Page 112 of Muted

“Put it in your pocket. That’s your share for taking the risk.”

I see red when her shaking hands pick up the small stack of bills. She eyes it thoughtfully, then folds it and puts it in her back pocket. Cliff reaches out and I ignore the way she flinches away from him, causing him to hesitate, then chuckle, before he runs his hand down her head the same way I just did earlier in the car.

“We keep this up, you’ll be able to pocket enough when you run again from grandpa,” he says, smiling as he opens his wallet to shove the bills inside. “Until next week,baby.”

The hits keep coming like a knife slicing through me. He’s speaking to her with so much familiarity that I immediately second guess our reaction when Cliff told us last week about the two of them.

Susu is stealing from me, too.

Cliff knows about her past.

Why the fuck does Cliff know? Why would she tell HIM of all people?

Inhaling sharply, I fortify myself, ignoring the hurt and avoiding looking at her. I can’t look at her right now. I take even steps into the room and shove my hands into my pocket, gripping my phone in one hand, ready to call the cops after I confront the two of them.

“Well, this is interesting, isn’t it?” I ask, keeping all emotion tucked deep inside of me.She fucking fooled me.

The two of them jolt, obviously surprised at having been caught. I’m not sure why she’s so shocked. She just left my car ten minutes ago and knew I’d be coming inside. I brush that thought away when Cliff jerks his head toward her, eyes blazing in anger. I still can’t look at her, so I keep my eyes on him.

“You didn’t tell me he was here,” Cliff snarls at Susu. “You trying to fucking set me up?”

Not worried about what he thinks right now, I decide to create a division between their little alliance they’ve got going. I shrug like I don’t have a care in the world. “Didn’t take her long tosinglike a little bird.” This time I flick my eyes in her direction for only a moment, just in time to see her flinch from the dig. “What I don’t know is how long this has been going on. You want to tell me, partner?”

His eyes are wild as he looks anywhere but at me, calculating his response. “I’m not sure what you think is going on, or what she’s told you, but you have it all wrong. I caught her skimming cash shortly after she started here. I knew you were all attached, so I made her think she had to give me a cut. I was putting it back into the accounts. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

I snort at his attempt to change the story. It’s a load of bullshit, but I’m not sure if catching her skimming is truth or not. Ten minutes ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. But now? I don’t know what to think.

“Clifford, I’ve known you were stealing from me for ages.Don’tdeny it,” I snap when he opens his mouth to argue. “I just didn’t know your girlfriend was helping out.”

“What?” Vance’s voice rings out from the front door. I didn’t hear him come in, and when I cast a look in his direction, I see his wet hair from a recent shower. I shudder, knowing it’s because he just got done fucking Susu this morning.Christ, she played all of us so well.

“Turns out we’ve got a little Bonnie and Clyde situation going on. Give me the fucking cash,” I bark at them, holding my hand out.

Cliff is pale when he opens his wallet and yanks the stack of cash out, slamming it into my hand. “You’ve got this all wrong, man. I’m not the bad guy here.”

Ignoring him, I shift my body toward her and finally let my eyes fall on her face. Her eyes are glassy and she’s shaking like a leaf. There’s a look of horror written all over her and she looks terrified.Good, she should be fucking scared. “Give me my money back,” I say, dropping my voice so she knows I’m serious.

“Wait, this isn’t right. Susu wouldn’t—” I cut Vance off with a sharp look as Susu stumbles toward me. She struggles to pull the much smaller amount from her skintight jeans and, with a trembling hand, sets it in my open palm.

The moment it’s there, I curl my fingers around it and drop my hand to my side, stepping away from her.

“Ch-Chester,” she whispers. “C-Cliff, he ma—”

“Youbitch!” Cliff yells, but I’m louder, forcing her to wrench away from my fury.

“Don’t say a goddamn word, Susanna!” I shout, losing my temper, furious thatthisis when she finally fucking decides to talk to me. “Not a single fucking word! You played us.Allof us!”

A flash of agony crosses her face, and she grips her throat, shaking her head rapidly, her hair flying out and whipping across her face. A split second of hesitation hits me before a flash of Cliff’s hand stroking down her head like he’s fucking petting her fills my vision.

I hear the back door open and know that Theo just got here. Thank God, because I can’t handle Vance’s pained look, like I’ve kicked his puppy. I certainly can’t handle looking at the woman who’s sucked me into her web of lies and deceit. “Don’t fucking move. I’m calling the police.” I hiss, then spin on my heel to go into the office.

“What the fuck is happening right now?” Theo asks, and I jerk my head toward the office for him to follow me.

“You’re making a mistake!” Cliff calls out to me. He’s going to die on this mountain he thinks he’s king of. A flash of blonde draws my eyes to my left and I see Susu running at full speed for the front door, her bag over her shoulder.

“Susu! Wait!” Theo calls, shoving past me to catch up to her. I grab his arm in a strong grip to stop him. “What the fuck, Chaz? I need to catch up to her!”

“Let her go. She won’t get far,” I growl. Looking back at Cliff, I point my finger at him. “Sit the fuck down, you asshole.” I wait until he pulls out a chair and slams his body into the seat, yanking out his phone. I don’t give a fuck who he’s contacting, a lawyer if he’s smart.

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