Part 5 (1/2)

Lexie took a deep, calming breath of fresh air as she looked up at Stephanie's bedroom window before she slipped through the broken fence in the backyard. She couldn't shake off the sense of doom that nipped at her heels. She prayed that she would be able to slip away unnoticed. She needed to be alone right now.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Jackson ”Is all this s.h.i.+t actually gonna help?” Jackson complained as Cherry grabbed items off the shelf and dumped them into the small grocery basket Jackson was holding.

”This isn't my first rodeo. This method is tried and true, baby.”

”Can we just hurry up?” Jackson sighed.

Cherry tapped Jackson on the side of the face. ”You're adorable when you're all stressed out, you know that, Duke?” she teased.

”Why do you keep calling me that?” Jackson asked with a scowl.

Cherry tilted her head with a mock frown. ”It suits you.”

The basket got increasingly heavy with the water, grapefruit juice, and sports drink she added.

”Is that it?” Jackson asked impatiently.

”Almost,” Cherry said, pursing her red lips and skimming the aisle with medication. She grabbed a handful of boxes of various drugs and tossed them in on top of the other stuff, then grabbed a bag of black licorice. ”That.” She pointed at the licorice on top of the basket. ”Is for me,” she declared like it was non-negotiable. ”And I also need some red wine.”

”Yeah, yeah.” Jackson raised the basket. ”Are we done now?”

”That should cover it,” Cherry said. Jackson followed as Cherry led them toward the cas.h.i.+er of the convenience store. Her heels clicked loudly against the floor as she walked with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

Cherry was proving to be a vital part in getting Evan back home in one piece. Cherry had packed her bags and insisted on leaving town with Jackson, knowing that if any of Black's men survived, they would not be kind to her since she was involved in Evan's escape. From what Jackson could gather, Black had been holding something over her head and she was thankful to be free of him.

Jackson was grateful Cherry insisted she come along to Freyview and help Evan work through his withdrawal. She and Evan had formed a friends.h.i.+p, and she was genuinely concerned for his safety. Besides, the three of them had no clue how to get Evan back on his feet, and would've most likely wrung his neck before they got him home. Jackson knew Lexie and Stephanie were certainly in no shape for the task, being as they were barely holding their heads up themselves.

”Why don't you put your eyes back in your head and ring us through,” Cherry demanded when the man behind the cash register openly gawked at Cherry's over-the-top appearance.

”Whatever, freak,” the cas.h.i.+er mumbled before grabbing the basket Jackson had set on the counter. He tallied up the total before dropping everything in bags.

Cherry stepped back and waved Jackson forward when the cas.h.i.+er gave them the total.

”I'm just here as a pretty face. You're mister money bags,” Cherry declared, flicking her wrist.

The cas.h.i.+er scoffed.

”Oh honey, don't get all frustrated because I make your d.i.c.k hard. Who would blame you?”

”f.u.c.k you,” the cas.h.i.+er spat angrily. ”People like you make me sick.”

”People like me?” Cherry stepped forward but Jackson intervened.

”He's not worth it, Cherry,” Jackson warned. He threw some bills down on the counter.

”Put your dog on a leash,” the cas.h.i.+er said as he grabbed the cash off the counter and hit a few numbers on his register. He shoved the money inside the drawer while discreetly sliding a few bills into his pocket before grabbing Jackson's change and handing it to him.

Jackson allowed the coins to slip through his fingers. They hit the counter and rolled off, landing on the floor near the cas.h.i.+er's feet.

”Oh s.h.i.+t, sorry, man,” Jackson apologized. When the man leaned over to pick them up, Jackson reached over and grabbed the man by the back of the head and smashed his face down on the counter.

The man screamed in pain as he shuffled back, grabbing his face. ”What the f.u.c.k!”

Jackson grabbed the bags off the counter and headed toward the door.

”I'm calling the police,” he shouted after them.

”Good idea. I'll be sure to tell them about the money you're skimming from the register,” Jackson challenged.

The man immediately ended his string of cursing and quieted, the look of guilt painted on his features as he held his b.l.o.o.d.y nose. ”Get the f.u.c.k out of here.” He pointed toward the door.

”Thought so,” Jackson said.

Cherry raised her brow when Jackson made eye contact. A satisfied smile played on her lips.

”Look at you, Duke, defending my honor. This is the beginning of a wonderful friends.h.i.+p.” Cherry pushed the door open for them as they headed out of the store.

Evan was fading fast and Jackson hoped that Cherry's plan was going to work to clean him up. Jackson was anxious to get back to Freyview-to Lexie.

They had stayed at a hotel the night before. Evan was in need of a shower and something substantial in his stomach. It had been almost a week of one high to the next for him, and the effects of it were about to show their true colors. He had already begun to break out in cold sweats. It was only a matter of time before he s...o...b..lled, and this time he was not feeding the habit. Evan was going cold-turkey this time whether he wanted to or not.

When they returned to the car, Evan was lying down in the backseat. Teddy and Dane were arguing about something Teddy had up on his phone. They both stopped and perked up when Jackson and Cherry neared.

”Got what you need?” Teddy asked, pus.h.i.+ng off the front of Jackson's car.

”I f.u.c.king hope so,” Jackson said.

No one questioned his call to allow Cherry to accompany them home. They all knew she would be at risk if she stayed in Belhaven, and they couldn't leave her behind knowing she would have a target on her back for what she had done for them. Cherry insisted on picking up her car that morning before leaving. Jackson immediately suspected that Cherry lived between her car and the club by the amount of belongings she had already packed in the trunk. Her eagerness to flee filled in the rest of the blanks for his suspicions. It was only the details that were left to be discovered.

”Teddy and Dane, you take Cherry's car.” Jackson nodded toward her red '69 Camaro.

”I'm driving!” Teddy blurted.

”Oh, come on,” Dane complained.

”Are you serious?” Cherry glared at Jackson. ”Do you know how much money I put into my baby? That was my grandaddy's car. The one person in my entire family that didn't disown me, and you're just gonna let these clowns drive it.” Cherry's hands were placed firmly on her hips.

”I need you to ride with me and help Evan,” Jackson insisted.

Jackson had barely spoken the words before Evan stumbled out of the backseat and threw up, barely missing Cherry's shoes.

”Oh Jesus f.u.c.k.” Cherry darted away. ”Give me those f.u.c.king bags.” Cherry walked over to Jackson and grabbed the bags from his hand. She rummaged around inside and pulled out a bottle of water and a box of something she must have thought would help. Evan looked horrible, and Jackson wasn't looking forward to the rest of the ride back to Freyview.