Dirty Addiction (Dirty 2)

Noah gets up and walks over to a bag. He pulls out a gun, handing it to me. I take it from him, getting used to the heavy metal in my hand.

“You know how to use that?” he asks.

“No. Do you?”

“I know the mechanics of how it works and how to make sure that it doesn’t go off when you don’t want it to. But I’ve never fired a gun in my life.”

“Same.”

Noah shows me how the safety works and how to load the gun.

“Make sure it’s always on you, just in case.”

I nod.

I keep telling him the stories, everything I can think of, while everyone else works. Occasionally, he will go over and transfer what he feels is some important information to the others on the team to look up but after our several hours pass and they find nothing that we can use against Gabe, I start to lose hope that this will work.

Eventually, Brody walks over, and he can see the worry on my face. “We are some of the smartest people in the world when it comes to technology, we’ll figure this out. But you have to make me a promise to keep fighting every chance you get. No matter what. Even if you get captured, I will find a way to save you.”

“I promise,” I say. But I don’t think he’ll be able to save me. But I can save them.

20

Brody

Damn it. I look at the empty bed as the morning light comes up again.

“She’s gone,” I say.

Noah nods. “But then we knew she would run if we couldn’t save her.”

“Time to move on to plan Z.”

21

Skye

It took everything in me to leave. I snuck out in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep, passed out from exhaustion from working the entire day. But it had to be done. They spent all day searching and found nothing. No evidence to use against Gabe. They can’t save me, but I can save them.

So, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I stole one of the burner phones and snuck out into the night. I called Gabe and told him I’d give him everything he wanted. I’d come back to him, but he couldn’t hurt anybody. He promised, and I have to return to ensure that he keeps that promise. He bought me a commercial flight early in the morning, and I got on it.

But, now, I can’t seem to bring myself to get off of it. The whole plane has unloaded, except for me. Still sitting in my seat in the fifth row, I stare at the seatback in front of me. I have to get up. I have to leave. But I know, as soon as I do, my life is over. I’m as good as dead. Right now, I have to worry about saving my friends. Then, I can worry about saving myself. So, I force my body to stand. I force my legs to walk off.

“I’m surprised you had the balls to show up,” Gabe says, grabbing my arm the second I depart from the gate.

On the one hand, I’m shocked that he is here instead of sending one of his men. But, on the other hand, Gabe likes to do things that are important to him in person.

“I keep my promises,” I say, letting him guide me through the airport and out to his waiting car.

I’m surprised to see that he doesn’t have a driver. He tosses me into the passenger seat and then climbs into the driver’s seat, speeding off.

“Good girl,” he says when I behave.

I look out the window instead of having to look at him. I try to remind myself that I’m doing this for them. Not for him. Not for me. No one else deserves to die for my mistake in judging men.

“Look at me.”

I turn my head.