Page 34 of Beyond the Cut
Nick ran forward, bent at the waist, and hit the door with his shoulder. He staggered back from the impact, and tried kicking at it instead, a totally ineffectual move that brought a smile to Dawn’s lips. Prospects. They were all the same.
Arianne pulled the last petal off the begonia, then pulled out her weapon and screwed a silencer onto the barrel. “Men.” She sighed and motioned Nick back, then fired at the lock until the wood cracked. “They always have to do things the hard way.”
“She scares me,” Nick said quietly as he followed Dawn into Shelly-Ann’s house. “Never met a woman like her. Not even sure she is a woman.”
“I hope you’re saying nice things about me,” Arianne called out. “I’m in a good mood right now, but I promise you wouldn’t want to see me riled.”
Dawn walked down the polished, dark wood hallway; past gilt mirrors and painted alcoves containing vases of silk flowers; and into the expansive living room, decorated in dark brown and cream, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Trecher Valley. Two men in suits were loading Baggies containing white powder into a suitcase from a box on the coffee table, while Shelly-Ann lounged on the couch watching them. Sunlight glinted off the sparkly purple heart stickers decorating each bag—a common indicator of low to mid-end product—and Dawn blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light.
“My next clients are here, boys. Hurry it up please.”
“You’re selling drugs with my children in your house?” Dawn’s voice rose in pitch, and one of the men frowned.
“Thought you said they were clients.”
“Thought you said you didn’t want anyone to know which senator you work for,” Shelly-Ann shot back. “Take your quarters and go.”
The two men shared a glance, and the one who had spoken snapped the suitcase closed. Dawn waited until they left the room before she spoke again.
“Where are Maia and Tia?”
“Not here. I hired a babysitter to look after them for the day. Didn’t want them to get the wrong idea when they saw the stickers.” Shelly-Ann leaned back on the white leather couch and rolled her eyes. “So what is this? You got some new friends? We gonna have a party? Or did you come for your weekly fix?” She gestured to the box on the table and bile rose in Dawn’s throat.
“You know I don’t do drugs.”
Shelly-Ann fixed her gaze on Arianne and Nick. “Did she tell you she’s a little crack whore? She was a crack whore when she was with Jimmy, and she just couldn’t shake the habit after she left. She got caught buying drugs behind the school and made up a story about Jimmy setting her up. Of course no one bought it. That’s how she lost her kids.”
Dawn’s body trembled and she fisted her hands by her sides. Jimmy had tried to get her addicted to crack when she first moved in with him, but she’d resisted, terrified that if she didn’t keep her wits about her, he’d beat her to death. “That’s a lie and you know it.”
“Is it? Tall, dark, and handsome isn’t too sure.”
Dawn looked back at Nick, her heart sinking when he averted his gaze. “It’s not true.”
“We know that,” Arianne said. “She’s just trying to wind you up. Don’t play her game.”
“So you got my money?” Shelly-Ann stood and held out her hand. “No money means no kids. No money means I call the cops and report a break-in and a breach of the custody order. No money means Jimmy hears about your visit.”
“No money beyond what we originally agreed.” Dawn’s voice wavered with emotion. “I’m tired of playing this game. I’m tired of having you use my children to blackmail me. I don’t know why you need so much money, and frankly, I don’t care. Now tell me where they are.”
“Or what?” Shelly-Ann’s face twisted in anger. “You think I’m afraid of you? You think I’m gonna break ’cause you showed up with a damn prospect and a Sinner old lady? I don’t think so. You don’t have what it takes, or you woulda done something long ago.”
“I did do something.” Dawn dug her nails into her palms, wishing for the first time in her life that she was the kind of person who could solve problems with her fists. “I started a lawsuit, and I’ve just filed an assault complaint. I’ll drag Jimmy through the courts until I get my girls back.”
“’Cause using the legal system worked out so well for you last time.” Shelly-Ann sneered. “Get the fuck outta here and stop wasting my time.”
“Here.” Dawn pulled a handful of cash from her purse. “I’ve got twelve hundred.”
Shelly-Ann crossed the room and snatched the money. “It’s not enough.”
“Don’t give her any more.” Arianne put a cautioning hand on Dawn’s arm. “I know her type. It will never be enough. The blackmail will never end.”
Which was exactly what had happened last week, but what choice did she have? Sure it was nice to have Arianne and Nick here, but she wasn’t about to ask them to beat up Shelly-Ann, or even threaten her, and she’d never hit anyone in her life. Shelly-Ann had effectively called her bluff, leaving her with no choice but to pay her off.
“How much?” Cade’s growl reverberated through the room, so rough and harsh, even Dawn trembled. For the first time since Dawn arrived, fear flickered across Shelly-Ann’s face.
“Where did you come from?” Dawn gave him a puzzled frown. “I thought you were on the road.”
“The prospect texted me just as we were leaving. He thought I might want to know you and Arianne were planning to bust your girls outta Shelly-Ann’s jail. I figured you might need some help, and the door was open. Looks like Arianne’s handiwork. No one can shoot up a lock like her.”
