Page 17 of Small Town Beast

“Don’t you worry about the boys,” Hiram said. “I’m just here to make you nervous, Bailey.”

“Do I look nervous?”

Hiram’s expression lost some of its smugness. “Roman says it’s peacetime now, but you’re declaring war in front of everybody.”

“You scared or what?”

“He paid us off handsome, your cousin did. Made sure we’d take our licking and forget what the McCalls and Baileys did to us. I agreed to his terms, but if you go around talking big, that means you’re in violation and we can respond accordingly. Consider this a warning shot.”

“Who learned you all those big words?”

“Shut the fuck up,” snarled Hiram. “I never liked you Baileys, you know that? If it wasn’t for Roman I’d have crunched you like a tick soon as they finished sewing your face back on.”

“Was it you who shot my brother?” Saverin demanded.

“No,” said Hiram. “No, it wasn’t me that popped little Sammy’s head like a grape.” His voice lowered. “But it was you that lit the fires at the meth lab, Bailey. You killedmybrother Johnce. Cooked him like a fucking turkey.”

“Did I?” said Saverin coldly.

“Never hurt a fly, our Johnce. Innocent as a lamb, he was.” Hiram’s eyes flickered. “Mark my words, Bailey. One day there’ll be a reckoning from us. And it will come when you least expect it.”

BLAM!

Saverin crashed backward to the ground. The world shut off.

The four Snatch Hill men gaped at each other in shock.

“You asshole,” Hiram roared, grabbing the scruff of the quivering man next to him. “Who the fuck told you to shoot?”

“It was an accident,” the man sputtered. “This d-damned gun…always doin’ that…”

“Go check if he’s dead,” Hiram barked at his third cousin, who was barely fifteen. The Snatch Hill leader glanced nervouslyat the doors of the Turnkey, which was now crowded with witnesses. Hastily he stuffed his pistol away. Shit. If it got back to Roman that he’d shot down Saverin Bailey, they would be as cooked as Johnce.

“He’s alive!” the boy called from Saverin’s motionless body. “It got his ear, like.”

“Motherfucker,” said Saverin. “That was my good side!”

“Fucking lucky son of a bitch,” Hiram exhaled. Then he turned and clocked the man who’d fired across the jaw. There was a dense popping noise and his cousin screamed. “Get a better gun,” Hiram snarled. He glanced up to the bar. That motherfucker Eugene was coming out with a shotgun— along with damn near seven or eight McCalls.

Plus, Saverin was getting up.

“Let’s go,” he said to his cousins, and they got out of there quick as chain lightning.

“How did it go?”Bee asked as Tanya folded herself into the passenger’s seat, shivering from head to toe even though the night was near to sweltering.

“Let’s go home.”

“You okay? You damn lucky I was hanging around– I almost went in there after you. Something just didn’t feel right!”

“I’m fine, Bee.” Tanya showed Bee the folded bills. “See? I got what I came here for.” She shoved the bills back in her purse and pulled down her dress. Between her legs felt wet and sticky.

“Tanya, you’re shaking! What happened?” Bee laid a concerned hand on Tanya’s, then felt her forehead. “You sick?”

“I’m just fine. It just got a little spicy up there at the end is all.” Tanya swallowed. “I need to go to the drug store.”

“Oh my God,” Bee said, her eyes like dinner plates. “The drug store? Why? What happened?”

“Bee, please– don’t ask me no questions,” Tanya begged. “This was a big mistake.”

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