Page 36 of Rue

“He… he why you ain’t slept since before Christmas? Who you been afraid of?”

“Don’t think about any of that, Mom! You’re going to be a gramma! I want you to meet your grandbaby, okay?”

“He took you… that’s why that scary boy came… sent me here. That man has you?”

“Mom, please? Please don't be upset? He’s taking care of me, okay? Making sure I eat, keeping me safe. I… I even sleep when he’s close. He keeps me safe,” she lied, hugging her mom. “I’m okay.”

“He give you them bruises?”

“Some gang jerk gave me those… This is Geo. He won’t let anyone else hurt me, okay?”

“Anyone else… but he will?”

“Mom, let it go, please?” Sailor whispered pleadingly.

“She ain’t got shit to worry over as long as she watches that smart mouth of hers,” Geo spoke up darkly. “She behaves? She’s good? She gets to come see you. That baby’s doin’ jus’ fine.How ‘bout you start bein’ grateful instead of askin’ questions that’ll get you smothered by that fuckin’ pillow, bitch.”

Her mom blanched back, and Sailor hugged her harder. “Please, mom? Let it go? I’m here now, and I get to see you! How’ve you been, what have the doctors said? Anything?”

“Nnn,” her mother shook her head. “Ain’t seen one yet. Just orderlies. Say… this place is miserable. The air conditioning doesn’t work, it gets so hot! Sun comes right in that window. The food… last night it was cold pork-n beans, and that’s all, just a small scoop. The TV don't work, and I asked for a book, but they said maybe later and never bring one. I…”

“I’ll bring you books! I’ll see what I can do, okay? Just… I want you to meet your grandbaby, Mom! I don't want you to go!”

“I hurt, Say,” her mom sighed, wincing, then hugging her closer. “Can you just stay with me a while? I need a short nap but don't want to wake up alone again.”

“Nah. We gotta go,” Geo spoke up. “Say bye, Rue.”

“Can I come back?” Sailor asked quickly, more tears springing up as she hugged her mom.

“Now,” Geo scowled.

Sailor got up, kissing her mom on the head. “I love you! I’ll try to make sure you get what you need, and I’ll be back if I can, I promise!” she called, her heart breaking as Geo pulled her out the door.

In the car, she curled up and sobbed into her knees as she hugged them, shaking her head. That place had been awful! It smelled horrible, and she saw a single person working, and that was the man at the front desk. She had to get her out of there!

“Rue,” Geo called gruffly, “Tha’s enough. No more. Sit up here. You know what tha’ was?”

“M-my mom? What do you mean?”

“You wanna see her again?” he asked, leaning back and looking her over.

“Yes! Yes, please! Can I?”

“What you think you gotta do, Rue?” he asked, his eyes sparkling dangerously.

Sailor hesitated, her face going red as she went stiff all over. Haltingly, she leaned closer and started undoing his pants, pulling them open and reaching into his boxers to pull his cock out.

Geo snorted a laugh, catching her hand. “Nah,” he chuckled, holding onto her hand. “Nah, but I like where your head went,” he told her, tapping her nose with his fingertip. “Nah. Mig?” he called, reaching up over the seat.

Mig passed back a paper, and Geo handed it to her.

It was the list he’d been talking about the night before—the list of things she would need to steal money for him.

Sailor looked it over, chewing on her lip as she considered how to handle this.

“Ok,” she finally spoke. “I want to see my mom every day for at least an hour and…”

“Nah, I ain’t negotiating, Rue.”

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