Page 93 of Dizzy

what you done with him bitch?

pick up the phone you dumb hore.

“I didn’t do anything to Chaos. He left me. I don’t know where he is.”

Heavy doesn’t even acknowledge what I’m saying.

“She’s got to answer for herself,” Heavy says to Dizzy. “We need to know.”

“Italk to her. No one else.” Dizzy steps forward until he’s blocking me from the others.

What do they think I did? My heartbeat breaks into a gallop.

“You’re too close, Diz,” Heavy says. “You got to let us handle her.”

“The fuck I do.” Dizzy puffs his chest. Nickel balls his fists, his black eyes glowing with unholy glee. That dude is insane. And Heavy’s huge. Jed’s kind of doughy, but he makes three against one.

I can’t let them fight.

“What do you want to know?” I pipe up, my voice wobbling.

“Don’t say nothin’,” Dizzy warns.

“I don’t have anything to hide.” As it leaves my mouth, I realize it’s the exact thing every guilty person says.

“What did I say, woman?” Dizzy shifts on his feet. Nickel bares his teeth. They’re gonna fight.

There’s a long moment when the men glare at each other, shaking out their arms, fingers twitching. A showdown in the driveway.

Then a neighbor drives by, honks, and waves.

Heavy sighs and shakes his head. “Dizzy, let’s take a minute. Walk with me.” He jerks his head toward the garage.

Dizzy doesn’t budge.

“No one will touch her. You have my word. We need to talk, brother.”

Finally, Dizzy gives a curt nod. Heavy, Nickel, and him head off and go into the garage, stone-faced. I’m left alone with Jed.

“What’s happening?”

This guy was an asshole to me in the basement, but he was nice the first time we met. He’s like most of the men my sisters date. Buzz cut. Clean-shaven. Showered, new boots, nice jeans, and bad teeth.

Jed pivots so his back is to the garage. He pulls a gun from his waistband.

Oh, fuck.

My hands fly up, and I open my mouth to scream.

“Shut up and put your damn hands down.”

“Put that gun away.”

He isn’t aiming at me, but still, blood swooshes in my ears. What the fuck is going on?

“Handsdown.” He waves the gun at me. I drop my arms.

“Now, listen. I don’t have time to explain this twice. This is your lucky day. Right now, Heavy’s over there convincing Dizzy to let us kill you.”

---