side-by-side separated us from the black one.
James looked ahead, glanced at his speedometer and then pounded his foot on the gas.
I clutched the armrest and pressed myself into my seat. The last thing I wanted to hear for eternity was Dominic’s maniacal laugh as my brains were spread across the grater-like road. Not the way I wanted to go out – or not go out as it were.
A feminine hand poked from the side window, waving at us. It had to be her. She had to be waving for help. The motion had no resemblance to a prom queen riding in court, more
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