Page 161 of Savior
“I told you to get out of town for a while.”
When she starts to sink to her knees, sobbing harder, I grab her arm to prevent her from doing so. God knows what the fuck is on the ground back here. Broken glass. Piss. Vomit. I pull her with me back out into the lot.
“Put that fuckin’ knife away. We both know you’re not going to use it.”
“So, you know I’d never hurt you?” She says, blinking up at me, cheeks streaked with mascara tears. I swear it’s all for dramatic effect. She shoves the weapon back into the purse hanging from her shoulder.
“I know you’re impulsive. That you act without thinking shit through. Do I believe you intended to get me killed? No. I don’t. But I can’t say the same in regards to what you would do to Vanna… Be grateful Maddie exists… She’s your saving fucking grace.”
Reaching into my cut, I grab her Jar of Hearts stationary, yanking the useless piece of paper out and shoving it at her. She clutches it to her chest.
“I’m not going to ruin your life. Ruining your life, ruins Maddie’s life. And besides that, I’m not as spiteful as you. But after what you did to Vanna… Believe me now, Lucinda… You’re. Fucking. Dead. To me. This is the last favor you will ever get from me.”
Lucinda crouches down, picking up a folded paper from the ground. She stands slowly as she unfolds and studies it. I realize it’s Ace’s latest sonogram. It must have slipped out when I removed her letter.
Lucinda takes a wobbly step back from me, teetering on her heels as she stares at the image. “Why her?” she whispers on another shaky breath. “Why does she get the you I wanted?”
“I’ve never been what you want. I will never be what you want. I don’t even know if you know, what it is you truly want.” I sigh, holding out my hand for the sonogram. “I’ve given you back your letter. Give that back to me.”
She stares at the image of Ace a moment longer, before she hands it over. I tuck it back inside my cut.
“I’ve always loved you.” She whimpers.
I ignore that lie. “Do you have a ride? Or shall I call you one?”
“Vixie is waiting for me. She’s parked at the corner.”
“I’ll walk you.” I begrudgingly insist, grabbing her by the elbow as I escort her from my lot.
“If I was dead to you, you wouldn’t care about my safety.” Lucinda pushes as I hurry her along beside me.
“I care about Maddie. You just get to reap a few benefits from that.”
As we round the open chain-link gate onto the sidewalk, I spot Vixie’s car parked at the corner, near the street entrance of my shop. She’s sitting behind the wheel. Her eyes widen upon recognition. I haven’t seen her since I canned her ass, months ago.
Grabbing the passenger side door, I yank it open for Lucinda to get her narrow ass inside. Vixie keeps her mouth shut.
“Get in.” I insist. She doesn’t, of course. “Lucinda, get in the fucking car and get lost.”
“I could never hurt you, Dean.”
She must be drunk off her damn rocker.
“Says the woman, who pulled a blade on me mere minutes ago.” I scoff, glaring at her. “Says the woman, who has used her own daughter to manipulate me for years.”
She stares back at me. A sorrowful expression in her eyes. “I don’t know where Legion is. Not with any certainty.”
“So you’ve said.”
“But I do know something that may be of interest to you.”
I take a deep breath, letting it out on a sigh laced with doubt, and maybe even a little indifference at this point. However, “I’m listening.”
She sniffles, before she tells me, “He owns the Knights.”
