Page 92 of Seeds of Malice

"But it's so good for business," I taunt.

He crosses his arms. "What do you need?"

I sit back in the chair and push my fingers together. "I need a birth control shot."

He sighs. "For who this time?"

"Ivy Ford."

He squints, pondering, and says, "I don't know an Ivy Ford."

"Yeah, so what? You don't know half the women I've gotten birth control for. Write the prescription," I order.

His disapproving expression deepens.

I lean closer, threatening, "Do we no longer have a deal?"

He closes his eyes and sighs. He grabs a prescription pad, scribbles on it, and tears it. He hands me the piece of paper. "You have to stop doing this, Dax. I'm going to lose my license."

"No, you won't. Stop being a pussy," I state and rise.

"I'm serious. I can lose my license," he reiterates.

I remind him, "You can also lose your clientele."

His face reddens.

It's all I have to say. Dr. Collins has been under my thumb for a long time. And bribery goes a long way.

He's got lots of quirky fetishes. So once I found out, I set him up with a prostitute. He thought he was on a legitimate date.

Smart me got everything on videotape.

That was years ago. But the last thing he wants for his reputation is for that video to get out. So, for the rest of his career, I own him.

He mutters, "You're a horrible person."

"Your song's getting old. Deal with it," I declare and walk out, whistling.

I get back into my Porsche and go over to the pharmacy.

I pull through the drive-through, and a blond girl named Melissa smiles. She says through the speaker, "Mr. Carrington, how are you?"

"I'm fine. I need this now," I say, sticking the paper into the box.

She grabs it and looks at it. "Sure. Give me five minutes?"

"Can you make it two?"

"Maybe three?" she offers.

"Thanks."

Within minutes, I have the prescription. I take off, going back to the salon. I call Bobby.

"Yo, what up?" he answers.

"Hey, what are you up to?"