Like I’d said, I deserved whatever came my way. “I’m sorry, Mindy. She came so fucking fast. She showed up at my house with a knife and I…fuck. I froze, Mindy. I should have stopped it or—”
I’d let this happen. I could have stopped it—moved or thought faster, but I was too slow. Too late.
Mindy scoffed, shoving me one last time before pointing a finger in my face. “I swear to God if anything goes wrong, I will come after you and Tempt. You’d better pray she pulls through and can tell me the truth!” She rushed away, toward the entrance of the emergency room. Derek followed her lead, looking me over with his upper lip curled up and his nostrils flared, before turning his head.
My phone rang in my back pocket and I snatched it out. “What?” I snapped.
“Q, where the hell are you?” Lora said, voice rushed. “Why is there blood on the floor? What the fuck is going on?”
“I’m at the hospital.”
“What? Why? Are you hurt?”
“No, but Kandy is.”
“What?” she gasped. “What the hell happened?”
“Kelly is what happened. She stabbed Kandy. She bled a lot on the way. When it happened, I fucking froze, like a goddamn idiot! If she dies, I’ll…” My voice broke. What was I going to do if she died? That was a guilt I didn't want to have to live with. It was one I wouldn’t have been able to get through.
“It’s okay. She’ll be okay. Stop. Breathe. Just breathe, okay?” Lora said, her voice calm. It helped a little. “Where the fuck is Kelly?”
“I had no choice but to leave with Kandy. Kelly was still there when I left. Is she not there anymore?” I panicked then, looking around the parking lot. For all I knew, she could have followed us.
“I don’t see anyone here. Just blood, and a knife.”
“She left the knife? What kind of shit is she playing at?” I shook my head. “Look, don’t call the cops right now. I’m sure they’ll be here for a report and when they show, I’ll give it to them. For now, will you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“There’s a black flip phone I left in the room.”
“This burner phone on the floor?” she asked, like she’d already spotted it.
“Yes. That one. Write down the number from the text messages and then get rid of it.”
“Fuck, Q. You can’t be serious right now. This isn’t who I think it is, is it?”
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Shit.”
“They’re coming soon,” I said. “Probably already close. I don’t know if it’s him or some of his crew. Text that number and tell them my place will be too hot for them to just show up. Ask for more time.”
“Fine, but you will have to explain to me why you still have this fucking phone. I thought you were done working with him.”
“I am done, Lora. We settled on a deal a while ago but I don’t get to choose when shit happens or make him wait. Just do what I said and make it quick.”
“Okay, fine. But keep me updated on Kandy. Can’t believe that bitch did that to her!”
“Yeah. Apparently a few other people don’t believe she’s capable of something so crazy either.” I looked to the left and spotted Mindy and Derek standing by the entrance with a cop.
Derek was talking to the cop, still edgy and fuming. He pointed a finger in my direction and they all looked my way, the cop included. “I gotta go,” I said hurriedly as the cop came my way with his hand on his cuffs.
Chapter Forty-Three
KELLY
After Cane left…
“You need to get out of there right now!” my mother screamed into the phone. “Now, Kelly! I’m not kidding! Leave the house!”
See, that was the thing about my mother. She was a runner. I wasn’t. What I did wasn’t a mistake or a crime. It had to happen. Kandy needed to leave in order for Cane to be with me. The only way she would be gone for good was if she didn’t exist.
Simple.
“Kelly, please!” my mother pleaded.
“I’m not leaving. Cane will come to me and we will talk.”
“You attempted murder, Kelly! You just admitted it to me! Jesus, I knew you weren’t well! I’m calling our lawyer!”
“I’m fine and I haven’t touched any drugs! I’ve finished my meds—I’m fine!”
“Wait—what do you mean you’ve finished your meds? There is no finish line! You’re supposed to take them every single day! When exactly did you finish them?”
“Months ago, Mom.”
“Oh my goodness. I can’t believe this! Kelly, you may not be doing drugs, but you are venting in other ways. Trying to kill someone is unjustifiable! If you don’t leave, I can’t help you or save you this time!”
My eyes fell to the puddle of blood on the floor. Cane had left several minutes ago. I came back upstairs and spotted the knife, the blood, utterly satisfied with what I’d accomplished.