Page 24 of Ready to Cash Out

Where else could he have gone? Under the bed?

Trev’s lungs burned as he fought not to inhale except for tiny, gasping breaths that he prayed were inaudible.

Jupiter walked by the coffin, around it, paused, and then…

He left.

Trev still didn’t move, straining to listen to confirm that Jupiter was actually gone. Certainly someone would be calling the police because of the gunshots, even here in this crap part of town, and he could just stay here until they arrived. Jupiter probably wouldn’t go very far, no doubt waiting around close by so he could snatch Trev up as soon as he saw him.

“Trevanion?” Juicy’s voice called out worriedly.

“Shit,” Trev hissed.

“Trev? Are you in there?” Juicy called again. “There was a big man here and I think he had a gun. Either that or he had really big jawbreakers.”

Trev pushed up the coffin lid. “Juicy, look, it’s?—”

Juicy was standing at Trev’s doorway and screamed. “Zombie!”

“I’m not a zombie!” Trev groaned as he climbed out.

“That’s exactly what a zombie would say.” Juicy shook Barkie’s leash at him and barked ferociously. “That’s a good boy, Barkie! That’s a good boy! Remember your training! Ugo always said two shots! Heart and head! Final shot! In the head!”

“I’m not a fucking zombie, I swear.” Trev grunted, rubbing his aching back as he surveyed his trashed apartment. “No head shots, okay? I just needed a place to hide for a second. That guy was here looking for me and I gotta leave for a little while, okay?”

“Leave?” Juicy frowned. “You’re coming back, aren’t you?”

Trev’s heart sank, and he lied. “Of course! It’ll just be a few days.”

“Oh, okay.” Juicy sighed in obvious relief.

Trev grabbed his lockbox and the duffel bag, offering a confident smile. “I’ll let you know as soon as I get back, okay?”

“Okay.” Juicy smiled warmly. “I was so worried?—”

“It’s fine, really. But I gotta get going.” Trev glanced back at his apartment, and his gaze fell on his kitchen counter. He’d been so focused on the money that he’d forgotten about the only other thing in this dump that really mattered—the photograph of his mother.

He had others stashed away in his lockbox, but this one was his favorite.

“You should let Camille know about the rodent problem,” Juicy said.

“Sorry, Mama,” Trev whispered to the picture as he shoved it into his duffel bag. He hadn’t heard Juicy clearly, asking, “What was that?”

“You need to tell Camille about the rodent problem.” Juicy gestured to the mess.

“Right. Yes.” Trev patted Juicy’s shoulder. “Because this was clearly the work of rats.”

“Of course.”

“It was a really, really big one.” Trev snorted as he poked his head out to look up and down the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. He breezed by Juicy and then ushered him out of the way so he could lock back up.

Right.

Jupiter shot the lock to break in.

Trev growled, adding bitterly, “A big, stupid one named Jupiter.”

“Ouch,” Jupiter purred. “Name calling? And after everything we’ve shared together.”

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