“I don’t know. I can’t see him.” He reaches back and grabs the case. “You stay here.”
At first, I do as he commands. I remain frozen in the seat while Noah takes a few giant strides closer to his ex. Her expression is soft, she almost looks like she might be making flirty comments at him, but that soon falls off her face. I guess she isn’t getting back whatever she wants. Then she looks much nastier.
With my heart pounding I crack the window open slightly to let some of the words sink in.
“…this is ridiculous, you have no idea what you’re doing here…”
She sounds pissed off. I don’t like the edge to her tone. Maybe she normally sounds this way but to me it’s as if she could lose her freaking mind at any moment. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to act badly and make this worse, but I also don’t want to leave him out there alone to get in the shit.
Where the hell are the cops? I turn and glance behind me, but I suppose they aren’t going to show themselves this quickly. We had a plan but it’s all gone from my mind. I can’t think of anything.
“…you bring your slut with you?” Shit, Hayley’s voice drags me into it. “…that appropriate?”
I can’t hear Noah’s end of the conversation, he’s mumbling too quietly, but this is about me now. I click the door open to try and hear some more. The air rushes in and I feel even sicker to my stomach.
“…this is about your son. Do you even give a shit about him?”
“Don’t you dare throw that at me, Hayley, you have no right to talk about him.”
“I’m sorry, I’m the one who has him right now, not you.”
“Because you kidnapped him, you absolute crazy bitch.”
I cringe, he needs to try and remember that Hayley does have something that he wants back. He’s letting his mouth get away with him and if he isn’t careful, he will tip her to somewhere very bad.
“I’m his mother, I can’t kidnap him.”
“So, taking him from his nanny and demanding money for his return isn’t kidnapping?”
“Don’t turn it into a big thing, we’re just doing what we’re doing.”
“Look, where is Alex? I’m not giving you any money until I see that he’s okay.”
“I’m not a monster. I haven’t hurt him, this is just a warning. He’s with Bryan.”
“Your new boyfriend? That is disgusting.” I can see the rage in Noah and it scares me.
“Oh, but it’s okay for him to meet the slut in the car? You don’t care about that?”
“Alex hasn’t met any of the women in my life, so you might as well shut that down.”
“I’m bored of talking to you now, so let’s just hand over the money already.”
“I just told you, that is not happening. Not until I see Alex.”
Something catches my eye, a glinting coming from Hayley’s side. It takes me a couple of seconds to process it, but I eventually realize that it’s metal which can only mean one thing. I dive out the car, stumbling to the ground as I go and the words fly out my mouth before I can really think about it.
“Noah, she’s got a weapon,” I scream.” Be careful.”
A look of sheer pleasure crosses Hayley’s face as she waves the gun around, now happy to have it known. “What did you expect me to do? Come out here unarmed? The world is a very dangerous place for a woman alone. I’m not an idiot, Noah, I have no idea what you intend to do to me!”.
The gun points at me and I hit the ground hard, trying to avoid the inevitable bullets flying my way. But I don’t hear a bang, just a cackling evil laughter coming from Noah’s ex.
“She scares easy, doesn’t she, Noah? I can’t imagine you being with such a wimp.”
“Put that fucking gun away, don’t be crazy. We don’t want anyone to get hurt here. There’s absolutely no need for it. I have the money right here, I’ve done everything that you asked of me.”
“I didn’t ask you to bring her along, did I? I don’t want to see your latest screw.”