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  MEND-Copyright 2015 by Tara Dawn

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted by U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission of the author.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, or organizations, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  MEND is intended for 18 years of age or older, and for mature audiences only.

  Cover Design & Formatting by RMGraphx

  Editing by Lauren Dootson

  © Tara Dawn- 2015

  Second Edition 2018

  Also by Tara Dawn

  SOJOURN

  (a standalone contemporary erotic romance)

  THE SNAP TRILOGY

  Snap

  Taint

  Mend

  WRONGSIDE OUT

  (a collection of poetry)

  THE DRUNK & DISORDERLY:

  A Trailer Park Soap Opera

  (a politically incorrect, white-trash comedy)

  For all my Snap Addicts.

  Without your encouragement this book wouldn’t have seen the light of day.

  Thank you.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  The Drunk & Disorderly: A Trailer Park Soap Opera

  CHAPTER 1

  CADY

  MY stomach balls into knots as I stare out the rear window of the truck. The silence, and not knowing what is happening inside the barn, are enough to suffocate me. Did he bring Hazel? Does he plan to let her go? Are they okay? The oxygen in the truck thins out, and I gasp for air. I don't think I can stay in here for long.

  Dale's baby blue’s flash through my mind, urging me to stay put, and then shutting me up by kissing me. The hardness of his mouth stunned me for a moment. Hell, I think he was just as surprised he did it. His eyes softened, along with his grip on my face, as we gazed at one another. It was inevitable.

  There's a heat between us I can't describe or have ever felt, even with Erick. The past couple of weeks we've grown closer emotionally, yet we kept our distance physically. We've not talked about it either. It's been strange and right at the same time. When he looked into my eyes, it felt like I was starting to accept that I wasn't replacing Erick with him. It’s okay to lean on him and let him in, but guilt was already working to repair the pieces of the wall he had tediously picked his way through to sneak inside.

  As if he knew what was happening, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine again. It was softer—a declaration of his feelings and a plea to accept them and listen to them. Only, to me, it twisted into a dismal goodbye. Suddenly, I feared I'd lose him the same way I lost Erick.

  A flash of light accompanies the unmistakable sound of a gun, bringing my fear to the forefront of my mind. My hands claw at the door handle until it opens, and I lose my balance falling out of the truck. Pain shoots through my knee as I check to see if anyone runs from the barn. There is nothing happening. It's as if time freezes before it's rocked into motion again by a banshee-type wail.

  Hazel.

  HAZEL

  “You've got your gun pulled out like a big boy,” Phil taunts Cash. “Do pussies know how to use guns?”

  Without hesitation, or any emotion at all, Cash points the gun in my direction and pulls the trigger. My heart stops beating as the deafening explosion echoes in the barn to my ears. Phil's arm tightens around me to the point of suffocation, and the barrel of the gun digs into my temple. Something warm and wet sprays my face and the side of my body. My vision blurs, and I try to blink away whatever is blinding me, but I can't. The distinct scent of blood fills my nostrils as I take an anxious breath. It trails down my skin, tickling as it goes, until it thins out and finds a patch of flesh to stick to. Trembles work their way through my body as reality comes rushing back.

  I glance down at myself, attempting to make sense of what happened. Maybe I'm in shock, but shouldn't getting shot hurt? Shouldn't I be able to feel where the bullet tore into me? That's when I see him crumbled over on the barn floor. Part of his skull is missing. The part that is left glistens slightly in the dim lighting of the barn. It finally clicks in my head that it's not my blood dripping down my body. It's Samuel's blood.

  I reach up with a shaky hand and touch my neck where the blood is thicker. A spongy mass slides over my skin when my finger touches it and sticks to the tip. I gasp and pull my hand away. Samuel's brain tissue clings to me before dropping at my feet.

  Cash is unfazed. He remains fixated on the man holding me hostage as if he didn't take someone's life a moment ago. Samuel may have played a role in what brought us here tonight, by helping Phil enter RCC to steal the formula, but he didn't deserve to die. Cash vowed he would seek retribution against Phil. But towering in front of us now, he resembles an angel of death ready to smite down any who rile him or get in his way. This is not the man I love. This stranger petrifies me.

  My worst nightmares are coming true. Only Phil isn't the one causing them. Cash is. My head jerks back as I scream. The fire in my throat sets the rest of my body, already ablaze from withdrawal, into an inferno. I begin to crumble into the puddle of blood and brains all around me, but Phil jerks me up. My head snaps up from the momentum, colliding with his face and crunching loudly in my ear.

  PHIL

  Blood pours from my nose as pain shoots through my face, causing my eyes to water and blinding me. My tight hold on the gun increases, and my finger slides on the trigger. In that split second, all I can think is that I've completely underestimated Cash. For a man who once seemed so clueless, he sure has his shit together now.

  Cash wants me to believe nothing will stop him from getting what he wants. My death may be one of them, but Hazel's life is at the top of that list. I still hold it in my grasp. If I killed her now, my death would immediately follow. People always say, “No guts, no glory.” Where's the glory if you die the second you act? The glory will come soon enough. But first, the money.

  “Bobby,” I shout, and point the gun toward the blurry figures gathered in the middle of the barn.

  Pulling the trigger, I blink away the tears and watch as bodies scatter. They shout obscenities, but don't return fire as Bobby scrambles to my side with the bag of money. Hazel attempts to jerk her head away from the hot barrel of the gun as I push it against her temple again. Her gasp and hiss make me smirk. That ain't shit compared to her breaking my nose. She's getting off easy right no
w. But, later? That’s another story.

  I shuffle back and pull Hazel with me. Her unsteady feet drag and fight as she tries to find her footing and keep me from moving. We're getting the fuck out of here. I didn't make it this far to die in this forgotten fucking wasteland. Before, I had nothing to lose. Now, I have an entire future that can disappear with one perfectly aimed shot. I peek around Hazel's head and observe Cash calculating his next move. His gaze moves between the three of us as we slowly retreat toward the rear barn doors.

  “You're not leaving with her,” Cash calmly says. He edges forward and halts all movement when I do. “You got the formula you wanted, and I delivered the money. Let her go. You don't really want her anyway.”

  A laugh bubbles up my throat. “That's where you're wrong. When are you gonna get it through your head that she wasn't part of the deal? Hazel and I….” I bury my nose in the curve of her neck and remember the days we've spent together recently. The days to come will only be sweeter. “We've made-up.” Hazel whimpers; her chest heaves against my arm, bringing out the venomous side of me. “Tell him, lover.”

  “Just go, Cash,” she whispers at the ground. “I'll be fine.”

  I tilt her chin up with the gun and growl into her ear, “Fucking. Tell. Him.”

  Broken words spoken from a broken soul tremble from her lips.

  “I love him.”

  CASH

  Her caramel hair stained with blood sticks to her face as Phil shoves the tip of the gun under her chin. She doesn't even try to lift her head farther to keep the barrel from digging into her. If anything, it appears as if she doesn't have anything left in her to keep going. Hazel's cold, lifeless stare bores a hole straight through me, turning my heart to ash.

  How long has she known that Phil wouldn't let her go? When did she stop thinking I'd come for her and shut down so she wouldn't have to feel anymore?

  “I love him.”

  Hazel says it, but there's no way she can mean it. We all know that, including Phil. He's merely getting off on his control over her and hurting everyone. As soon as the words leave her mouth, her gaze snaps to mine. I expect to find fear or resentment, maybe even tears and a look that says save me, but all I see are the eyes of the fractured woman I fell hard for.

  Unconditional love shines through them as her chapped lips silently move. “You.”

  Hazel's mouth barely tilts up into a smile. It's sad one, and she's still pushing me away to save me. I promised her she'd never have to suffer alone, and she promised she'd live for me. Hazel better fucking honor that promise. I'd die before I'd let anything more happen to her. I never thought I'd be weak enough to let anyone in again. The moment Hazel held the shattered pieces of my soul together, I realized that keeping everyone at arm’s length was my biggest weakness. My entire life has been a fucking lie. Hers has been a burning truth. I will not watch her flame extinguish.

  My feet move of their own accord, taking one slow step forward before Phil jerks the gun in my direction. I hold my hands out to my sides and drop my gun to the ground. Dale's gaze flickers between us, but his gun remains steadfast on Phil.

  “What are you doing, man?” Dale whispers, and I barely shake my head at him, making him shut up.

  Phil is unsure of what to do, moving his gun back and forth between Dale and I in confusion. His shifty, erratic demeanor intensifies as I take another step. Hazel silently begs me to stop, but I can't. She will not pay the ultimate price for the things I have done. If I die fighting for her, and everyone else Phil could harm, then she will know exactly how much I loved her and how sorry I am for bringing Snap and Phil into their lives.

  Everyone in the barn stares at me as if I’ve lost my damn mind. Maybe I have. Maybe my brain is finally working for once. I don’t question it, though, and keep sliding one foot in front of the other, bringing myself closer to the hell that is entwined with my heaven. Keeping my attention on Phil and the gun pointed at my chest, I stop mere feet in front of him.

  “Take me instead. You can do whatever you want with me, just let Hazel go.”

  “No,” Hazel gasps.

  Phil pulls her tighter against him and mutters, “Shut up.”

  Dustin and Bobby wear matching expressions. They wonder what my game is. I don’t have one. I simply want this to end. Now. And I want everyone to be able to walk away from this fucking mess I created. Especially Hazel. She’s been through hell and is somehow still standing before me. I can’t say she’ll be capable of that in the days or weeks to come if she remains with him.

  Phil chuckles quietly, making the barn seem eerier than it is. “Dustin, go check the trunk and start the car.”

  Dustin creeps toward the door, then retreats when he nears it.

  “I don’t think that’s happening,” Phil says to me after a long, quiet moment. He rubs his cheek against the clean side of Hazel’s face. She doesn’t even flinch from his touch.

  I open my mouth to speak but close it when I hear the cocking of a gun. Over Phil’s shoulder, Dustin brandishes a shotgun. He comes to a stop next to Phil and points the gun at Dale and Joseph.

  Phil motions to Bobby. “Let’s go.” He glances at Dustin before he leaves. “Hold them here until we’re gone.”

  As Bobby glides toward the door, Phil turns to me and points the gun at my head. For a moment, I think dropping my gun and giving myself over to Phil was all for nothing. That is until this sinister grin spreads over his face, and all the deplorable thoughts floating through his mind play out in his eyes. He won’t end this or me that quickly. It’s not his style.

  “Start walking,” he says as he tilts his head toward the door.

  Hazel whimpers as I pass her on my way to the exit. I fight the urge to look at her and stay focused on the situation. And I lose the fight. One glance into those molten silver pools almost has me halting in my tracks. Unspoken confessions, mixed with goodbyes, rise in her eyes along with her tears, but she doesn’t allow them to fall. She won’t let me or Phil witness how truly broken she is. She closes them for a brief second and when her lids open, she’s gone. The darkness of addiction and the horrors she’s recently lived fill them up again.

  “Don’t do this,” Dale shouts behind me.

  Of course, I’m going to do this. With Dustin staying behind, it’s me and Bobby against Phil. This is the chance I’ve been waiting for. We can all live to see tomorrow. Except Phil. I’m taking that bastard out the second I get a chance.

  “Stay where you are,” Dustin responds, moving past me toward Dale and Joseph.

  Once I begin walking, Phil pushes the gun into the back of my head in warning. The metal digs into my scalp, but I know he won’t kill me here. After a step or two, he moves it; however, I know it remains pointed at me. I survey the door ahead of me and see Bobby waiting for us at the threshold. I wink at him as a smirk plays at the corner of my mouth. His lip twitches, and then he disappears outside.

  “If Dustin isn’t back in three hours, the last thing you’ll see is my face before you die. Understand?” Phil spits at Dale as he shoves me out the door. Menacingly, he growls in my ear, “Don’t get any fucking ideas, pretty boy. You won’t like what I’ll do to her if you do.”

  CHAPTER 2

  CADY

  A zombie. That’s what Hazel resembles. There’s no other word that can describe her. Well, other than murder victim. She appears dead, with the blood caking her face and body, barely stumbling along in Phil’s grasp as he drags her next to him.

  I push myself against the splintering slats of the barn. Slivers of wood pierce my palms and poke through my clothing, snagging it. I push on, sliding down the side of the building as quietly as I can. When I get close to the corner, I hold my breath and take a quick peek.

  “Get in the damn car.”

  Phil pushes Cash toward the car that’s parked near where I’m standing, and I have to jerk to the side to keep from being discovered. I ease forward, just enough to find Bobby staring at me over the roof of the car. H
is jaw tightens as he keeps from yelling at me and returns his attention to Phil.

  “Get Hazel in the passenger seat, Bobby.”

  Phil’s voice comes from right next to me. I freeze, pressing my cheek against the barn to camouflage myself. The back of his head comes into view, along with the gun in his grip dangling at his side.

  Please tuck it in your pants so I can grab it and blow your fucking brains out, you piece of shit.

  I don’t know what Cash was thinking giving himself over to Phil. Did he lose his balls after he handed Samuel his? Cash scared me at first. Now, I don’t know what to think of him. I thought for sure he would get Hazel back tonight. He was so adamant about how he was going to fix all of this and put an end to Phil. I’d say he didn’t have it in him to kill anyone, but he didn’t hesitate to blow Samuel’s head clean off his shoulders. This entire situation is completely fucked up.

  He’s not leaving here. And he’s definitely not leaving with Hazel. I don’t care if Cash and Bobby have a plan and actually think they can keep her safe this time. Bobby did a shitty job of it this far.

  Fuck all this. Fuck them. And fuck Phil.

  I lean forward and slowly reach out, ready to snag the gun from Phil’s hand. I’m so close to him that if I breathe deeply, he’ll hear me. If either of us twitch, we’ll touch. I focus and wait for his grip to loosen slightly so I can rip the gun from his hand.

  The warm metal of the gun brushes my fingertip as Bobby rounds the hood of the car. His eyes glint with anger as they lock with mine, telling me to back the fuck off. If he keeps looking at me, he’s going to give me away. I’ll have to fight then. And I will. I will fight with every fiber of my being.

  There are more of us than them. If I can get the gun away from him, we can take him down. Dustin will have no other choice than to give up or die right alongside him. I don’t see him caring enough to put his life on the line for this shit, especially if Phil is gone. If I get hurt in the process, so be it. As long as this fucker goes down in the end.

  Patience has never been a virtue of mine.