Page 41 of Hidden Truths

“There’s only a hundred grand here. That’s a little light don’t you think?” I question Richardson as he smirks in return.

“I guess you should’ve read the contract. You get a hundred grand now and the rest comes from the buyer once we sell her. We still make a profit from the sale and you get the rest of the money you’re owed. So, take this and get the fuck out of my sight. I’ll let you know when we’ve made the sale so we can arrange to meet up and you get the rest of the money,” Richardson states, a growl to his voice that I love to hear when he’s fucking me.

“I’ve got a baby boy too. I’m sure you can find someone to buy him. Double the money and you can have him too,” I say, my legs shaking and my entire body hurting as I think of all the money I can make from selling off my kids to this man. I won’t have to deal with them any longer and I’ll have enough money to keep me in drugs and shit for a while.

“I’m not buying your fucking baby, Karen. Get the fuck outta my sight before I take the money back and rip up the contract. I’m done with your ass,” Richardson says, turning his back to me and making his way back to his car.

With a smile on my face, I leave the pizza shop and make my way to the poor section of town once again. Thankfully, my friend is still waiting so I don’t have to walk there. I barely managed to convince him to bring me. It was only the promise of sharing my drugs with him that made him relent and steal the car for us to get here. It’s not the best option, but when you’re desperate, you’ll resort to almost anything to get what you want. Including selling the kids you hate to get a large sum of money. Just because Richardson didn’t want to buy the baby from me doesn’t mean there aren’t others who will dismiss the offer. I just have to put some feelers out. Something to think about once I get my fix and make sure no one knows how much money I currently have. Arabella will still give me money when I see her, but for now, I’m set.

Unknown

Overhearing the conversation between Kash’s father and Arabella’s mother has my entire body trembling in rage. To actually listen in to two people discussing the sale of another human is fucking disgusting. We knew they were into some shady fucking shit, but I’m not sure the guys truly know how bad this situation is. I don’t move from my hiding spot or make any moves as the shadows cover me from anyone’s sight. Mr. Richardson pulls out of the alley while that skank fucking walks away with a smile on her face as if she’s just won the fucking lottery. Now, I pull my phone out since I’m basically alone in the alley behind Sal’s.

“Dante, we’ve got a fuckin’ problem. This shit is worse than anythin’ we thought was goin’ on. I just fuckin’ watched Arabella’s mother sell her to fuckin’ Kash’s father. He had a contract with him and she signed. Even tried to sell her fuckin’ baby. He didn’t buy the baby, but he was all about buyin’ Arabella. I don’t know what the fuck is gonna happen movin’ forward, but he’s gonna be lookin’ for a buyer for her. The bitch will get the rest of the money once she’s been sold. She also told Richardson, Arabella is a virgin,” I say through the phone as Dante starts swearing and yelling.

It doesn’t take me very long to hear things slamming to the ground and holes being punched in the closest wall to him. I know Dante enough to realize and understand he’s losing his shit and no one will be able to pull him back once he hits a certain point. Dash and Fallon won’t even be able to reach him. It’s one of the reasons he wanted to start the underground fighting. Dante will spend most of his time in there because he needs an outlet from all the rage coursing through him these days.

“You fuckin’ stay there with her and don’t let her out of your sight. I don’t give a fuck what you have to do. Make sure Arabella gets home and don’t leave her house once you’re there,” Dante orders me, his voice hard and deadly.

“I’ll do whatever it takes. This might mean you have to push forward everythin’ you’ve been keepin’ hidden from your fathers’. The sooner Richardson realizes he’s lost, the sooner he might back off and realize Arabella won’t be sold out from under his own son,” I state, not knowing all the details of the plan, but I’ve heard enough over the last several weeks to understand what’s going on.

“I’ll inform the guys and we’ll figure out what to do once they know all the information. For now, your only priority is Arabella and makin’ sure no one gets close to her. We’ve got her when she’s at school. You just worry about when she’s away from campus,” Dante states before hanging up the phone.

Putting my phone back in my pocket, I watch Arabella make her way out of the back door of the pizzeria with a trash bag in hand. This is her third trip out here and I’m happy as fuck she didn’t make an appearance when her mother and Richardson were talking. It’s bad enough she heard the first conversation about this shit. I don’t move from my spot until Arabella’s safely back inside the building and I hear the lock of the door click in place. She’s almost ready to head home and I’ll be following her as the cold wind whips around us and the dark of night covers us. Hopefully Richardson won’t try anything tonight when it’s just me following her and keeping an eye on the house she’ll stay in tonight.

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