I find my dress lying on the floor and slide that on to cover my naked body.
“And?”
“It’s a flower, boss.”
Jasper’s face scrunches up. “A flower?” he asks, confused.
“Yes, it’s a flower. It was in their bloodstreams, both of them.”
“How?”
“Doc says, crushed up and digested, more than likely.”
I look away as Jasper looks over at me.
“You are sure?” Jasper asks.
“Yep. What kind of flower?”
“Hemlock. It’s most harmful ingredient is coniine, which affects the motor nerves and causes paralysis. It’s one of the most dangerous plants on the planet. It can take up to three hours for the subject to die.” He finishes speaking and how he knows that I have no idea. My heart beats out of my chest and my hands are sweating. I look to my bag, the same bag which holds that plant crushed up and ready to slip into any drink at any time I see fit, it also holds things I need as well if I was to run. Cash, ID, anything I need for my backup plan. Let’s face it I would be stupid to not have one.
He will kill me. I have no doubt about that fact. Sooner or later, he will.
“Isadora…” Jasper touches my shoulder, making me jump on the spot. “Do you not want me to touch you now?”
I shake my head while faking a smile. “Of course, just daydreaming,” I lie.
He leans in and kisses my lips.
I hear a car pull up out the front.
Shit! That was fast.
“I have to go, I want to see you again,” he says.
“Okay.” It’s all I can manage to get out, I’m afraid if I say anything else my words might not make any sense.
He lets me go and walks to the door, I hear him pause, and my heart rate picks back up. “Isadora…”
Turning to look at him, his eyes assess me.
“You’ll be here when I get back, right?”
I nod. It’s all I can do.
He walks out, shutting the door behind him with a click.
Quickly, I run over, lock it and slide down with my back against the door. Reaching for my phone, I sit up straight and dial my uncle, who picks up on the first ring. “They know.”
“Leave, now.”
I manage to get my limbs working by climbing to my feet. Reaching for my bag, it doesn’t take me long to pack a few things and grab my purse. Changing into something casual, I pull on a hoodie as well as a beanie which covers my curls.
“ETA?” my uncle asks.
“Ten minutes,” I reply, clicking off the cell.
Grabbing my car keys, I fling open the front door but when I do someone pushes me back inside by my chest. Looking up, I notice Gabe standing there with a dirty big smirk on his lips. “I had concerns about you, seems you just confirmed them.”
Pushing his hand away I say, “No.”
He forces his way inside, shutting the door behind him. In his hand he holds a pistol, his eyes move to the bag in my hand. “Going somewhere?”
“Yes, to visit family,” I tell him the truth.
“Tell me, Isadora… who are you, really?” He sits on my bed, and my eyes dart to the door to see if I can make it out before he can react, but all I hear is, “I dare you to try. I haven’t shot one of these in a long time. But my aim’s always been spot on.”
I freeze on the spot as he raises the gun to my eye-level.
“Jasper had to go about his business, but he said you were off. So, here I am,” Gabe states looking around. “I like what you’ve done with the place.” He laughs then continues, “Nothing.”
“Thanks.”
“Planning on a quick exit, hey?”
“Something like that,” I tell him a half-truth.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I state.
Gabe stands and walks to the door, looks around checking it out, then steps back out and sits on the bed. He waves his gun at me and says, “Go ahead.”
So, I do. Dropping my overnight bag and taking my purse with me, I shut the door behind me. Quickly I grab the baggie of crushed flower, and flush it leaving no trace that I’ve ever had it.
It’s a perfect weapon, potent and deadly. If they hadn’t had so many connections, I could have killed so many more. Damn it!
“Girl, hurry up.”
I cringe at his words.
Opening the door, Gabe waves the gun around and points to the table. “Sit.”
I shake my head. I’ve been trained for all of this. I have the skills if I need them, I’ve just never had to use them in a life or death situation before.
“You don’t want to sit?” Gabe stands and walks over to me. He’s taller than me by a mile. He breathes slowly, deeply, and I feel it on my skin. And those eyes are so alert, vigilant, cautious, they tell me exactly what he’s thinking.