Page 47 of Saving Bonnie

“Deliveries…that’s it?” she asks with a hopeful note.

“Mhmm.”

“Oh.” The note of disappointment is unmistakable. “Well, you’ve done better.” She sniffs.

Rick comes in behind us.

“Hi, I’m Rachel.” Despite everything, Mom doesn’t advertise she has a daughter my age. “Can I help you?” she asks, switching to running interference.

I glance over my shoulder to find him giving her his signature smile. “I wanted to talk to Bonnie.”

“All right.” She turns to me, placing a hand under the pitcher. “How about I take over for you.”

“Um, thanks, Mom,” I add, to poke at her. Handing off the pitcher, I turn to Rick.

“Hey,” he says, anticipation rolling off him. “I got those carrots you wanted.”

“Oh, thanks.” I’d nearly forgotten about ordering them. And with me wearing my new gift, I have to fight the blush trying to cover my cheeks. He doesn’t know what the carrots signify or the fact my bare ass is against the shorts. “MJ can take them.”

He scrutinizes me for a few seconds then, like flipping a switch, he changes tactics. “If you don’t need them right-right now, I have a guy who’s short.” He sticks his hand in his pocket, shifting his weight. “We had some slowdown on products coming north. There’s flooding in certain areas with this storm.”

“Go ahead,” I reply, keeping things as professional as possible. “I think we’ll be okay if someone else needs them today.”

He nods slowly, possibly understanding I’m not up for anything else.

*****

Conrado

We’re taking down a high-level boss when the phone rings. Running the controller with one hand, I answer the call. “Yo.”

“Where’s my money?” The question comes across bitter and demanding.

Ugh.“Don’t sweat it, man,” I say, jamming the button.

“What happened?” Iz puts the game on hold and starts to freak. “I can hear him all the way over here.”

I wave him off, running my fingers across my neck for him to stop.Damn. Boy’s gotta get the point sometime.

“Conrado, I talked to Sergio,” Rick says, all pissed. “He told me what happened.”

Fucking Sergio. Why’s he getting all up in my business? “‘Eyyy, I got things under control.”

“You lost the package.” He rolls it out like it’s the end of the world.

“Whoa, hold on. I wasn’t anywhere near the delivery. Sergio’s the one who fucked up, not me.” I’m not taking the fall because he couldn’t keep to the plan. I’m the victim here. Every other shipment went through. But the one that was gonna bringmecash is lost.

“I don’t care who lost it,” he says, like the words are coming from between clenched teeth. “You know exactly who runs this outfit. I’m not putting my ass on the line for you.”

Iz’s eyes are bugging out. I’m not gonna let this asshole disrespect me in front of my boy.

“Nah, but you put your asson the linewhen you were boning his bitch,” I remind him.

Rick goes quiet. “She’s none of your—”

I use a high voice, pretending to be the chick he was with. “Yeah. Right there, baby. Ah. Ah.” I double over, nearly losing it. I saw the whole thing, and I was ready to give it a like. “You got some moves, boy.” I try to catch my breath, still laughing. “But then she got somesu-preme pussy.”

“Fuck you,” he spits, adding all the pissiness to each word.

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