Page 71 of Southpaw Slots

It’s a bull.

My feet stumble forward as she follows with a gun held close to my lower back. “I-I’m pregnant. Did you know that? If you kill me, then you’ll kill a Donovan baby.” Glancing up to the tops of the buildings, for once I want Dash to be near watching this entire scene. I’ve been good about avoiding him while he watches out for Ace, but now I’m regretting it.

“We know. March.” With another shove, she presses the heavy weapon into my skin. My pulse skyrockets, but I try to focus on getting out of this alive.

“Where are we going?” I try to stall again. To know what’s going to happen. I think I may vomit for the twelfth time today, except this time wouldn’t behormonal. Maybe I should, so I can slow us down. When I think about hurling, she shoves until I stumble.

“Right here.” Gripping a metal handle of a rusted blue door, she tosses it open, but the room inside is black with no light escaping. Is this it for me? “Inside. Now.”

A sob erupts from my lips. Why did I come here alone? I should have brought Asa with me.“Please, please don’t.” Tears fall from my cheeks. Surely, I can talk my way out of this. I have my whole life. If I can just figure out what she wants.

Moving closer to my body, the woman presses her lips over my ear and holds me by the neck. “Listen, little girl. I’m about to save your life. But you need toget the fuck in that room. Your tears only make my pussy ache.”

Shock ricochets through me, and her hands move to my waist until she thrusts me forward. Tripping over the threshold, I catch myself on the door frame and place a hand on the exposed brick interior wall. She slams the solid metal door behind us, and my eyes slowly adjust to the lack of light. It’s completely empty. There’s nothing and no one else here. Some tension eases in my constricted throat.

Turning to her, I try to pick a question. “Wh-why, what…”

“Shh. Stop asking questions.” Walking me back against the wall, she places a long arm on either side of my head and leans down to be closer to my face.Almost as if she’ll kiss me. “I need to show you something.”

Whipping out a phone from an unseen pocket, she taps on the screen, then holds it up for me. It’s from a bit far away, but there are two men in a dusky cavern. The light is very poor, and the image is grainy. There’s a tall older man in a tuxedo. He looks so out of place in the woods with his perfect outfit and shiny shoes. Just entering the stone hole is the other, a younger man, who is shielded by a shadow.

But it looks like Wyatt.

Their voices come out clear on the video as Wyatt shuffles inside and the older man calls out,“Hello, Barrington.”My brow furrows. Who is Barrington?

Glancing up at the woman, she keeps her eyes focused on the screen, so I do the same.

Wyatt replies,“Don’t call me that. Here’s the leftovers. Got the cash, too. About twenty grand this time. Did you all ask for rifles?”

Some more conversation about guns takes place, but I don’t really understand a word of what’s happening. Isn’t this just one of his drops for my brother? Is she warning me that Strauss knows about the underground trades and is going to hurt us?

As he turns to leave, Wyatt tells the tuxedo butler-looking man,“Tell John to watch the homeless population over there. Make sure they aren’t scheduled for a riot we don’t know about.”

Who iswe? Does he mean the crew over at themotorcycle shop? East Side? Is East Side starting something?

Stopping the video, she places the phone back in her pocket and crosses her arms, but still stands like a formidable statue directly in front of my body. “Barrington blew up your husband’s casino. Don’t you think something should be done about that?”

Confused, I shake my head. “Why…Whois Barrington?”

She closes her eyes and drops her chin to her chest for a moment. “Wyatt Barrington. Your lover. Your husband’s lover. Thesnake. Don’t trust him or his plans for you two and Gnarled Pine Hollow.”

“Wha-what? He’s selling weapons to men in tuxedoes?”

She murmurs, “You’re asking the wrong question. I don’t have time for stupidity.”

With my brow furrowed and nostrils flaring, I’m about snap at her. But she lowers her arms and still holds the pistol in one. Probably best not to slap someone holding a gun.

“Look at me, little girl. Your school games aren’t going to get you what you want. The players in this sport aremuchbetter at it than you.”

I try to piece together what I’m supposed to learn, clearing my throat before I speak this time. “You want me to hurt Wyatt? Who is called Barrington? And I shouldn’t trust his plans for Gnarled Pine Hollow… For consort?”

“Shh! Listen!I don’t know what the snake will do when he discovers what’s about to happen. Continue with the secret strategy you started, but beware.” Grasping my chin with her long fingers, she forces my face to peer into hers. “Mrs. Donovan, pay attention. You are in extreme danger.Do notmention what I have shown you, except to your husband. You’re alone out there.”

Her words hit me in my core, and hot tears form in my eyes.

She steps back from me suddenly and rips off her dress. But instead of being nude, the red fabric falls to the floor, revealing another dress underneath. When she turns to throw open the back door, I catch a glimpse of black satin before she disappears around the corner.

The breath gets knocked out of my lungs as I fall back into the wall and slide down. What just happened? My fingers lace through my hair. Utter confusion feels like it’s melting my mind. But I do know one thing.

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