by T Gephart
She used him?
It didn’t make sense. What could he give her that she couldn’t have gotten herself?
“People like us?” The question unintentional, wondering how he saw me as anything like him.
His voice hardened, throwing me a hateful glance before returning his eyes back to the road. “They fuck us, Hayden. Pretend to give a shit but they don’t. We’re just amusement. That’s what you were to Mack, a way to get his dick wet until his hot wife came to her senses and took him back. And Presley was just slumming it with me. She fed me bullshit about wanting me to be successful, when really she was looking to keep me down. All she had to do was pick up a phone and get me into the clubs like we fucking agreed. Instead, she kept blowing me off, telling me the timing wasn’t right. The fucking timing was perfect, my DJ sets were tight and I was pulling good numbers on the socials. But she didn’t give a fuck. Didn’t drop my name once or so much as lift her perfectly manicured finger to help. Nothing. And then she had the fucking nerve to tell me to contribute to her fucking rent, like she wasn’t pulling six figures sucking dick at that club. Yeah, manager, whatever. Like I believe that shit.”
I nodded, pretending to agree and finding it hard to swallow. “Is that why you were going to rob Diablo? And why you broke into her apartment? To teach her a lesson?”
“I couldn’t give a fuck about that whore. She wasn’t going to help me so I’d find someone who will. But I know she’s got money stashed in that place, and I deserved to be paid for the time I invested. Why do you think I went when she wasn’t home? But the princess just had to get other people involved, playing the fucking victim. When in reality, the real person who got fucked is me. Man, she’s a vindictive slut. I should’ve fucking shot her when I had the chance.”
“Money? You need money?” I forced myself to look at him, knowing we were getting closer to our destination. The store was still open, Penny working late. And as much as I didn’t want to put anyone else in danger, I had an idea that might just work. “I can get you money, Lewis.”
His eyes narrowed, his knee bouncing with impatience. “Yeah, how much have you got?”
“I don’t have a lot, Lewis. Between the divorce and the mortgage for my new place, I might be able to scrape a thousand? Fifteen hundred maybe? But I know a place we can get more.” I pointed to the windshield, the red sign coming into view. “But you’re going to have to trust me, and I need to know what it’s for.”
He pulled into the parking lot, choosing a spot away from the entrance that wasn’t flooded by the huge overhead lights. We were just another parked car in a sea of parked cars, disguised by a battalion of SUVs, trucks, and sedans owned by non-suspecting people getting their late-night shopping fix. I’d been stalling up until that point, but if I was going to go all the way through with it, then I needed to know why.
“Tell me, Lewis. Is it drugs?”
People wandered in and out of the lot, ignoring us entirely. To them we were just another couple, possibly having a disagreement because I’d dragged him out to the store on a Sunday night.
He grinned, seeming to find the question amusing. “Like you and Cooper didn’t smoke weed when you first met. Please. Who do you think bought me my first joint? I’ve dabbled, but my drug of choice is the ponies. And the people I owe money to aren’t the forgiving kind.”
I was just about to ask how much when my phone buzzed in my hand, his eyes connected with mine as the screen lit up with an incoming message. It was Mack, both of us going for my cell at the same time.
“Don’t fuck me, Hayden.” He gave me a pointed look. “Read it. Out loud.”
Nodding, I opened the message, clearing my throat as I read Mack’s brief response. “Hayden, you want it over, then it’s over. Have a good life. Mack.”
My heart pounded, the bile from my stomach churning like I was going to throw up as I tried not to react. He was done. Walking away without a fight, even though he’d said he loved me. Not that I could blame him, he’d probably assumed that’s what I had done.
“I told you he wasn’t going to stick around. Better you find out now.” Lewis seemed pleased, pointing to the phone. “See, complete asshole. And if for nothing else, you should be paying me because I totally called it. Way I see it, you owe me for saving you from wasting your time.”
I was desperate not to cry, begging the tears not to fall as I kicked up my chin and refocused on making it out alive. I was on my own. “You’re right,” I sucked in a breath. “It would never have lasted.”
Part of me believed the last part, wondering if we hadn’t fallen in love too fast. I should have taken it slower, and kept my goddamn mouth shut about wanting a baby. Hell, he’d probably been looking for a way out. My message giving him the free pass he’d been praying for.
“Now fucking tell me how you’re going to get me my money, Hayden. I’ve told you why, now it’s your turn to talk.”
“I told you I work here.” I pointed to the store. “And there’s money in the safe. A whole day’s takings, and I can get it for you. All you have to do is let me walk in and get it, and I’ll hand it over.”
He laughed, grabbing my arm again and bringing me in closer. “You think I’m stupid, Hayden? Think I’m just going to let you walk into the store? And what’s to stop you from going inside and calling the cops? We might have been family once, but that don’t count for shit now.”
“I am not going to turn you in. It’s not my money, what do I care if you take it? They’re covered by insurance, it’s not even really a loss. Not to mention, I would not only lose my job if they found out but also face criminal charges. You don’t have to trust me, Lewis, my participation makes me an accessory.”
Most of it was true.
The money wasn’t mine. And if I did what I said I’d do, a conviction and criminal record would probably be in my future. But despite the store having insurance, I did care. I just hoped he didn’t see through that part of the lie.
His head tilted, considering it. “That’s right. You are an accessory, you volunteered for this.”
I nodded, hoping to appease him. “I did, no one forced me. You know I’m a terrible liar, Lewis. They’ll know if they interrogate me that I did this by choice, I can’t pretend you forced me. We’re in this together.”
“Still don’t trust you. So here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to go in there together. You’re going to give me the money and then I’m going to be fucking gone. You can go back to your shitty life, working your shitty job, fucking dickheads who don’t care about you. And if you ever tell anyone about this, it won’t be Presley’s apartment I’ll be breaking into.” His voice was ice cold, the kid I’d once known completely gone as he made threats I one-hundred percent believed.
He was desperate, the debt he owed probably way past due to people who didn’t believe in a payment plan. And if hurting me got him in the clear, he’d do it without a second thought.
“If we go in together, it will look suspicious. Not to mention the security footage,” I tried to reason. “It will be easier if I do this myself.”
“Work it out, Hayden. Prove you’re not as dumb as my brother told me you were.” He shook his head.
It didn’t surprise me to hear Cooper had thought I was dumb. It was probably the reason he’d never wanted me to finish school, loving he could lord his MBA over me. Before it would have crushed me, tearing apart what little self-esteem I’d had. But I’d grown stronger, and even without a fancy piece of paper, I knew I was smart. And I wasn’t going to let someone’s words hurt me. Especially when that someone was so insignificant.
“Fine, but we need to go through the staff entrance. And you have to do exactly as I say, Lewis. I don’t care if you trust me or not, but if you want this money, we’re doing it my way.”
Hayden
IF THERE EVER was a moment to get in touch with my inner badass, that was the moment for it. I didn’t have time to worry about Mack’s message or my broken he
art, or whether or not Lewis was going to get impatient and do something stupid. All I had was the chance I could make it right, the confidence I’d gained in the last few weeks making me believe I could.
We’d climbed out of his car, Lewis keeping a tight grip on me as we walked toward the store. I’d barely been able to breathe, his fingers digging into my arm so hard I could feel the skin bruising.
“Fine, lead.” He tipped his head to his side, letting me go and putting his hand on the butt of the gun. Not sure if it was to remind me he still had it—unnecessary—or because he was planning on using it.
Either way, it was too late, walking around to the rear of the store where there was a staff entrance. It had a pin-code door, allowing us access into an internal hallway when the main doors were locked. At night when the store was closed, a key was needed as well as the code, but as the store was still open, I hoped it still worked.
My fingers pressed the number sequence, praying it didn’t trigger some internal alarm. Or maybe that was what I should be hoping for, my hand twisting the handle after the last number had been entered.
Success.
I couldn’t believe it worked.
“If anyone sees us, pretend you’re my date.” The thought of him touching me, repulsive. “I forgot my purse in my locker, and we’re just here to collect it.”
He rolled his eyes, chuckling. “No one would believe I was with you, but sure, whatever. Just hurry up.”
Ignoring his insult, I continued down the hall. The staff lockers were in one direction, the cash room in the other.
“Hayden, what are you doing here on your day off?” Penny appeared in the hall, smiling brightly despite me technically trespassing.
“Hey, Penny, I forgot my purse.” I tried to smile, hoping Lewis didn’t panic. “We’re just going to get it.”
Her brow rose, positive she wasn’t buying it. “And who is this?” She turned to Lewis. “Another Uber driver?”
I laughed nervously, not sure how it was going to go. “Noooooooo, this is my boyfriend.” I slung my arm around Lewis, trying to look at him with adoration when my skin was crawling. “We were on a date when I noticed. Thought I’d quickly stop in and get it.”
If it had been anyone else, I might have gotten away with it. I rarely spoke about my personal life to any of my coworkers, most of them oblivious to who I was dating, and not caring either way. But Penny was different, having met Mack and knowing what my feelings were for him. She’d never believe if we’d broken up, that I wouldn’t have mentioned it, or that I would have moved on so fast.
I braced, expecting everything to unravel in the hall, with the demand to know exactly what I was doing.
Instead she smiled at Lewis, extending her hand. “Oh, your boyfriend, huh? Well, that’s just great. I’m Penny, Hayden’s boss. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Lewis looked at her hand but didn’t accept it, keeping his palm close to his gun as he nodded instead. “Lewis. And not to be rude, but we’re in a hurry. Reservations.”
With no idea what was going on, I was forced to play along and nod. Either Penny had been drinking in an effort to make her weekend night shift pass quicker, or there was some other force at work. And as long as no one got hurt, I didn’t care what was responsible.
“Really? Where are you guys going?” Penny asked, ignoring his insistence we were in a hurry.
“Medici’s in Brooklyn,” Lewis answered, “Get your purse, Hayden. We need to go.”
Medici’s?
Of all the places in the whole city, he’d picked the one place I’d never go. It was crowded and noisy, filled with pretentious suits trying to prove how much money they had to their dates. It also had a strict dress code, which we weren’t even close to meeting.
“Wow, nice place. No wonder you need that purse.” Penny’s large eyes widened, not missing a beat. “Well, I won’t keep you then. Enjoy your night.”
Without any more questions—which was uncharacteristic in itself—she waved goodbye and headed to her office. I wasn’t sure what was going on but short of aliens inhabiting her body, I didn’t have time to work it out.
Lewis laughed as she disappeared. “She’s just as dumb as you. Guess that’s why you both work here.”
“Yeah, guess so.” My smile tightened. “The cash room is in there,” I pointed to another door with a pin code. “Maybe you should just wait out here?”
I knew he wouldn’t agree, too worried that I’d screw him or worse, take the money for myself. Any logical person would be worried since we’d already been ID’d by my boss, our connection to any theft almost guaranteed. But he—like his brother—had never been a big-picture kind of guy, getting distracted by details and his own desperation.
“I’m not waiting anywhere. Put in the goddamn code, Hayden. I’m going in first.”
He didn’t even notice the door was slightly ajar, my hand holding it steady while I pressed on the numbers. Instead he asked me how many thousands I expected to be in the safe, pushing me aside once the last of the code had been entered, and stalking in ahead just like he said.
“What the fuck?”
I pulled the door closed on his surprised face, the loud click of the lock engaging. It wasn’t the cash room, instead a closet that housed our cleaning supplies, which he’d have seen right away if the light had been on. But again, he hadn’t even bothered with the details, barreling inside looking for his payday. What he also didn’t know was it had a faulty lock, logged for maintenance since Friday with explicit instructions that no staff use it until it was fixed. Probably because the chances of getting locked in were high, as was the current case.
“Hayden,” Penny reappeared, running toward me, holding a taser. “The police are on their way.”
“You called them?” I almost cried with relief, still not having had the time to grab my phone and dial 9-1-1.
“Your boyfriend? Medici’s? Girl, you were hot and heavy for your fireman last time I checked, was no way you’d dump him for that loser. I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but I figured it had to be some kind of trouble. I called the minute I got to my office. I have this as well.” She pressed the trigger, the electrical current zapping between the poles. “You know, for my late-night closes.”
Lewis banged on the door, his voice yelling through the wood. “Open the goddamn door, you bitch. When I get out of here, I’m going to make you regret the day you were ever born.”
There was a gunshot, the sound of wood splintering making Penny and I scatter. Up until that moment, I hadn’t been sure it was loaded, the second bullet coming soon after.
“Jesus, he has a gun?” Penny looked panicked, handing me the taser while grabbing her cell and dialing. “This is Penny, we have an active-shooter situation. Evacuate the store and lock all doors leading to back of house.”
The door jangled, Lewis testing the lock. He either had poor aim or the lock was more stubborn than anyone thought, the door holding despite being shot at twice. “You need to go, Penny.” I shoved her down the hallway. “Go make sure everyone stays safe.”
“You’re coming with me. Fuck it, Hayden. He’s obviously crazy and he has a gun. It’s not worth it. Let the police deal with it.” She tugged on my arm, pulling me with her.
It was a split-second decision, which was all I had time for, shaking my head and holding up the taser she’d handed to me. “No, if he gets away, they’ll never find him. Go.” I pressed the trigger, ready to use it. “I’ll be fine.”
“Hayden—” Her voice drowned out by another gunshot, her legs moving back automatically.
“Go, Penny. Go.” I shook my head, keeping my feet rooted to the floor. I wouldn’t leave, refusing to accept an outcome where Lewis didn’t end up in cuffs and everyone was safe. All I had to do was zap him when he walked out, the current able to incapacitate him enough until the cops arrived. It was what Mack would have done, and even though I wasn’t even sure if we were together anymore, it wouldn’t change th
e outcome. I was doing it for me. To gain back what I’d almost never had, knowing I was enough all by myself.
The door flew open on the fourth gunshot, Penny running in the opposite direction even though she hadn’t wanted to. I was scared but unmoved as I met his crazy wild eyes, the barrel of the pistol pointed directly at me.
I pushed my arms out, the zapping of the stun gun aimed at his chest, hoping to make contact. He was caught off guard, managing to angle out of the way but making the gun go off. Lucky for me, it had been pointed at the ground, saving me from a wound I probably wouldn’t have survived.
“You’re a crazy bitch. And I told you not to fuck me.” He lunged, frustratingly trying to grab my arm while I waved the taser in front of my body. His hand was still tightly holding the gun, but thankfully no longer aimed at me, making me feel like I still had a chance.
He wasn’t going to kill me.
If he wanted to do that, he’d have done that already.
A surge of adrenaline took hold, forcing myself forward, but was stopped as he swung the gun around and cocked the trigger. “So fucking stupid.”
Oh, shit. I’d been wrong.
My heart raced, my lungs struggling to expand as I came face to face with possibly the last thing I’d ever see.
I regretted not telling Mack sooner that I loved him.
Thinking it had been too soon.
He should have known.
Should have been told the minute I felt it. I should have been braver. It wouldn’t have mattered if he didn’t say it back. I would’ve been okay.
God, I’d been happy.
Happier with him in the last few weeks than I’d been throughout my entire marriage.
I wish I could’ve told him.
It felt important that he know.
But other than that, I had no regrets.
None.
Not about getting into the car with Lewis, not trying to stop him, not about dying today if that was the way my story ended.
Blood roared through my ears as the last shot fired, my body collapsing on the floor. I had no idea where I’d been hit, other than I wasn’t dead. I laid still, my body paralyzed more from fear than pain as I heard thundering footsteps heading in our direction. I’d done enough. The police had arrived, they’d take him away, and whatever else happened didn’t matter. I’d done what I said I was going to do, and kept everyone safe.
