Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Anthony didn't get what the fuss was all about. He watched as Abby hurried moved around, throwing all her clothes on.

She shot him a glare and yelled. “I'll be outside in a minute Sarah.”

Throwing on the easiest thing she could find— a button up shirt— she hurried to the door, smoothened her hair down and cracked the door open just a little bit.

Sarah glanced down at her outfit and frowned when her eyes rose to see Abby's messy hair. “Are you okay? You look like you got into a nasty fight,” she said, pointing out the red markings on her sister's neck.

Abby slapped Sarah's hands off her and tugged her collar up. “It's nothing, I was busy cleaning up my room.”

The look on Sarah's face showed she wasn't buying the lies. Soon Mindy was at the door too, wondering why Abby was hiding behind the door.

“Girl, would you open the door already?” Mindy asked and pushed the door open. Abby's weight shifted and the door swung open revealing Anthony who had only managed to throw on some pants all the while.

Mindy’s eyes shifted between Abby and Anthony. Her lips opened and closed shut. Silence drifted between all four of them for a couple of seconds.

“Alright, can I help you two with anything?” Abby said, growing irritated. She pushed the door a little closer to give both her and Anthony a bit more privacy.

“You're making this look awkward.”

Sarah arched a brow. “We're the ones making this look awkward?”

Abby slammed the door shut and leaned her back on it, exhaling. Her heart was practically pounding in her chest, she could hear it in her ear.

“That was awkward. What're you going to tell them when I leave?” He chuckled. Gosh, he felt like a high schooler again, sneaking around.

It wasn't exactly fun but it was amusing.

Abby rolled her eyes. “I'm not telling them anything. I'm a grown woman for goodness sake. I can do whatever I want.”

“Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.” Anthony grabbed his shirt, slipped it on, ran his fingers through his messy hair and turned to Abby.

Snaking a hand around her waist, he squeezed her bare bum under the shirt and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Abby's tense figure softened into the kiss as she deepened it. Anthony was the first to pull away.

“I'm glad everything's alright between us again,” he whispered when he pulled away. “I'll call you soon. I've got to start heading out.”

After Anthony had eventually left, Abby took her time upstairs— a way for her to buy some time, to hopefully ease the memory that Anthony Wells had been up in her room with her.

About an hour later she was out. Her room was neat again, the clothes folded away and she was fresh out of the shower. Dresser in a tank top and a pair of jeans shorts, she went downstairs.

Mindy was in the kitchen but Sarah was out of sight.

“I was wondering when you were going to come downstairs,” Mindy said, glancing up from her phone.

“I was busy with laundry.”

The tension in the air left Abby feeling a bit uncomfortable, no matter how she tried to overlook it.

“So,” Mindy began, slicing through the block of tension between them. “I didn't know you and Anthony kicked it off again?”

“Kicked what off again?” Mindy rolled her eyes. “I'm not stupid. You looked like you'd gone four rounds or something.”

Bile simmered in Abby's stomach. Ew.

“That's disgusting mum, don't start.”

She was quick to forget how vocal her mother was.

Just then, the back door swung open and Sarah walked in, a basket of carrots fresh out of the garden, in her hands.

“Anyone wants some?” She asked. Abby watched her, making sure Sarah was in a fair mood. “Abby?”

“Yeah, sure. I'll have some.”

_____

“Mr.Wells, you and I made a deal and you promised you'd pay at least half of what you owe but it's been a month and you keep coming up with more and more pathetic excuses.”

Mr.Riverson was pissed, Anthony could tell. He sighed and dug through his pockets, fishing out a gold ring, the one that belonged to Abby Winster.

“This is what I have right now. I don't know how much it's worth but it should check off some money from what I owe,” Anthony said and passed the ring to Mr.Riverson who's eyes gleamed at the sight of the golf ring.

He took the ring, held it up against a light and after a couple seconds, he lowered it. His eyes no longer gleamed.

“I’m afraid this won't cover half of what you owe.”

Anthony frowned. “And how would you know that? You only looked at it for a couple seconds.”

“I used to deal in jewelries and other rare artifacts, I would know.” He reclined into his seat. “This ring would only be worth ten thousand dollars tops. If I can recall Mr, Wells, you owe me well over a hundred thousand dollars.”

Anthony was pissed, irritated too. Riverson was becoming a major problem, a thorn in his side and he had to do something about it— somehow.

Straightening his expression, he rose to his feet. “I'll pay off the rest by the end of the day.”

Riverson eyed him in disbelief but said nothing and rose to his feet too. “Alright then Wells. I'll expecting my money in full by the end of the day.”

That hot afternoon, as Anthony drove down Hampton street— the smell of salt water in the air— he hit the Chris’s number on speed dial.

“How'd it go?” Chris asked, the sound of jazz music filtering through the speaker from his end.

“The ring wasn't worth a lot, so I told him I'd pay up by the end of the day,” Anthony replied exasperatedly.

“Do you still need my help? Or are you going to raise all that money by yourself.” Christ laughed. “You and I both know that's impossible.”

For a little over a minute, Anthony remained silent over the phone as he gave it a final thought. Once he gave a command, there would be no turning back.

“I'm a busy man Anthony, you should know that. Yes or no?”

Before Anthony could stop himself, his lips parted, “Yes. Just get the job done.”

“I'll let you know how it goes,” Chris said and the line went dead.

Something stirred in Anthony's chest. Guilt and tension. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure but he couldn't undo this one. Just like he’d agreed with Chris, Riverson would be long dead by midnight.

If he was bold enough, he'd get some money from Riversons stash and disappear.

The thought thrilled him. Adrenaline pumped through his blood— his heart thudded loudly in his ears.

Fvck.