Page 14 of Sugar and Skulls

“Fuck man. My dick works fine, nobody is spilling. They love this bitch. I guess she takes care of the less fortunate and we all know there is plenty of that in Trap. So, yeah they don’t want to see us shove her out. She keeps shit rolling and the drugs are clean. Doc tells me overdoses are almost non-existent since she started selling.”

“I want to meet this Sugar. Get me a fucking meeting with her, Raffe,” Bill says, leaving no room for arguments.

Raffe sighs. “May as well ask me to get you an interview with the fucking Queen of England,” he grumbles and walks away, kicking rocks.

Bill laughs and then runs his hands through his dark hair.

“How did your meeting go with the worker?” I ask.

“Bitch is still trying to find Jesse, to bring her in for the damn DNA test. Says she took off from her aunts wherever the fuck that is. Right now, she’s listed as a runaway. So, I’m just fucked, man.”

“Well, shit. Wait…” my mind is moving pieces of a fucked- up puzzle around. Bill is studying my face as I try to put the edge pieces together and then slide the middle ones in place.No fucking way.

“Bill, I think I might know where to find her. Plan on riding with me this weekend and we’ll see if I’m right.”

“Got nothing better to do. If you help me find her I’ll give you whatever your filthy, non-existent heart wants.

I grin and toss the rest of my beer back. How many seventeen-year-old girls named Jess are there in the world? And if my cousin is taken with this one then it might just be because she is one of us. Skulls have a way of recognizing their own.

Chapter Eight

Jesse ~ Seventeen years old

???

I’m watching William rub Penny’s swollen belly from behind a tree. They stopped in front of the grocery store. He still tries to talk to me. Sometimes he follows me around like a lost puppy, but I kick him to the curb each time. I shouldn’t be jealous. Shouldn’t be. But, a small, tiny, barely noticeable part is.

It’s not like I’m girlfriend material anyway. I’m jaded as fuck and overall, just not a nice person to be around anymore. I’ve taken mean to the next level. Well that’s not entirely true cause everyone here loves me. Most people have figured out I’m her…Sugar. Yeah, tattooing myself wasn’t the greatest idea cause those things are hard to fucking hide. But whatever, nobody is going to talk. I know because the last time someone had the balls to utter my real name out loud while I was dressed as her they got a fucking bullet in their foot.

I protect what’s mine.

Anyhow, I’m trying to decide if I want to blow this popsicle stand and head to Cali. I’m tired of the desert. I long to see some fucking color. Like Jesus, this is the blandest place on the earth. I try to brighten it up with my murals, but you can only do so much.

I rip my eyes from William and his pregnant girlfriend and head to the shop. Raffe’s bike is parked out front. I’m excited to see what Dan’s got done. He’s getting one of my best designs tattooed on his leg. It’s dark and sexy and I absolutely love that it is going on Raffe’s beautiful body. Even if he is an asshole and thinks I’m nothing but a kid.

When I walk in they both look up and smile. I love it here. I’ll always love it here. Yeah, I will never make it to Cali since the thought of leaving this place makes my heart ache. I lean over to study Dan’s work. “It needs more shading there.” I point to the spot on the skull I’m talking about.

Raffe laughs. “I always knew she was going to steal your business someday. As soon as she’s legit I’m switching to her.”

Dan smacks him in the head. “No way is she touching you. She can only work on the ladies.”

I laugh so hard I snort. “Whatever, big guy.”

I head to the back to gather a few supplies. I’m working on a sugar skull piece on my arm. Dan’s been helping me. He gave up a long time ago on sticking to his I have to be eighteen before he works on me rule. I’m good at doing them on myself but sometimes it’s simply logistics and I just can’t reach or get the right angle.

The door dings so I head out front to see if I can help since Dan is busy with Raffe.

Fuck me. It’s suit lady.

“Do you know you are listed as a runaway, Jesse?” she asks, not even bothering to say hello.

Dan and Raffe both look up and Raffe audibly gasps. I hear him whisper afuckunder his breath.

Her eyes roam behind me and when she sees him her face turns bright pink, her eyebrows shooting to her hairline. I’m going to go out on a limb and say Raffe has fucked suit lady.

“As you can clearly see I’m not on the run. I’m here in Trap County right where you left me,” I tell her while yawning at the same time.

Suit lady recovers and tugs on the hem of her jacket, composing herself. “While that may be, your aunt has informed me that she has not seen you in some time.”

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