Page 59 of Beyond the Cut
Maia led them to the lion enclosure and they arrived just as the lion trainer began his presentation. Dawn’s nose wrinkled at the sharp scent of blood coming from the lions’ evening meal. She turned her focus to the talk as the girls settled on the bench between her and Cade.
When had she last seen them so relaxed and happy? She gave Tia’s hand a squeeze and her daughter looked up and beamed. Dawn’s eyes teared. Nothing warmed her heart more than her daughters’ smiles.
Turning her attention back to the talk, she learned that male lions did little but eat, sleep, and copulate multiple times a day. By contrast, the female lions did all the hunting and raising the young.
“What does copulate mean?” Maia asked.
“It means have fun.” Cade whispered. “And the lions have it right. Males need to conserve their energy to protect their females and cubs from predators, and for important nighttime activities.”
“You can be the male lion,” Maia said. “Tia and I will be your cubs. You can protect us from predators like you did at the park.”
Cade tucked one girl under each arm. “Good idea. And how about your mom pretends to be a lioness and gets us some burgers while I keep people away from her seat?”
“Male lions don’t get to partake of nighttime activities if the lioness is tired from running around hunting for food.” Dawn folded her arms. Seriously, sometimes she wondered if Cade belonged in the Stone Age.
Cade quickly detached himself from the girls. “So, what does everyone want on their burgers?”
“We all just want ketchup and Mom also wants candy floss,” Maia said as he turned to leave. “Pink.”
“Pink candy floss?” Cade’s mouth turned up at the corners.
Dawn blushed. “My happiest childhood memories involve pink candy floss, roller coasters, and stuffed animals my mom won for me at carnival games. When she was young, she dated a carnie and he taught her all the tricks.”
“Candy floss, three stuffed animals, and five burgers coming up.” He winked at Dawn. “I was a carnie when I was a teenager. My mom thought a summer job would keep me out of trouble, but carnival folk aren’t a conservative bunch.”
Maia counted five fingers and frowned. “That’s one burger too many.”
“I’ll need two.” Cade grinned and lowered his voice. “Extra energy for nighttime activities.”
Dawn snorted a laugh. “From what we’ve just heard about lions, I don’t think you can compete. Didn’t the trainer mention something about one hundred times a day?”
“Babe.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips over her ear. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding. Lions have nothing on me. I haven’t even begun to show you my best moves.”
And didn’t that just put all the wrong thoughts in her head for a day at the zoo.
They spent the rest of the afternoon watching the animals, and then Cade and Dawn pushed the girls on the swings in a nearby playground. They were having so much fun no one saw Shelly-Ann arrive.
“Well, look at this.” Shelly-Ann’s eyes lit up with a gotcha smile and she pulled out her phone. “Jimmy’s not gonna be happy to see a picture of his old lady parading around in a Sinner cut. Didn’t notice it when I dropped off the girls. Maybe I shoulda got out of the car.”
Dawn clamped her hand around Shelly-Ann’s wrist and pulled her close. “Then let’s not make him unhappy. Put the phone away.”
Shelly-Ann jerked her head away and her hair swung back behind her ear. Dawn stared at the massive bruise on ex sister-in-law’s cheek, the size and shape eerily familiar.
“What happened to your face?”
“Nothing.” Shelly-Ann’s face shuttered, and she tugged her hair down.
“It was Jimmy, wasn’t it? He always uses his right hand and his Brethren ring leaves a mark.”
When Shelly-Ann didn’t answer, Dawn pushed a little harder. “Did you ask him for more money because I don’t have enough? Is that why he trashed my house? Does he not believe I’m giving you everything I’ve got?”
Guilt flickered across Shelly-Ann’s face, but it disappeared so fast Dawn wasn’t sure if she’d seen it. “Don’t know anything about Jimmy. Or the money he’s after.” She turned to shout for the girls and Dawn saw finger-shaped bruises on her neck.
“He tried to strangle you.” Her voice caught. “Shelly-Ann, you don’t have to let him do that to you. I can help.”
“Don’t you fucking be nice to me.” Shelly-Ann’s face curdled. “You think you’re something now that you’re wearing that cut? You think being with the Sinners will solve all your problems? You’re too damn good to be bad. You don’t have what it takes to be a biker chick. When Jimmy finally comes for you—and nothing will stop him now that he thinks you’ve got his money—I’ll be fucking relieved ’cause I’m tired of watching you fight. Just give up. You’ll never beat him. I don’t understand why you never give the fuck up.”
“What money? I don’t understand.”
