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I shuddered at his reference to irl

My throat was closing up Fear flooded my system, and my mouth felt dry

“Listen,” I said,out barely a whisper “Just leaveto do with the business I don’t want anything to do with the business You don’t have to worry about me Just leave me alone”

“Funny,” the cruel,before I ended her life too”

I screa the phone across the couch Terror clenchedin fear and hatred and sadness Why wouldn’t it end?

I rocked,ti any second the man with that voice would kick in h that I was able to focus I needed to call Sammi I needed to block that number I needed to have a plan of escape

Ashford wasn’t safe anymore

My hand was still tre as I reached for the phone I pulled it towardfor any sign of so

When I was satisfied no one was there, I ran to the kitchen My finger shaking as I navigated to the recent calls list, I found the number that had just called and clicked it A button on the side allowedfor the notification to co that it was done Then, I scrolled for Sammi’s number and dialed I hit the speaker so I didn’t have to hold it tothat if someone broke into aor slammed into a door, I would hear it better with both my ears available

“Hello?” Sammi said “Desiree?”

“Sammi,” I cried out

The other side went quiet for a split second, and when Saone, replaced by a worried seriousness

“Desi, what’s up? What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Sammi, someone called They clai for me”

“Shit,” Saht Shit Okay Listen, Desiree, listen to ht and drive back home”

“I can’t They’ll find me, Sammi They’ll kill me”

“Shh, Desi, listen My dad can protect you,” Sammi said “The whole family is here We can hide you We can protect you from them, find out who they are, and snuff the fuckers out”

“Sammi, I can’t,” I said “I can’t live like that the rest of unman to pop up and kill me I can’t know I sent a hit squad out on so I have to have a life outside of all this I have to”

“Desi, I get that I do,” Sa to sootheto be real hard to have a life outside of this if you aren’t alive to have it”

“Saly