Page 98 of Wolf

”Okay,” I say. Luckily, Mama wasn’t feeling well today but any one of the people in the booths around us could report back to her.

Clearing my throat, I pick up one of the bars of soap and display it in my palm. “What is it?”

His brows furrow as he glances at the soap before he seems to get it, and he plucks it out of my hand. He grabs a wad of cash from his pocket and drops it on the table. “Look, I don’t know what happened. Ain’t my business, but there’s a thousand dollars there. You want to leave…there’s your chance.”

He stalks away before I can comment, and I watch him go before leaning over and puking into the wastebasket beneath the counter. Once I’ve emptied my wretched stomach, I pocket the money, minus the cost of two bars of soap, and shake my head.

What will Maddox do with two bars of rose-scented soap?

Wolf

It’s been a few weeks since we stormed the Aces’ hiding place and plucked my sister from the chains she was bound with.

As long as I live, I will never forget the way she flinched away from me, assuming I was one of the assholes back to inflict more damage.

If the fuckers weren’t dead, I’d kill them again but far more slowly this time.

Unfortunately, Danny didn’t make it. Since the Aces never got around to mentioning her, I’m still not sure what their goal was, but I suspect it has something to do with the sheriff and her father.

She hasn’t said a damn thing about it but when I offered to take her home to our mother, she refused. Old habits die hard and just because I was the one to find her doesn’t mean all the years of indoctrination go away.

Nope, something else happened but she’s a locked vault on that front.

Instead, I set her up at the cabin with Doc as security. Although I don’t think he was super pleased by the prospect, I know I can trust the fool to do the job. After all, he’s risked his life on many occasions and has always been the one to patch us up.

The man’s practically an institution around here.

Unfortunately, Ice, the Aces MC president still lives, but it’s only a matter of time until he makes a mistake, and we use it against him.

As much as I avoid thinking about Lilli, I’m not completely heartless. I don’t want her to suffer. This is why I sent Maddox to her. Meanwhile, we’ll continue our search for the soon-to-be dead motherfucker.

We’re celebrating our win, and although I’m just as proud of the others, I’m not feeling the atmosphere. My head pounds with every beat of the music.

Especially when I glance at Maddox and his gaze slides away from my face…again. He’s been acting weird since he returned from the Saturday Market.

When Melanie offers me another drink, I wave her off and stand. I’m exhausted, my skull feels like it’s going to explode and I’m hoping a few hours of sleep will resolve the problem.

With Rose safe and sound, maybe I can catch up on the sleep that’s been evading me.

Maddox tips his head as one of the women slides into his lap. I glare at the side of his face before heading inside.

I know there’s something he’s not telling me. Whatever it is, I choose not to know even though the knowledge eats at my desiccated soul.

Chapter 29

Lilli

I survived another grueling sermon on Sunday. Afterward, Mama and Daddy head off to the Noonan’s to play bunco. Free for a few hours, I step out onto the back patio and breathe in the clean air.

I can’t place it, maybe it’s Mama’s cloying perfume but every time I enter the house, my stomach starts acting up. I guess it makes sense for it to be her that makes me sick. Ha!

When the door closes with a thud behind me, I turn in my seat. Mercy approaches with a solemn expression and I’m reminded of my thoughts the other day. With Miriam gone, it’s my job to make my younger siblings feel better.

“Where’s Rachel?” I ask and she shrugs.

“Gone.”

“Gone. Where?” It’s unusual for us to go anywhere because we’re not allowed to have sleepovers or dates or really anything that’s considered fun.

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