Page 44 of Rue

“I…”

“As much as you can,” he told her, his tone brooking no argument.

Sailor ate a few bites, though she felt like she might throw it all up soon. It all sat heavily in her stomach like a rock getting bigger and heavier.

When she set her fork down, he scowled at all the food still on her plate, then opened his mouth to speak.

Davon spoke over him. “She’s never eaten much, ever. She’s not used to eating a lot, she’s got a small stomach. Her appetite can’t change overnight, especially if she’s feeling bad, not to mention she’s sharing that space with a baby the size of a pear. She needs smaller meals more often, not to gorge on fewer meals.”

Geo snorted but said nothing as he stood up, then pulled Rue up by her arm. She went with him quietly, looking over her shoulder at Davon. What the hell was going on?

Geo led her to an office that was bright, open, and full of everything she needed with three extra computers, including a new laptop.

“This is your setup,” Geo told her, gesturing. “You need anything else, Trey’s number is on tha’ phone there. You don't use tha’ phone to call no one but me, him, Mig, or the numbers programmed into it. It’s patched into mine, I get an alert when you use it, so don't fuck around.”

Sailor nodded, moving around the room to look ateverything.

“How long till you finish what you said you could do?” Geo demanded, sounding irritated now.

“Umm… I’m not sure. I have to write it and test it before I implement it. Maybe two days? Then it’ll be easier to write them after that, each one will be easier.”

“That sound right?” Geo demanded loudly.

Trey stepped in, his eyes shining. “Nah, man, it don't. Your girl might be smart, but last guy I had tryna do som’in like this? Took him a week to write what he needed.”

Sailor looked at Trey then, her face red. “Then he was bilking you in some way. I’ve been doing this a while, and if I say I can do it in a couple days, then how about you wait and see if I can before you try to call me a liar? Just because YOU’RE an idiot and you got played doesn’t mean I’m the one lying, asshat.”

Trey puffed up, his face going dark, but Geo chuckled. “Watch the tone, Rue. She don't mean nothin’, Trey, she just got like, hormones ‘n shit. How long since you tried som’in’ like this?” he asked Trey.

“It’s been a fuckin’ while, but that don't mean I don't know what…”

“You’re on a watchlist now?” Sailor laughed derisively. “Yeah, whoever you had fucked you over good. I’m not stupid, and things have changed a lot, old man. You have no idea what I’m doing or how. You might know your tools, but I know the trade.”

“Bitch, you BEST…”

“Aye!” Geo snarled, turning to square up to Trey. “I done warned you once.”

“You need to warn HER! I don't let no bitch talk to me that way!”

“Rue, tell’m you’re sorry.”

“I’m not sorry,” she scowled at Trey. “He called me a liar. Tell him to apologize.”

Davon chuckled from the hallway.

“Rue, you need to say sorry to him,” Geo smirked, movingcloser and gripping her neck firmly but not hurting her.

“Not till he does!”

Davon giggled audibly, then the sound quickly receded away from the room as he hurried away.

“How ‘bout you do it, or I let that fool do like he wants?” Geo asked, still looking amused.

“You won’t let him touch me, I belong to you,” she told him, still pissed. “He called me a liar, Geo! You want me to apologize? Fine. Sorry that you SUCK and that you don't know SHIT anymore. Sorry you got fucked over, and you think you know shit based on how someone fucked you over, and you were too stupid to see it!”

Davon burst out laughing from down the hall.

“I swear to fuckin’ god, I will…” Trey started, moving closer.

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