Addiction by Shantel Tessier Page A

look out my windshield and see the smoke still lingering around my car. “I was on my way to work. And well, my car caught fire…”
    “What?” The tone of his voice makes a shiver run through me. This is not the type of guy you would wanna piss off. Just the sound of his voice causes me to cower. “Where are you?” he snaps.
    “I’m sorry for calling you,” I say softly since he sounds so mad. “But I’ve called Savannah three times. She won’t answer. And then I called Blane once, and his phone went straight to voicemail. I then called work, but no one could come and get me. And then my boss. He didn’t answer,” I ramble. “I need to get to work.” I take a deep breath, realizing I forgot to breathe between words. “I don’t have anyone else …” He’s quiet, so I continue. “I would call triple A, but I don’t have it …”
    “No. No,” he interrupts me.
    “I just happened to have your card in my car.” I go back to my rambling. “And thought, maybe … I just need a ride to work. I’m already late as it is.” I start to bite my nails and stop. I pay too much money for them to do that. “I’m stuck here on the side of the road.”
    “You’re on the side of the road?” he growls.
    I look around at the deserted backroad. “Uh, yeah.”
    “Son of a bitch,” he hisses. I frown at his choice of words. Is he mad at me? “I was driving when it just starting smoking. I pulled right over …”
    “Are you sitting in your car?” he interrupts me.
    “Yes.”
    He huffs. “Stay in your car and wait for me.” I can hear a rustling of clothes and then the sound of a few doors slamming.
    “I’m sorry again for calling you.”
    I hear a beeping sound on his side of the phone and then an engine roar. “No worries. Just do what I said,” he orders. “I’m already in my car and pulling out of the club parking lot. Where are you?”
    I sigh in relief. “Thanks so much. I will pay for your gas.” I cringe even after I say it. I don’t have any cash on me. But I do have my debit card on me. If it’s not already maxed out.
    “No need for payment, Taylor. Now, where are you before I go the wrong way.”
    I inform him of where I am, and he promises to be here as soon as he can. When I hang up, I realize what I just did. I just called a drug dealer. What if the police arrest him and go through his phone? I sigh in relief. I had blocked it. Well, one point for me.
    I get out of my car and lean up against my trunk while I wait for him. I know he told me to sit in it, but I think I’d rather take my chances at another car hitting me as I stand on the side of the road than to be sitting in my car if it decides to go up in flames. Who knows what is really wrong with it and if my bottle of water really did any good.
    About fifteen minutes later, I see a black truck coming around the corner. It’s the first vehicle I’ve seen since I pulled over on the side of the road and I stand up straight. I give a small smile as it starts to come to a stop behind my car. My first thought is that of course he drives an overly large jacked up truck. Trying to compensate for something? My second thought is that wasn’t very nice. He’s the only one who answered your phone call. 
    “Thank you …” I come to a halt and my words cut off when a man about my age jumps out from his lifted black Ford. A man who looks nothing like Case. Did he send someone to help me? Did he realize that I was where no one would find me? I immediately shake that thought from my mind. He said he was coming. And this guy is not Case.
    The man smiles at me, showing off his jagged teeth as he pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head. Eyes so dark they look black look me up and down in a way that makes me uneasy. “Need help, little lady?” he asks with a Southern drawl.
    “Uh, no,” I say, and his smile falls. “I have someone coming,” I add quickly. “Thank you, though.” I take a quick look around. Where is Case? I hope