Page 38 of Vengeance

Tears fall down his cheeks, and he looks away. “I had an accident.”

“You what?” Lenetta screams.

“You didn’t let me go to the bathroom. I couldn’t hold it, and I don’t have any clothes. I didn’t mean to.”

The crying turns into embarrassed sobs, and the smell of urine hits her. Lex feels momentarily stunned as she stares at this poor boy.

“Why doesn’t he have any clothes he can change into, Lenetta?” Tara asks, and Lex loves the angry strength she’s gaining. Mama Bear’s coming out.

“Because he can’t control his damned bladder, that’s why,” she says and turns back to Matty. “You’re going to pay for that. Do you know how many times I’ve had to clean up that carpet?”

“I begged you to let me go to the bathroom,” he says and presses up against the wall as Lenetta storms over to him. “You wouldn’t let me out.”

“You get back into that room and start cleaning up your mess. Now!”

Lex leans against the wall, her arms crossed, and says, “Or what? What are you gonna do?”

Whipping around, Lenetta glares at Tara instead of Lex. At least she recognizes she won’t be successful intimidating the curly blonde. “What is this? You bring a prissy little Pitbull to antagonize me? I will break her.”

“I’m not that easy to break, but, bitch, I’d love to see you try,” she says and pushes off the wall to get in Lenetta’s face. “Hit me. Just once. I promise you won’t be the one standing when I’m done. Hell, I might just lock you up until you piss yourself as a taste of your own medicine. Besides, I look damn good in orange.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m a mother. Who the hell are you?”

Matty reaches out a shaky hand to touch Lex’s arm. “Please don’t get in trouble. She’ll get you in trouble.”

Turning, her face immediately softens, and she smiles at him. “Baby, this woman is nothing but talk. But even if she did get me in trouble, I’m taking her with me. She’ll be in the cell right next door, and I will make it my mission to have her regret every decision she’s ever made in her life up until now. She doesn’t get to treat you like this.”

“Really?” Matty asks, and a soft sob escapes. “Why? You don’t know me.”

She points to Tara. “I know her. And I know she loves you. I also know you’re just a boy. This woman is an adult, and adults have to pay the price of their terrible decisions. They don’t get to take their anger about their shitty life decisions out on children, which is what she’s doing to you. And payback just happens to be in the form of a blonde with curly hair ready to see her crying on the floor. Hopefully with some blood.”

“She’s a damned liar. No one cares about you, Matty. Now get in your fucking room and clean up your piss, you pathetic bastard,” Lenetta snaps at Matty, her arm raised.

Lex jumps in front of her. “Oh, hell no, bitch. Raise your hand at him again. See how that turns out for you.”

“Get out of my house. If you don’t, I will get my gun. If I get my gun, I will shoot you.”

“Do it.”

Lenetta hurries into another room, and Lex lets out a chuckle as she turns to see the terrified look on Tara’s face. Tara looks at Lily and asks, “What is she doing?”

“Wait for it,” Lily says.

“She’s going to get herself killed.”

“Not likely.”

“Fine!” Lenetta says, returning with her gun. “You asked for it.”

Matty gasps, and Lex turns to him. “Go to Tara, Matty.”

“But-”

“Please?”

He does, and the smell of urine fills the hallway. He looks so embarrassed, and it pisses Lex off even more. This woman needs a dose of her own medicine.

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