Devious Revenge (18 page)

                                    Chapter 66

I go into work as usual awaiting my own death. Unfortunately, I’m met by an overly happy Brian.

“Well if it isn’t little miss town whore. You’re late.” The snarl that appears on his face intrigues me.

“I did walk all the way here you know. It’s raining.” Rolling my eyes, I walk past him and toward the back room.

My nerves are on edge wondering where the hell Drew has been. He disappeared a few days ago after leaving my house.

I thought about calling him, but what in the hell would I even say?

I put my purse away before heading back out front to the bar. For obvious reasons, I find myself checking every corner or dimly lit area.

“What the hell is with
you
?” Brian stands in front of me before I snap my gaze back to his.

“Nothing. You told me to watch for anything suspicious.” Using his own words against him, he grins.

“I did, didn’t I? Well, I haven’t seen anything in here so I think you’ll live to whore another day.” Grabbing a beer out from under the counter, I snap the top off and take a long pull.

I’m going to need a shit ton more of these, to help me make it through the night.

“I heard you met my cousin.” Damn it! I almost choke on my beer before setting it down in front of me.

“Briefly.” Short and to the point. I won’t drag in any unnecessary attention as to how I know Drew.

“Scary son of a bitch, that one. We should all be safe now. Meet our new bouncer.” Nodding his head toward the door, my mouth hangs open.

Drew stands there dressed in all black, with his hands clenched at his sides.

Way to fuck my life
.

“Close your mouth. He doesn’t do whores.” Snapping my mouth closed, I grab my beer and down the rest of it. Yep. More liquor is on the menu for this evening.

Brian goes on about his business as I tend to the customers. A lot of them are regulars but the one at the end, is new.

I keep my eye on him even though I’m talking with the others. I don’t trust people, and for good reason.

When I finally make my way down to the stranger, he seems nervous.

“Need anything?” His head pops up as he stares me in the eyes.

“I don’t know. I need to talk to a Hannah Blackburn.” Fidgeting in his seat, my eyes shoot to Drew.

As if he would help me now.

                                     Chapter 67

Our eyes connect as his stature changes. He shifts from one foot to the other as he tries to get a read on me.

I quickly pull my eyes from his before looking at the blonde that sits in front of me.

“Who are you?” Asking him in a hushed tone he glances around.

“My name is Jordan. I was told to deliver you a package. Obviously I can’t just pull it out here.” Watching how nervous he is, my eyes wander back to Drew.

He’s still looking at me but he doesn’t move.

“From who? Who is the package from, and what is it?” Not in the mood for anyone’s games, I try to keep my voice steady.

“I don’t know. I was given the box by my boss and told to bring it to you.” Shaking my head, I smile.

There is no way in
hell
I’m falling for that one.

“Take it back. If you can’t tell me who it’s coming from, I’m not touching it.” Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I head back down the bar.

This night is going to turn into a total shit storm. Drew is the new bouncer, meaning I won’t have a free time to get near Brian. Brian seems to have lost himself in happy go lucky land, and some crazed man sits at the bar all night with a box for me? Yeah, I don’t see how this could get any worse.

Closing time comes faster than I thought it would. The thought of going home alone doesn’t settle within me though.

If I’m being honest with myself, I miss Drew. I miss having him near me but most of all, I miss the connection I felt to him.

Pulling my phone out, I decide to call Janey. I just want to hear her voice.

“Hannah? Are you ok?” Shit! I didn’t even think about the time.

“I didn’t look at the time. I’m sorry, Janey. I just needed to hear your voice.” Janey sighs on the other end knowing that I miss her.

“It’s ok. I miss you too.” Just hearing her say those words warms me inside.

“I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say I miss you.”

“I miss you too, Hannah. Hey, did you get a package? I had one sent to you.” Snapping my head up, I look around the alley where I stand.

“Blonde guy?” She giggles on the other end before she speaks.

“Yeah, that’s Jordan. I asked him to drop it off at the bar but not to say anything else.” I don’t get it. I’m as confused as ever.

“What is it? I didn’t take it.” Another giggle comes over the line.

“I know. It’s at the house. I’ve heard some things going around, and I wanted to make sure you were protected.” Shaking my head, nothing makes sense anymore.

“What things? I don’t get it.”

“I know you don’t. I have to go. I’m sorry.” The line goes dead and so does my insides.

                                        Chapter 68

Contemplating my next move is difficult. Janey had a gun sent to me. A gun!

Why do I need that? I don’t know. How did she even get that? That’s an even better question. One I won’t know either. She’s decided to not answer her phone at all.

I’ve gone over things in my head for the last few days. I have the money that I stole from Alan in a safe place.

In my mind it makes sense for me to get out of here, and soon. I’ve thought it over. Over and over, I’ve played out different scenarios in my mind.

Brian was always going to be the more complicated kill, which was no surprise. I wanted to plan out something worthwhile but now that Drew’s involved, I don’t think that will work out to my advantage.

I’ve been thinking that if I disappeared for a few days, no one would know I was still around. No one meaning, Drew.

I can lay low for a few days and move in on Brian when they least expect me. I know my way around that bar like the back of my hand. The ins and outs are simple enough.

I can get in the back door and make myself invisible until closing. When Brian comes into the back to lock up, I can shoot and go. That seems like the only option I have at the moment.

Getting out of this town wasn’t always the idea. With Drew on a suicide mission it makes sense though.

I never wanted to stick around here and even when I was plotting my revenge, Drew made it clear that he wanted out too.

Now it’s just me. The less people that know where I am, the better.

Packing a small bag, I begin to put phase three into motion.

I’ve already gotten a bus ticket that leaves in exactly three days’ time.

Take Brian out at closing, and that gives me exactly twenty minutes to make it over to the bus station to board.

I know I’m cutting the times close but I figure if I ran most of the way, I’d make it.

I’m only taking what I need and the rest can be figured out as I go.

As far as where I’m going, no one really knows. The further the better is what I’m thinking, but we will see how things go. Who knows, I may find a place that I actually like, and settle in.

The plan begins to take amazing form in my mind but that doesn’t always mean it will work out in life.

With my bag loaded, I walk to my mom’s room and open the door. Taking a deep breath, I walk inside and sit on the bed, picking up her pillow.

“I know I wasn’t the best daughter. I know I disappointed you a lot. I never made the best decisions and I know it hurt you. I think I’ve finally come to terms with it all mom. I was destined to be a nobody. I wasn’t born to be somebody. I know you’re somewhere better than this, and I can only hope that you look after Janey. I did the best I could for her.” Holding her pillow to my face, I inhale the scent of her.

She may not have been mom of the year, but she was my
mom
.

                                   Chapter 69

Sniffling, I roll over to see the sun setting.

I’ve stayed in this abandoned gas station for the last few days.

As far as I can tell, no one knows where I am. I took a lot of caution getting over here and inside.

Now it’s almost time to go. My heart races in my chest at the thought.

I don’t know how to make it anywhere else. This is all I’ve known. The idea of learning to live somewhere else without Drew doesn’t sit right with me.

Thinking about how nice it was to be in his arms when we were walking around the fair haunts me. It was surreal but I could have saw myself with him like that.

Happiness has a way of clouding your visions though. The things you thought made you happy, are the things that will eventually destroy you.

Shoving my things back into my bag, I ready myself for what’s about to take place.

Sliding the gun into the back of my jeans, I shrug my jacket on over it.

I stuff my bag under the cabinet so I can easily grab it on the way to the bus station.

Taking a deep breath, I ready myself for this new adventure.

“This is it. This is what you’ve been planning on for a long time. You wanted revenge and this is the last pawn in the game.” Talking to myself, I get myself in a zone. I’ve never been one for pep talks, but this seems like a good reason to have one.

Swallowing hard, I step out the side door and into the world. The sun has set and the mood seems to be on point tonight.

The air is calm as I walk toward the bar. Scanning my surroundings, I don’t see anything unusual.

When I reach the back alley at the bar, I make sure to check every little space I can think of. I don’t want any surprises out here tonight.

When I feel like I have the all clear, I creep down the alley toward the back door.

I didn’t see Drew’s truck parked out front when I came over here so I’m only assuming he isn’t here.

That’s been a constant fear for me. If Drew was to interfere, I don’t know what I could do. Shooting him isn’t an option so the fact that he isn’t here just spurs me on.

Cracking the back door open, I peek inside. Not seeing any movement, I slide through it and inside the back room.

I creep my way around the boxes until I make it to the utility closet. No one comes in this hell hole except for me. Those men are far from clean.

Slowly tugging the door closed, I wait.