Page 3 of Faded Gray Lines

“Son of a bitch, what is it about this woman? You’ve had your orders. I’m done waiting. Get rid of her.”

Get rid of her?

“It’s not that simple.”

“No, what’s simple is you. You’ve let a woman get in your head and forgot the rules, Luis. There are only two things that tempt men like us—drugs and women. Forming an addiction to either one is suicide.”

“You think I’m stupid? This will be traced back to me and—”

Furniture skidded across the bare floor, muffling the rest of his words. A painful grunt quickly followed another crack, and I bit my tongue to keep quiet.

“Either you do it, or I will. I promise you, my way won’t be nearly as pleasant for her. Am I understood?”

A sick need to see the man who craved my suffering forced me to move. Inch by inch, I shuffled toward the kitchen, my heart slamming against my chest. Rolling my cheek against the wall, I braced myself to face my monster, but all that greeted me was a shadowy figure in a black hoodie with the sleeves pushed up.

Until he shifted, and a sliver of moonlight shined on his arm.

A grotesque skull tattoo, with the bottom half of the jaw missing, covered his left forearm. Wilted roses lined either side of the cheekbones and what was left of the teeth bit an hourglass.

I looked away and covered my mouth to stop from screaming.

“Fine,” Luis yelled so loudly I flipped around and slammed my back against the wall to avoid being seen. “I’m seeing her tomorrow. I’ll finish this, and then I’m out.”

“Muybien.” Calming down, the man gave Luis a low chuckle. “And Luis, remember, I know everything you do.”

I stood paralyzed as their heavy steps crossed outside the patio. It wasn’t until the sliding glass door slammed that I released the breath I’d been holding.

Police. I need the police.

Just as I slid away from the wall, the glass door flew back open, and Luis paced again while punching numbers into his phone.

“I’m out of time. I need it now.” His hands pulled at his hair, outrage burning in his voice. “Fuck the plan, Hector. I have a new one. I’m getting her tonight.”

My head swam. Crouched in the corner, I was a sitting duck. My only option was to wait until his back was turned and run. Blinking back tears, I waited until Luis turned toward the glass door again. Only a few feet separated me from freedom, and as he stepped over the threshold, I ran toward it.

“Leighton? What the fuck?” Rushing toward me, he grabbed both wrists and jerked me against him. It happened so fast, I didn’t have time to scream. “How long have you been listening?” His ragged breath fanned my cheek harsh and heavy, as if an indecisive war raged inside him.

“Let me go; you’re hurting me.”

“How long, Leighton?”

His agitation fueled mine, pushing me to challenge him. “What are you involved in, Luis?”

“Damn it!” he roared, dragging me deeper into the apartment. “You weren’t supposed to be here tonight. I had this all handled.”

“Why? What are you planning to do to me?”

“We have to get out of here.” Releasing one of my wrists, he pulled a gun from the waistband of his jeans.

Shit.

“Oh my God, where did you get that?”

“Don’t be so naïve,” he hissed, rolling his eyes. “Do you think this is a game?”

I knew the minute I turned my back on him, it would be over. He’d either put a bullet in the back of my head or shove me in the trunk of his car.

“Don’t make me go to the police,” I warned, tilting my chin up in defiance.