Page 74 of Trailer Trash

I could only watch in horror. I knew I should stop Jed. I needed to stop him, but watching him turn the tables on Beasley was empowering, even if it was wrong.

Beasley continued to sob. “Don’t hurt me.”

“How many times did you hear Neely Kate cry,beggingfor help, but you ignored her?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, glancing up at me. “I’m sorry.”

“Too fucking little, too late,” Jed grunted right before he kicked Beasley in the stomach.

Beasley grunted and curled into a ball.

I felt like I was going to be sick.

“Where’s your brother?” When there was no response, Jed kicked him again.

Beasley cried out in pain, then said, “Kansas City! He’s in Kansas City.”

Jed took a step back. “What’s he doin’ there?”

“He has a job. He’s an electrician now.”

“Then why is Stella still livin’ here with the baby he was so desperate to be with?” Jed asked.

Beasley sat up and hunched over, protecting his stomach. “I don’t know. He said the timing wasn’t right.”

“And you believed him? You havegotto be the most gullible piece of shit ever born.”

Beasley glanced up at me, and I saw the defeat on his face, the same look he always used to get when Branson lit into him.

“Jed. Let’s go.”

He turned to look at me, and there was something feral in his eyes. “Go wait for me in the car.”

“No. We’re walkin’ away from here together.”

“Go wait for me in the car.”

I marched closer and pointed my finger at him. “Let’s get one thing perfectly straight: No one tells me what to do. Not anymore. We are walking away right now.”

He was so pissed a vein on his forehead began to throb.

Beasley tried to reach over and lunge for me, but I kicked my heel into his face with enough force to send him flying onto his back. He stared up at me with a look of surprise—which quickly transformed into anger—but I put my foot on his throat with enough weight on it to cut off part of his airway.

“You even think of knocking me over, and I’ll crush your windpipe before I hit the ground,” I said in a calculated voice.

He lowered his hands.

“You know I’ve killed someone else in a very similar way,” I said, watching the anger and terror on his face. “Don’t think I won’t do it again.”

He blinked.

“Jed was wrong. You’re not stupid. You know I wanted no part of any of it. What you are isdeluded. Not that you believe I begged to live like that, but that you believe your sorry excuse for a brother cares one iota about you. But that’s onyou,Beasley.Youcan believe whatever you want. But now you’ve put my life and safety in danger, and I don’t like it one bit.” I pressed a little harder. “When I lift my foot, I’m going to need more information about how to find Branson. And if you don’t give it to me, I’ll find creative ways to get it out of you.”

I stepped back as Beasley rolled to the side and began to cough.

“Now, Beasley,” I said, knowing full well that he couldn’t answer, but I was high on the rush of power from dealing with someone who had hurt me, even if he’d helped me in the end.

“Overland Park,” he said in a hoarse voice. “But I don’t have an address, and I don’t know who he works for.”

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