Page 4 of Queen Of WildCards

Andthere came the claws.

"Thisconversation is over,Jim,"Iground out from between clenched teeth, eyeing the phone on the counter with distaste. "Whatevergame you're playing,I'mnot in the mood for it."

Hehatedit whenIcalled himJim.Ifhe had his way,I'dstill call him daddy like a good little girl and pander to him like he was the patron saint of parenthood.Hewanted to be worshipped, and whenIdidn't give him that, the only thing keeping him from withdrawing his aide was a court order.

Bethe was pissed he ever signed that agreement to support me after costing me my job.

Rentin this town was astronomical, and thoughIwas getting monthly checks from his estate of two grand, a quarter of that went on his books every month so he could be comfortable in prison.Aquarter of it paid his lawyer's retainer.Andthe rest was for me, thoughIalways spent at least a hundred on phone calls from the jail.

Guesshe didn't count that commissary money toward his call allotment.

"Youjust remember who's paying for your upkeep, you little ungrateful bitch—"

"Goodbye,"Isaid smugly, disconnecting the call with a flourish of my slightly sticky hands. "Andgood riddance."

CallswithJimwere like that sometimes.Oneminute he wanted to play house; the next, he was busy trying to remind me whoIbelonged to.

Iknew he wouldn't risk throwing away all of his belongings and everything he'd managed to amass as a result of all his criminal dealings just to spite me, so the rent would inevitably get paid every month until he was out on parole, andIjumped ship to get away.

Icouldn't risk being around whenSlimJimhimself walked free once more.Losingmy job was peanuts compared to what he could do to ruin my life.

Ijust had to keep saving up from my jobs on the side, every pennyIcould scrape up.

Myphone vibrated on the counter, andIrealized that my scheduled shift as an online therapist was fast approaching.Iusually tried to take calls in the office, but it wouldn't be the first timeI'dtaken one while making dinner or sitting in the living room.

Istill had an hour to go, though—time to check in with the real world.

"Siri, callGemma."

TheniftyAIon my phone dialed up my only remaining friend, andIsmiled silently to myself whenIheard her pick up.

"Hey,Mal, how goes it?"

"Oh, you know, same shit, different day."Istirred the sauce on the stove absently as the rain outside picked up. "Andyou?"

Gemmasquealed on the other end of the line like a teenage girl. "Oh.My.Gosh.You'renot going to believe this, butI'vegot a second date tomorrow with that hottie from the dating app—"

"Gemma, what did we say about those apps?"

Icould practically see her in my mind, flopping into her bean bag chair with a flourish and an eye roll. "Okay,mom,we agreed thatIwould be careful, not thatIwould stop using them."

Theoven blasted me in the face with a gust of hot air asItugged the door down to check on some garlic bread. "Sowhat steps have you taken to make sure the environment tomorrow is a safe one?"

Gemmagroaned. "Areyou really playing therapist on me right now?Ithought you'd be happy for me and help me wig out over what to wear, not that you'd slide in here all mopey and serious and demand to know how safeIplanned to be."

"Asa friend,Gemma,Iwant to make sure you don't end up—"

"What, end up like my sister?"

GemmaandIhad bonded a long time ago after going to group therapy sessions together.Herdad left whenJanice, her older sister, was kidnapped during a night out.Shewas only 19.

Ithad been seven years since then.

Ididn't want the same for my friend.

"Listen,Gemma,IknowIcome off as a bit condescending at times, butIworry about you."Myfingers clenched around the hand towel on the counter, andItugged the perfectly-toasted bread from the oven, taking a big whiff asImoved to lay it out on the stove. "Sohumor me, please."

"We'rehaving the date atAlonzo'sRistorante," she finally grumbled. "Thereservation is for six, which is their busiest time, andI'vegot a ride to the restaurant and home from our last venue for the night already scheduled with a regular driver."

---